Case Study 1: Computer Forensics
The Issue: An organisation suspected that a staff member was passing confidential and sensitive information to a competitor.
Our Role: We were asked by the organisation to investigate whether there was any truth to the allegation and if so, how the information was being leaked.
Outcome: Following a visit to the client we identified a potential suspect. The staff member's computer was seized and we undertook a forensic investigation of it. On examination, it became apparent that a program to wipe data and potential evidence had been recently run on the computer. Despite this, we were still able to gather a range of evidence that revealed the information that had been gathered and sent to the competitor. We prepared a report for the client that was used in proceedings against the staff member. Following the investigation, we undertook a detailed IT security review to help identify and resolve any remaining weaknesses in the IT systems to help ensure that in future access to sensitive and confidential information was appropriately restricted.
Case Study 2: Forensic Accounting
The Issue: Attempts by an international firm to reconcile a large customer account following the departure of a trusted employee revealed a number of transactions that the firm had no knowledge of. Further investigation disclosed the former employee had set up fictitious loans from which he had benefited.
Our Role: We were asked by the firm to assist their legal advisors to prepare a case against the former employee who had misappropriated over $1 million in funds. We prepared evidence that documented each step in the numerous transactions and prepared a summary of what the funds had been used for.
Outcome: Our evidence was presented to the legal advisors for the defendants and was accepted without dispute. It was also used for settlement negotiations for recovery action and to support a complaint to the Serious Fraud Office for prosecution of the case. Our work was used to review and strengthen a number of internal controls.
Case Study 3: Fraud Risk Review
The Issue: An internal audit by PricewaterhouseCoopers of a client revealed that a large quantity of valuable stock was missing.
Our Role: We were asked by the client to investigate and review procedures and practices at their storage warehouse.
Outcome: Following a visit to their warehouse and discreet interviews with staff, we were able to quickly identify a number of areas of concern including physical security, staff culture, administration, supervision and duties. We prepared a report for the client detailing all the areas of concerns and a comprehensive set of recommendations to follow in order to mitigate their exposure to stock theft.
Case Study 4: Fraud Investigation
The Issue: A large financial institution found evidence that a former trusted employee had misappropriated funds from accounts belonging to offshore clients.
Our Role: We were asked by our client to investigate the matter expeditiously and discreetly, with a view to having the investigation handed over to the authorities for prosecution. An added component was that the suspect, who was unaware of our investigation, was in the process of selling his assets before moving overseas.
Outcome: Our investigation required us to analyse multiple accounts in order to untangle a number of fund transfers. We also interviewed a number of the suspect’s former clients in order to quantify their losses as well as to determine the exact fiduciary relationship between them and the suspect. These clients lived in Asia and we interviewed them by phone and through an interpreter. Within a short space of time we had investigated the matter and identified that the suspect had misappropriated well over $500,000 from his former clients.
We also undertook a forensic investigation of the suspect’s computer. Despite the fact that upon his dismissal, his computer had been reallocated to another member of staff and his personal files deleted, we were able to retrieve (intact) two incriminating documents that the suspect had created.
Our visual analysis tools allowed our findings to be communicated in a simple but highly effective manner.
We prepared a comprehensive report for the Serious Fraud Office (“SFO”) who subsequently took over the investigation. We had also identified a number of assets that the suspect had purchased. The suspect was later charged by the SFO with a number of fraud offences and pleaded guilty. A large proportion of the misappropriated funds have been recovered.
