Occupational fraud risk isn’t necessarily shared evenly by all business sectors. Certain industries — for example, construction, real estate, manufacturing and transportation — are usually more vulnerable to employee theft, according to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE). Other industries may not have greater fraud exposure but face specific threats. Here are some industry-related risks and how businesses in these sectors can prevent fraud with strong internal controls. Construction Some types of fraud are more prevalent in the construction industry, particularly payroll and billing fraud. Segregation of accounting duties — having them performed by more than one employee — is critical to reducing both types. To prevent payroll fraud, have someone independent of your accounting department verify the names and pay rates on your payroll. If you...
