Brock’s Internal Audit Services team is raising awareness about the importance of fraud prevention and providing anti-fraud resources as part of International Fraud Awareness Week, which takes place Sunday, Nov. 17 to Saturday, Nov. 23.

The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), the world’s largest anti-fraud organization, reports that fraud costs organizations $5 trillion worldwide each year.

“International Fraud Awareness Week is an opportunity to reflect on how we can help protect not only Brock but also ourselves from fraud,” says Lizette Norio, Associate Director, Internal Audit.

Brock community members can find a variety of educational slide decks, infographics, videos, reports and games on Internal Audit Services Fraud Week web page. The resources cover a range of topics, including defining fraud, examples of fraud schemes, why people commit fraud, confessions of convicted fraudsters, identity theft, and the behavioural red flags of fraud.

Norio says that with more than 80 per cent of fraudsters displaying at least one behavioural red flag, these markers could be “key to preventing or reducing the impact of fraud.”

“Just knowing these behavioural red flags can be a clue in detecting fraudulent activity, so it’s important not to ignore them,” she says.

The eight most common behavioural red flags include:

• living beyond one’s means
• financial difficulties.
• unusually close association with a vendor or customer
• unwillingness to share duties.
• irritability, suspiciousness or defensiveness
• bullying or intimidation
• divorce or family problems
• having a “wheeler-dealer” attitude

Anyone who suspects inappropriate or fraudulent activity at Brock is encouraged to disclose it in accordance with the Safe Disclosure Policy and Procedures, which apply to all University employees, students, volunteers, contractors and suppliers. The Safe Disclosure Policy makes a priority of protecting from reprisal anyone who makes a good faith disclosure.

When possible, disclosures should be made directly to the unit responsible for the area of concern. Additional disclosure avenues include Brock University’s Legal Counsel, Campus Safety Services, Human Rights and Equity, Office of People and Culture and Internal Audit Services.

Anyone uncomfortable disclosing directly can use an anonymous website or call a 24-7 toll-free hotline by dialing 1-855-484-CARE (2273). Both the website and hotline are offered through the Doane Grant Thornton CARE service, a third-party consultant independent from University administration.

Additional resources on fraud and online security can be found on the Brock Information Technology Services Cyber Security web page and in BrockU Cyber Aware, a new cyber security awareness training platform for Brock users.

For more information on safe disclosure at Brock and the Doane Grant Thornton CARE services, visit Brock’s Legal, Compliance and Privacy web page or email internalaudit@brocku.ca