Fourteen delegates from various South Pacific island companies participated in a three-day workshop focused on fraud and corruption in Suva last week. The event was organized by the International Business and Economic Forum (IBE Forum), where attendees engaged in discussions and training on a wide range of fraud and corruption topics. These included conventional fraud schemes such as money laundering and asset theft, as well as emerging trends like electronic fraud and the use of artificial intelligence in fraudulent activities.
Course facilitator Simon Padgett, a forensic accountant from Forensic Integrity Consulting and Training, highlighted that participants learned about different fraud types, prevention strategies, and investigative techniques throughout the workshop. “These individuals are here to acquire skills for investigating fraud and corruption within their businesses and government sectors, as well as methods to prevent it,” he stated.
The training covered various investigative processes, including the analysis of fraudulent invoices, tender fraud, sales fraud, and payroll fraud. Attendees engaged with real-life case studies and instructional videos to enhance their learning experiences.
Participants were also educated on minimizing fraud risks within their organizations, including identifying whistleblowing channels and establishing fraud policies and codes of conduct to combat bribery and corruption.
George Rounds, an accountant with Amalgamated Telecom Holdings (ATH), expressed his appreciation for attending the significant forum. He noted, “We have explored the three major types of fraud, with the most critical being financial statement fraud and corruption.” Rounds mentioned that he was involved in the risk team and was eager to expand his knowledge about risk and corruption.
Additionally, the training included discussions on cybersecurity and the integration of artificial intelligence into the economy.
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