Fraud Mitigation in the Grain Industry: Webinar & Best Practices

According to recent statistics, financial fraud is on a significant upswing. Last year, 82% of businesses in the United States suffered an instance of fraud, and 50% of those businesses lost money as a result.  In fact, if the business of fraud were a country it would be the fifth largest country in the world, following only the GDP of the United States, China, Japan and Germany.  And smaller businesses with fewer than 100 employees generally suffer the largest monetary losses, often due to a lack of established systems and controls to detect, uncover and prevent fraud.

Access the Webinar Now:  Fraud Mitigation in the Grain Industry

Although it can be embarrassing to admit to being a victim of fraud, the majority of people have experienced some form of fraud attempt. In incidents of fraud time is of the essence.  It is important to consistently keep an eye out for signs of fraud and to immediately call your financial institution’s fraud department if you detect anything suspicious.  The highest increase in fraud today involves business email compromise, but fraud is also perpetrated through fraudsters requesting wires, requesting ACH's, or requesting credit card or check payments.

Fraud experts use what is called the "Fraud Triangle Theory" to explain what tempts an employee to turn to fraud.

1. Financial Stress: the existence of a motivation or incentive to commit fraud. Perhaps crop prices are too high or too low and money is tight.
2. Rationalization: the employee’s justification of dishonest actions. They believe they’re only borrowing the money and they’re going to give it back or think they’re simply taking what they deserve.
3. Opportunity: the knowledge and ability to carry out fraud. If policies and safeguards are not in place then opportunities may abound.

“Humans are the weakest link in the payment chain” is an important phrase to remember. Your employees want to be helpful and help solve problems, and fraudsters take advantage of that generosity. So consistently communicate to your employees that if they see something, say something. It has been shown that taking a precaution as simple as setting up a confidential Fraud Hotline can reduce monetary losses by up to 50%.

When it comes to fraud, every minute counts, and the more we talk about it the better. When you do talk openly and frequently about fraud, even the most difficult situation can have a positive outcome.

To this end, White Commercial and CoBank have put together a Fraud Mitigation Webinar and Best Practices Checklist to give you and your company practical insight into the fraud prevention measures that you can begin taking today to add security to your company’s daily routines and practices.  Use this link to view the on-demand webinar and get instant access to the best practices checklist.

Statistical Sources:

• Association for Financial Professionals Annual Fraud Study
• Report to the Nations – 2018 Global Study on Occupation Fraud and Abuse, Association of Fraud Examiners