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Date: April 29, 2024 Mon
Time: 9:27 pm
Time: 9:27 pm
Results for fraud and corruption
16 results foundAuthor: Alkholt, Aimar Title: Nigerian Criminal Networks; A Comparative Analysis Summary: Why is an African federation the home to one of the more dominating criminal networks operating globally? Nigeria is not well known for its high level of Internet-infrastructure. Still, it is in a class of its own when it comes to e-fraud or 419 spam mails. It is also prominent within the drug trade and the African-European trafficking network. By comparatively analysing other forms of Organized Crime against the Nigerian Brand, the thesis has tried to find the particulars of Nigerian Criminal Networks. The thesis found two particular indicators that stood out in the analysis: Social Networking and the 419 industry. Also, by looking at the level of integration between Nigerian politics and Criminal Networks and the argumentation used by agents within the Criminal Networks and the dynamics of the Nigerian E-fraud, this thesis argues that the same socio-cultural dynamics stemming from before the colonial period of the "great scramble" to present time, is the very same driving force behind Nigerian Criminal Networks today, forming an "Internet Economy of Affection". A general trend points in the direction that individuals growing up in the Nigerian federation seem to have a higher potential for social networking since their weak state gives them little protection in economic, welfare, security and educational spheres. They have to rely on the informal sector instead: the sphere of social networking. This may be one facet and first step toward the complex explanation how the dynamics of e-fraud, trafficking and drug-trade in Nigerian Criminal Networks, works at present. Details: Bergen, Norway: University of Bergen, Department of Administration and Organization Theory, 2010. 112p. Source: Internet Resource: Master's Thesis: Year: 2010 Country: Nigeria URL: Shelf Number: 123356 Keywords: Criminal NetworksFraud and CorruptionInternet CrimesOrganized Crime (Nigeria) |
Author: Almashat, Sammy Title: Pharmaceutical Industry Criminal and Civil Penalties: An Update Summary: In December 2010, Public Citizen published a report that, for the first time, documented all major financial settlements and court judgments between pharmaceutical manufacturers and the federal and state governments since 1991. At the time of the report’s publication, almost $20 billion had been paid out by the pharmaceutical industry to settle allegations of numerous violations, including illegal, off-label marketing and the deliberate overcharging of taxpayer-funded health programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid. Three-fourths of the settlements and accompanying financial penalties had occurred in just the five-year period prior to 2010. At the time of the report’s publication, there was no indication that this upward trend was subsiding. The following study was undertaken to assess the level of settlement activity from the previous report through the first half of 2012 – an additional 1 ½ years – and to conduct, for the first time, an analysis of the results of individual state enforcement efforts since 1991. Methodology from the 2010 report was largely replicated, with all federal and state government settlements, of $1 million or greater, reached with pharmaceutical manufacturers from November 2, 2010 through July 18, 2012 included in the current study. In addition, a 50-state analysis of settlement activity, going back to 1991, was conducted for the first time on state settlements that did not involve the federal government. State settlements were classified as single-state settlements (those in which only one state was a party to the final settlement) or multi-state settlements (all other state settlements). A total of 74 additional settlements, totaling $10.2 billion in financial penalties, were reached between the federal and state governments and pharmaceutical manufacturers between November 2, 2010 and July 18, 2012, with the first half of 2012 alone already representing a record year for both federal ($5.0 billion) and state ($1.6 billion) financial recoveries. Since 1991, a total of 239 settlements, for $30.2 billion, have now been reached (through July 18, 2012) between federal and state governments and pharmaceutical companies. Other key findings included: - Single-state settlements have been responsible for most of the recent increase in settlement activity, comprising almost three-fifths (59%) of all settlements since the beginning of 2009, compared to only one-fourth (25%) of settlements prior to 2009. - Since 1991, 27 states have reached at least one single-state settlement with a pharmaceutical company. Kentucky has had the most single-state settlements (17) while Texas has had the highest number of single-state settlements resulting from actions initiated by private whistleblowers (6). - Seventeen of the 27 states with at least one single-state settlement since 1991 have attained a return on investment of $1 or greater for every dollar spent on enforcement of all (both pharmaceutical-related and non-pharmaceutical) Medicaid fraud. - Since 2009, the federal government has concluded almost as many settlements and recovered more in financial penalties as it had in the previous 18 years combined. - Whistleblower-initiated investigations were responsible for most federal settlements (75%) and financial penalties (78%) during the current study period. - As in the previous study, overcharging government health insurance programs, mainly drug pricing fraud against state Medicaid programs, was the most common violation, while the unlawful promotion of drugs was associated with the largest penalties. The past two years have seen a continuation of the recent trend of record settlements between the federal and state governments and pharmaceutical manufacturers. A much larger proportion of these recent settlements have been brought about by individual state investigations than in previous years which, in most states involved in such litigation, has resulted in financial recoveries that more than offset enforcement expenses. However, despite the scale of the fraud against their Medicaid programs and the potential recoveries at stake, most states, including some with the highest prescription drug expenditures, have yet to pursue investigations on their own. On a federal level, financial penalties still continue to pale in comparison to company profits and a parent company is only rarely excluded from participation in Medicare and Medicaid for the illegal activities, which endanger the public health and deplete already overstretched taxpayer-funded programs. In what will hopefully represent an emerging trend, the federal government has recently pursued criminal charges against key company employees and executives, but the cases so far have either been thrown out or resulted in minor sentences. Stronger legislation and more robust enforcement are needed on a federal and state level to deter future unlawful behavior. Details: Washington, DC: Public Citizen, 2012. 50p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 3, 2012 at: http://www.citizen.org/documents/2073.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.citizen.org/documents/2073.pdf Shelf Number: 126544 Keywords: Corporate CrimeFraud and CorruptionMedicaid FraudPrescription FraudWhistleblowersWhite Collar Crime, Pharmaceutical Industry |
Author: Great Britain. Audit Commission Title: National Fraud Initiative. National Report, June 2014 Summary: This report focuses on the outcomes from the National Fraud Initiative (NFI), the Audit Commission's data matching exercise to help prevent and detect fraud, overpayment and error. Working in partnership is vital to the success of the NFI. - The NFI involves the public audit agencies in all parts of the UK - the Audit Commission in England works with Audit Scotland, the Auditor General for Wales and the Northern Ireland Audit Office. - The NFI matches data provided by some 1,300 participating organisations from across the public and private sectors against data provided by other participants, and key data sets provided by government departments and other national agencies, to help prevent and detect fraud. - The organisations that participate in the NFI are responsible for following up and investigating the matches, and identifying fraud, overpayment and error. The NFI plays an important role in the fight against fraud. - Since the last report in May 2012 the NFI in England has identified $203 million of fraud, overpayment and error. This is made up of $144 million for 2012/13 and $59 million of outcomes not previously reported from earlier exercises. - The NFI has also identified $26 million of fraud, overpayment and error in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, bringing total outcomes since the last report to $229 million. - For nearly two decades, the NFI has enabled the participants to detect fraud, overpayment and error totalling $1.17 billion. This includes $152 million detected in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The main categories of fraud identified by the NFI in England relate to: pensions, council tax single person discounts and housing benefit. Since the last report the NFI has found: - $74 million of pension fraud, overpayment and error; - $39 million of fraudulently or wrongly received council tax single person discount; and - $33 million of housing benefit fraud, overpayment and error. The exercise has also produced significant results in England: - 86 properties have been recovered for social housing; - 120 people employed without the right to work in the UK were identified and as a result were dismissed or asked to resign; - 571 people have been prosecuted; - 2,394 false applications have been removed from housing waiting lists; and - 21,396 blue badges and 78,443 concessionary travel passes, identified as invalid, were cancelled. Most public bodies have sound arrangements in place for managing their participation in the NFI and for investigating data matches, but there is scope for improvement. - Some participants do not make best use of the tools within the web application to help them identify high-risk matches linked to local risks. - Some participants could make better use of matches that involve more than one department and use staff resources more efficiently. - Not all participants review the quality of the data submitted to the NFI and do not identify where it can be improved. The Government has a strong focus on tackling fraud, but central government is not fully sharing in the benefits of the NFI. - Although the Audit Commission's audited bodies must participate in the NFI, central government bodies can choose whether to do so. - The Commission are pleased to report that 13 central government departments or arm's length bodies participated in the NFI 2012/13. However, some of these 13 bodies chose to submit only some of the possible datasets, or a sample. - The limited engagement in the NFI to date by central government restricts the opportunity to develop the NFI to target their specific fraud risks. Details: London: Audit Commission, 2014. 45p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 12, 2014 at: http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/NFI-national-report-FINAL-11-June-2014.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/NFI-national-report-FINAL-11-June-2014.pdf Shelf Number: 133002 Keywords: Financial Crime (U.K.)Fraud and Corruption |
Author: Bricknell, Samantha Title: Corruption in Australian sport Summary: Corruption in Australian sport is not a new phenomenon. A series of high-profile cases in Australia, combined with an increasing international focus, has seen a reassessment of Australian sport's vulnerability to illegal activities such as match-fixing, use of inside information for betting purposes and the use of performance and image-enhancing drugs. This has led to the development and endorsement of national policies on match-fixing and doping, the establishment of sport integrity units, inclusion of specialist intelligence units in law enforcement and the creation of new match-fixing offences. Yet the actual extent of corruption in Australian sport remains unclear. In particular, does it exist more in the form of a threat rather than an intrinsic or widespread problem? This paper examines some of the events that have affected the integrity of Australian sport between 2009-13 to describe the way in which corruption has manifested, the environment that has engendered the corrupt behaviour and the extent to which these incidents were primarily local events involving local actors. It also proposes situational crime prevention techniques that may assist in framing and responding to corruption in Australian sport. Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2015. 11p. Source: Internet Resource: Trends & issues in crime and criminal justice no. 490: Accessed March 2, 2015 at: http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/current%20series/tandi/481-500/tandi490.html Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/current%20series/tandi/481-500/tandi490.html Shelf Number: 134738 Keywords: Fraud and CorruptionSports and Crime |
Author: Alschuler, Albert W. Title: Criminal Corruption: Why Broad Definitions of Bribery Make Things Worse Summary: Although the law of bribery may look profoundly under-inclusive, the push to expand it usually should be resisted. This article traces the history of two competing concepts of bribery-the "intent to influence" concept (a concept initially applied only to gifts given to judges) and the "illegal contract" concept. It argues that, if taken literally and applied to officials other than judges, "intent to influence" is now an unthinkable standard. The article defends the Supreme Court's refusal to treat campaign contributions as bribes in the absence of an "explicit" quid pro quo and its refusal to read a statute criminalizing deprivations of "the intangible right of honest services" as scuttling the quid pro quo requirement. While recognizing that the "stream of benefits" metaphor can be compatible with this requirement, it cautions against allowing the requirement to degenerate into a "one hand washes the other" or "favoritism" standard. The article maintains that specific, ex ante regulations of the sort commonly found in ethical codes and campaign finance regulations provide a better way to limit corruption than bribery laws, but it warns that even these regulations should not prohibit all practices that may be the functional equivalent of bribery. The article concludes by speculating about whether the efforts of federal prosecutors to reduce corruption over the past 60 years have given us better government. Details: Chicago: Law School, University of Chicago, 2015. Source: Internet Resource: Public Law and Legal Theory Working Paper no. 502: Accessed March 11, 2015 at: http://chicagounbound.uchicago.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1951&context=public_law_and_legal_theory Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://chicagounbound.uchicago.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1951&context=public_law_and_legal_theory Shelf Number: 134904 Keywords: BribesFraud and Corruption |
Author: Australian Crime Commission Title: Serious and Organised Investment Fraud in Australia Summary: Serious and organised investment fraudsters target Australian investors with promises of high investment returns, using 'cold call' techniques and backing up their claims with fraudulent websites to which the criminals can direct unsuspecting investors. This type of fraud involves the illegal and often aggressive selling of worthless or overpriced shares. It is generally highly organised, spans multiple jurisdictions and uses sophisticated technology. This type of fraud also involves non-compliance with share-listing requirements, making fraudulent statements to shareholders and using false identities. Serious and organised investment frauds place high pressure on people to take up the investment offer. Typically based off shore, these investment frauds use the internet to conduct their illegal operations. They are incredibly sophisticated and very difficult for even experienced investors to identify. Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2012. 43p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 3, 2015 at: https://www.crimecommission.gov.au/sites/default/files/SOIFA_Report_030812.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Australia URL: https://www.crimecommission.gov.au/sites/default/files/SOIFA_Report_030812.pdf Shelf Number: 136291 Keywords: Financial CrimesFraud and CorruptionInternet CrimesInvestment FraudOrganized Crime |
Author: Jorna, Penny Title: Fraud against the Commonwealth: Report to Government 2010-11 to 2012-13 Summary: Public sector fraud continues to be of concern to the Commonwealth Government. Not only does it reduce funds available for government programs, but it also creates a negative and counterproductive atmosphere within affected workplaces. Fraud can destroy working relationships, reduce productivity and lead to loss of staff, with immeasurable direct and indirect harms being suffered both by the public sector and the community at large. Understanding the nature and extent of the problem is the first step in devising workable preventive strategies and effective solutions. This report presents the results of a longitudinal census of fraud incidents experienced by Commonwealth entities and the ways in which fraud risk has been managed and controlled. Previous Commonwealth fraud surveys published by the Australian Institute of Criminology have presented data for single financial years. In this report, an opportunity has been taken to present trend information for the first time in respect of the three most recent years for which census data were available - 2010-11 to 2012-13. Of the 154 or more Commonwealth entities that responded to the Australian Institute of Criminology's census each year, almost 40 percent experienced one or more suspected incidents of fraud. Unfortunately, between 2010-11 and 2012-13, both the number of suspected incidents of fraud and the funds at stake increased. In total, 265,866 incidents of suspected fraud involving losses of $530m were reported over the three years. Each year, more than 1,000 defendants have been prosecuted for fraud against the Commonwealth in respect of charges involving, on average, approximately $50m each year. Of those convicted, most received non-custodial sentences, with approximately 10 percent being sentenced to terms of immediate imprisonment. Only a small proportion of funds are recovered each year. Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2015. 76p. Source: Internet Resource: AIC Monitoring Reports 24> Accessed August 8, 2015 at: http://aic.gov.au/media_library/publications/mr/mr24/mr24.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: http://aic.gov.au/media_library/publications/mr/mr24/mr24.pdf Shelf Number: 136366 Keywords: Crime StatisticsDishonestyFinancial CrimesFraud and Corruption |
Author: Jorna, Penny Title: Fraud within the Commonwealth: A census of the most costly incidents, 2010-11 to 2012-13 Summary: Fraud against the Commonwealth is defined as 'dishonestly obtaining a benefit or causing a loss, by deception or other means'. This definition is set out in the current Commonwealth Resource Management Guide (no. 201) Preventing, detecting and dealing with fraud, issued by the Australian Government Minister for Justice (2014). This form of fraud may be committed by individuals who do not work for government bodies, such as those who dishonestly claim benefits or some other financial advantage (external fraud), or by those employed by entities including staff and contractors (internal fraud). Fraud may also involve collaboration between internal and external parties. This paper aims to provide a better understanding of the nature of internal fraud against the Commonwealth, and the personal background details of those alleged to have committed the deception. It reports on the results of an annual census of Commonwealth entities which collected information on the single 'most costly' incident of internal fraud that they experienced in 2010-11 to 2012-13. During these years, 137 Commonwealth entities reported 7,809 incidents of internal fraud. Of these, 125 chose one incident each year that they considered their most costly internal fraud. Information was provided on how and why fraud was committed, estimated financial losses involved, the personal circumstances of the principal alleged perpetrators, and how the incidents were dealt with in terms of investigation, prosecution and judicial outcomes. Most incidents involved non-corporate Commonwealth entities (formerly governed under the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 (Cth) see Table 1). Entities with more than 1,000 staff contributed more incidents for this study than smaller bodies. Details: Sydney: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2016. 15p. Source: Internet Resource: Research in Practice No. 41: http://aic.gov.au/media_library/publications/rip/rip41/rip41.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Australia URL: http://aic.gov.au/media_library/publications/rip/rip41/rip41.pdf Shelf Number: 138318 Keywords: Crimes against BusinessesEconomic CrimesFinancial CrimesFraud and Corruption |
Author: Kroll Title: Global Fraud Report: Vulnerabilities on the Rise. Annual Edition 2015/16 Summary: 768 senior executives from a broad range of industries worldwide were polled this year-and the results yielded some surprising insights. The overall picture is that fraud has continued to increase, leaving businesses feeling more vulnerable and at risk than ever before. Details: New York: Kroll, Inc., 2015. 85p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 7, 2016 at: http://www.kroll.com/global-fraud-report Year: 2015 Country: International URL: http://www.kroll.com/global-fraud-report Shelf Number: 138599 Keywords: Consumer FraudCrimes Against BusinessesFraud and Corruption |
Author: EY Title: Fraud and corruption -- Driving away talent? Asia-Pacific Fraud Survey 2015 Summary: Given the ongoing war for talent in Asia-Pacific (APAC), our APAC Fraud Survey 2015 reveals a compelling new reason for executives and boards to revisit their fraud, bribery and corruption risk mitigation strategies. To date, the incentives to get compliance right have centered on minimizing financial losses, reducing the management time required to investigate and remediate issues, and preventing the reputational damage caused by corruption. But with a vast majority of our more than 1,500 respondents rating ethical practices as important - and nearly 80% saying they would be unwilling to work for organizations involved in bribery and corruption - there's a new imperative to manage fraud, bribery and corruption risks effectively. Failing to do so could see promising talent avoid working for organizations and cause the best employees to jump ship, leading to higher attrition rates and expensive recruitment campaigns. In markets where it's already difficult to recruit and retain staff, the consequences could be catastrophic. As this survey discusses, to avoid putting their valued talent and growth strategies at risk, APAC companies will need a holistic fraud prevention and detection framework - backed by strong leadership, with up-to-date and well-enforced internal controls, policies and procedures. Organizations also need to improve the way they handle whistleblower hotline complaints, with far fewer respondents willing to use a hotline when compared to our 2013 survey. Our 2015 survey also concludes that the answer to increasing regulatory enforcement and stretched in-house compliance teams lies in leveraging big data through forensic data analytics (FDA), as well as involving the entire C-suite in preparing for a possible cybercrime incident. Details: s.l.: EY, 2015. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 23, 2016 at: http://www.ey.com/Publication/vwLUAssets/ey-apac-fraud-survey-2015/$FILE/ey-apac-fraud-survey-2015.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Asia URL: http://www.ey.com/Publication/vwLUAssets/ey-apac-fraud-survey-2015/$FILE/ey-apac-fraud-survey-2015.pdf Shelf Number: 139139 Keywords: BribesCrimes Against BusinessCybercrimeFinancial CrimesFraud and Corruption |
Author: PriceWaterhouseCoopers Title: How does organised crime misuse EU funds? Summary: This study focuses on the relevance wh ether and to what extend organised crime is involved in defrauding the EU. By research and interviews it is clear that there is no universal definition of organised crime. Different working definitions are being used by EU agencies . In this study research is conducted on the means and methods of misuse of EU funds by organised crime, a risk analysis on the different EU funds and the quantification of EU funds misused by organised crime in 2009. In additi on, several recommendations are made focussing on a future implementation of a more uniform definition of 'misuse/fraud' and 'organised crime', a permanent uniform fraud prevention program in the EU institutions, a more uni form registration of cases for further analysis, a different focus from the EU ag encies and the possibility of more peer review. In addition, we be lieve it is recommended to further develop proactive review of beneficiaries of EU funds an d strive for increased transparency and accountability Details: Brussels: Policy Department D Budgetary Affairs European Parliament, 2011. 124p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 11, 2016 at: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2009_2014/documents/cont/dv/crime_misuse_/crime_misuse_en.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Europe URL: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2009_2014/documents/cont/dv/crime_misuse_/crime_misuse_en.pdf Shelf Number: 139603 Keywords: Fraud and CorruptionOrganized Crime |
Author: Aulby, Hannah Title: Greasing the Wheels: The systemic weaknesses that allow undue influence by mining companies on government a QLD case study Summary: Between 2010 and 2015 the Liberal Party of Australia and the Queensland Liberal National Party accepted over 2 million dollars in political donations from mining companies seeking approval for six highly controversial mining projects in Queensland. While these companies sought approval and legislative changes primarily from the then Liberal National Party Queensland Government, most of the money donated by these companies went to the Liberal Party of Australia. The Queensland Liberal National Party accepted $308,000 dollars from companies associated with these projects, while the Liberal Party of Australia accepted $1.75 million. Although we know that over $3 million dollars was transferred from the Liberal Party of Australia to the Queensland Liberal National Party over this period, a lack of disclosure and transparency makes it impossible to discern the origin of these donations. At least one of the companies examined in this report made a substantial donation to the highly controversial Free Enterprise Foundation, the opaque Federal Liberal Party fundraising body that came under the scrutiny of the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption ICAC for allegedly concealing the origin of illegal political donations to the New South Wales Liberal Party. These mining projects all gained extraordinary access to government ministers and extraordinary outcomes. These outcomes included legislative changes to remove environmental protections, federal and state government approval of projects despite serious environmental concerns, and even retrospective approval of illegal mining activities. The commendable commitment by the Queensland government to institute real time disclosure of political donations can easily be circumvented if donations are be made to federal political parties who then transfer the money back to the state branches without disclosing the origin on those donations. Political donations are the tip of the iceberg of mining industry influence on our democratic process. As well as political donations, this report documents the influence of the mining industry through ‘cash for access’ schemes, third party fundraising vehicles, private meetings, lobbyists, gifts and the revolving door between the government, bureaucracy and the mining companies they are responsible for regulating. It also highlights the extraordinary lack of transparency in lobbying, with very few lobbyist in Queensland even covered by the lobbying register. Details: Canberra: Australia Institute, 2016. 57p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 2, 2016 at: http://www.tai.org.au/sites/defualt/files/P266%20Greasing%20the%20Wheels%20160726_0.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Australia URL: http://www.tai.org.au/sites/defualt/files/P266%20Greasing%20the%20Wheels%20160726_0.pdf Shelf Number: 140125 Keywords: Fraud and CorruptionMining CompaniesNatural ResourcesOffenses Against the EnvironmentPolitical Corruption |
Author: Jorna, Penny Title: Fraud against the Commonwealth: Report to Government 2014-2015 Summary: The Fraud Against the Commonwealth Report for 2014-15 presents research findings on the level of fraud risk affecting Commonwealth entities and the government's approach to preventing and responding to acts of dishonesty perpetrated within and against the Commonwealth. For the three years 2012-13 to 2014-15, 417,480 incidents of suspected fraud were detected worth over $1.208b with more than one third of Commonwealth entities experiencing fraud. During the three years, 3,699 defendants were prosecuted for fraud by the Office of the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions. In 2014-15, almost one third of sentences imposed involved actual imprisonment. Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2018. 96p. Source: Internet Resource: AIC Report; Statistical Report 03: Accessed March 29, 2018 at: https://aic.gov.au/publications/sr/sr3 Year: 2018 Country: Australia URL: https://aic.gov.au/publications/sr/sr3 Shelf Number: 149609 Keywords: Crime StatisticsDishonestyFinancial CrimesFraud and Corruption |
Author: Jorna, Penny Title: Fraud within the Commonwealth: A census of the most costly fraud incidents 2014-15 Summary: During financial years 2012-13 to 2014-15, Commonwealth entities detected or were informed of 4,828 incidents of internal fraud alleged against public servants or contractors, with losses totalling $11.3m. Each entity that experienced internal fraud was asked to select the one most costly incident each year and to provide information on the nature of the incident, the type of person who was alleged to have perpetrated it and how the matter was dealt with. The majority of the 126 incidents examined related to abuse of employee entitlements or financial benefits, with most committed through the misuse of information or documents, or other technology-enabled means. The findings show where risks of serious fraud against the Commonwealth lie and provide insight into how fraud prevention resources could most effectively be targeted. Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2018. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: AIC Statistical Bulletin 04: Accessed March 29, 2018 at: https://aic.gov.au/publications/sb/sb4 Year: 2018 Country: Australia URL: https://aic.gov.au/publications/sb/sb4 Shelf Number: 149610 Keywords: Crime Statistics Dishonesty Financial Crimes Fraud and Corruption |
Author: Jorna, Penny Title: Commonwealth fraud investigations 2015-16 Summary: Public sector fraud involves dishonestly obtaining a benefit or causing a loss by deception or other means, and can be perpetrated by public servants or by members of the public or corporations. It can lead to a loss of revenue, damage to morale and long-lasting damage to trust in government services. The AIC has been conducting a Commonwealth fraud census since 2006, following on from an Attorney-General's Department data collection established in 1995. This paper reports the findings of the most recent annual census of fraud against Commonwealth entities and the measures taken to prevent fraud. It highlights the substantial cost of fraud to the Commonwealth, particularly from external suspects targeting Commonwealth monies or resources. Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2018. 112p. Source: Internet Resource: AIC Statistical Reports no. 7: Accessed June 15, 2018 at: https://aic.gov.au/publications/sr/sr7-0 Year: 2018 Country: Australia URL: https://aic.gov.au/publications/sr/sr7-0 Shelf Number: 150553 Keywords: Crime StatisticsDishonestyFinancial CrimesFraud and Corruption |
Author: Vladimirov, Martin Title: Russian Economic Footprint in the Western Balkans: Corruption and State Capture Risks Summary: Over the past decade, Russia has increasingly sought to reassert its position as a global power and to present itself as alternative to the Euro-Atlantic model of liberal democracy and a free market economy. The Western Balkans is one of the regions in which Russia has been most active in this respect. Thus far, the region has more or less stayed on its course toward NATO and the European Union (EU). But Russia's meddling in the region has enhanced space domestically for political opportunists to try to avoid implementing necessary reforms, particularly those related to strengthening the rule of law and curbing of autocratic tendencies - as a result undermining civil society and the media, leading to democratic backsliding and an economic slowdown. NATO nevertheless could accept Montenegro as a member, while the EU has put forward the Berlin Process, which aims to speed up economic development and transformation. In 2018, the EU will propose a new Enlargement strategy aimed at providing a clear path for the Balkans to integrate into Europe. Tackling outstanding "governance gaps" - deficits in the rule of law, and weak democratic and market institutions - in the Western Balkans is critical to limiting the effects of so-called "corrosive capital" - funds flowing from non-democratic states such as Russia that both take advantage of, and exacerbate the challenges facing struggling democracies - and to restoring the region's democratic transformation. The tools Russia has used to expand its presence in the region are not new: political pressure; soft power, including cultural, media, and religious campaigns; and economic leverage ranging from the control and acquisition of critical energy assets to the financing of political parties and media. These tools are underpinned by a concerted Kremlin narrative designed to counter Euro-Atlantic values. The seeds of this narrative have landed on fertile ground in the Western Balkans, where a climate of unstable institutions of governance and rule of law, and protracted and systemic corruption at both the administrative and political levels, often lead to policy, regulatory or even state capture. The mixture of weak institutions of rule of law and kleptocratic tendencies, media propaganda and geopolitical pressure from Russia (as well as from other countries), has led many Western Balkan governments to adopt policies inconsistent with their national security or development interests. This situation calls for a better understanding and re-assessment of the political and economic factors that threaten the region's development now, and in the future. Details: Sofia: Center for the Study of Democracy, 2018. 66p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 24, 2018 at: http://wap.southeasteurope.org/~igardev/typo3/artShow.php?id=18228 Year: 2018 Country: Europe URL: http://wap.southeasteurope.org/~igardev/typo3/artShow.php?id=18228 Shelf Number: 151250 Keywords: Economic CrimesFinancial CrimesFraud and CorruptionPolitical Corruption |