After 22 years investigating fraud — first in the South African Police Service, then in the private sector — I’ve come to one inescapable conclusion: fraud is almost never invisible. It announces itself. Quietly, awkwardly, persistently. But most businesses aren’t listening.
The fraud triangle (pressure, opportunity, rationalisation) is well-established. What’s less understood is how these forces manifest in real-world business environments — and how to spot them before a small irregularity becomes a catastrophic loss.
Behavioural Red Flags
- An employee who never takes leave — a classic indicator of someone who can’t let anyone else near their work.
- Unusual defensiveness when asked routine questions about accounts or processes.
- Lifestyle that visibly exceeds salary — vehicles, holidays, renovations unexplained by known income.
- Excessive hours worked without corresponding output or clear purpose.
Organisational Red Flags
- Weak or non-existent segregation of duties — one person approving and processing transactions.
- Overridden internal controls “because we trust our people.”
- Vendors with no physical address, PO Box only, or addresses matching an employee’s home.
- Invoices just below approval thresholds — consistently.
The single most effective anti-fraud tool available to any organisation is not software or policy — it’s a culture where people feel safe to report concerns, and where management acts on those reports. If you’re seeing these signs, don’t wait for certainty. Reach out for a confidential assessment.