The Five Finger Bonus: What HR professionals need to know about fraud in the work place

By: Kevin W. Techau

HR professionals are on the front lines in the battle against fraud in the workplace. A 2017 study of 2500 cases of workplace fraud involved a total of $6.3 billion in business loss. The study estimated the typical workplace loses 5% of annual revenue to fraud. Median loss of a single case of work place fraud in this study was $150,000. This presentation by a former United States Attorney with front-line perspective and experience in fraud prevention, criminal fraud prosecution and internal investigations involving workplace fraud will provide a top-to-bottom review of how fraud impacts the workplace from hiring decisions, background investigations, prevention & detection methods, internal investigations and criminal referrals. Prevention is the best defense against fraud, and there is no better preventative action than making a good hire. The presentation will cover steps to ensure the best background checks are accomplished. Case studies will be used to cover: key fraud prevention practices HR staff can use, top areas to monitor for employee fraud; types of workplace fraud and how to detect and prevent fraud as well as tips for successful internal investigations involving an allegation of workplace fraud or theft.

Presentation Objectives:

Provide a front-line perspective on fraud prevention, criminal fraud prosecution and internal investigations involving workplace fraud.
Provide a top-to-bottom review of how fraud impacts the workplace from hiring decisions, background investigations, prevention & detection methods, internal investigations and criminal referrals.
Provided steps to ensure the best background checks are accomplished.
Case studies will be used to cover: key fraud prevention practices HR staff can use, top areas to monitor for employee fraud; types of workplace fraud and how to detect and prevent fraud as well as tips for successful internal investigations involving an allegation of workplace fraud or theft.

About the Speaker:
Kevin W. Techau is an attorney with the Smith, Blades & Schrock Law Firm. He is chair of the firm’s Government Compliance, Internal Investigations & Municipal Defense practice. He previously served as the presidentially appointed United States Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa 2014-2017. As chief federal law enforcement official for the District, organized and supported monthly working groups and organized 3 regional training sessions with representatives from 50 banks and credit unions for presentations by Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Secret Service, County Attorney, Secret Service Police Department, United States Postal Service, and Internal Revenue Service on fraud cases and prevention. Kevin’s 30-year public/private career includes service as Commissioner of the Iowa Department of Public Safety and Director of the Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals in Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack’s cabinet and seven years as Associate General Counsel at American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company. He retired as a Colonel with 27 years of total military service including seven years on active duty with the United States Air Force as a Judge Advocate, and 20 years of service with the Iowa Air National Guard upon retirement he was awarded the Legion of Merit Medal.