Page 355 - ACFE Fraud Reports 2009_2020

Size of Victim Organization — Median Loss

$147,000 2012
<100 $155,000
$200,000
2010
Number of Employees 1,000–9,999 $100,000 $139,000 $200,000 2008
$150,000
100–999
$176,000

$116,000

$140,000
10,000+ $164,000
$147,000
$0 $50,000 $100,000 $150,000 $200,000
Median Loss

Methods of Fraud in Small Businesses
Our research reinforces the point that the specific fraud risks faced by small organizations typically differ from
those faced by larger organizations. For example, corruption was observed to be the most prevalent fraud com-
mitted in larger organizations, occurring in nearly 35% of the reported cases in companies with more than 100
employees, compared to 28% of small business cases. In contrast, billing schemes were the most common fraud
committed in smaller organizations. In addition, check tampering was three times as common and payroll and
skimming schemes were noted almost twice as often in smaller organizations than in their larger counterparts.

Scheme Type by Size of Victim Organization

Billing 32.2% <100 Employees
22.2%
Corruption 27.9%
34.9% 100+ Employees
Check Tampering 22.4%
7.6%
Skimming 20.7%
12.1% 17.3%
Scheme Type Cash Larceny 8.6% 13.7% 16.6% 2012 REPORT TO THE NATIONS on occupational FRAUD and abuse |
Expense Reimbursements

15.1%
Non-Cash
Cash on Hand 14.4% 18.0%
10.7%
Payroll 14.2%
7.6%
Financial Statement Fraud 10.6%
6.3%
Register Disbursements 3.4%
3.9%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35%
Percent of Cases

27