Train staff to be effective fraud analysts and investigators

Type of countermeasure

This is a response countermeasure. Response countermeasures respond to fraud after it has occurred. They help to reduce the consequences or disrupt further consequences.

Summary

Provide staff with the knowledge and skills required to analyse and investigate different types of fraud.

Why this countermeasure matters

The prosecution must prove every element of an offence beyond reasonable doubt to convict someone. Poor or no staff training may lead to:

less effective investigations
important details being missed
prosecutions being impacted.

How to put this countermeasure in place

Some ways to implement this countermeasure include making sure staff employed in compliance, investigations and fraud control:

hold the minimum required qualifications as outlined in the Australian Government Investigations Standards (Chapter 1.5 Investigator qualifications) and Commonwealth Fraud Control Framework
have the necessary technical or specialist skills and qualifications to perform their role
have a good understanding of your organisation’s programs and functions.

How to measure this countermeasure's effectiveness

Measure the effectiveness of this countermeasure using the following methods:

Analyse human resources data on training /qualifications for fraud investigators (this information is also reported to the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) for their annual ‘Fraud against the Commonwealth’ census). Benchmark results against:
- Australian Government Investigations Standards (Chapter 1.5 Investigator qualifications).
- Similar departments (see AIC Fraud Against the Commonwealth Report).
Review any additional training/qualifications provided to fraud analysts and investigators.
Review training and qualifications to see if they conform to national guidelines and frameworks.
Undertake a Training Needs Analysis with analysts and investigators. Confirm the training/qualifications are adequate for the type of fraud threats involved.
Survey analysts and investigators to decide if they have the level of confidence to investigate the specific type of fraud.
Review the APSC Census Results for teams involved in analysing and investigation fraud and check if staff feel they receive adequate training and support.

Related countermeasures

This type of countermeasure is supported by:

Establish governance, accountability and oversight

Establish governance, accountability and oversight of processes by using delegations and requiring committees and project boards to oversee critical decisions and risk. Good governance, accountability and oversight increases transparency and reduces the opportunity for fraud.

Collaborate with strategic partners

Collaborate with strategic partners such as other government entities, committees, working groups and taskforces. This allows you to share capability, information and intelligence and to prevent and disrupt fraud.

Create legislation and policies that help prevent, detect and respond to fraud

Legislation and policy can help prevent, detect and respond to fraud, such as by outlining clear rules, regulations and criteria, allowing entities to collect, use and disclose information and allowing entities to enforce penalties and recover fraud losses.

Create procedural instructions or guidance

Develop clear instructions and guidance for activities and processes, such as instructions for collecting the right information to verify eligibility or entitlements, procedures to help staff apply consistent and correct processes and guidance to help staff make correct and ethical decisions.

Make sure there is managerial, independent or expert oversight

Make sure a manager, independent person or expert oversees actions and decisions. Multiple people being involved in actions and decisions increases transparency and reduces the opportunity for fraud.

Clearly define decision-making powers

Clearly document decision-makers using delegations, authorisations and instructions. Clearly defined decision-making powers increase transparency and reduce the opportunity for fraud and corruption.

Require a specific form, process or system to be used

Make sure requests or claims use a specific form, process or system for consistency.

Conduct quality assurance checks

Conduct quality assurance activities to confirm that processes are being followed correctly and to a high standard.

Report on activities

Prepare summary reports on activities for clients, managers or responsible staff.

Conduct internal or external audits or reviews

Conduct internal or external audits or reviews to evaluate the process, purpose and outcome of activities. Clients, public officials or contractors can take advantage of weaknesses in government programs and systems to commit fraud, act corruptly, and avoid exposure.

Coordinate disruption activity

Coordinate disruption activities across multiple programs or entities to strengthen processes and identify serious and organised criminals targeting multiple programs.