CRI® Group Joins Movement to Shine a Spotlight on Fraud

2021 International Fraud Awareness Week kicks off November 14-20 worldwide. Fraud costs organisations worldwide an estimated 5 percent of their annual revenues, according to a study conducted by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE). The ACFE’s 2020 Report to the Nations on Occupational Fraud and Abuse analysed 2,690 occupational fraud cases that caused a total loss of more than $7.1 billion.

The seriousness of the global fraud problem is why CRI® Group announced that it will be participating in International Fraud Awareness Week, Nov. 14-20 as an official supporter to promote anti-fraud awareness and education. The movement, known commonly as Fraud Week, champions the need to proactively fight fraud and help safeguard business and investments from the growing fraud problem.

CRI® Group joins hundreds of organisations who have partnered with the ACFE, the world’s largest anti-fraud organisation and premier provider of anti-fraud training and education, for the yearly Fraud Week campaign. As an official supporter, CRI® Group will continue engaging in various activities, including raising awareness for businesses on how to prevent fraudulent actions within and outside their organisations.

CRI® Group has been a supporter and active participant of the Fraud Awareness Week since the very beginning. Zafar Anjum, CRI® Group founder and CEO, said: “It is a crucial awareness tool to put a spotlight on fraud and encourage organisations to take action not just this week, but year-round. Since 1990, we have been safeguarding businesses from fraud, bribery and corruption by providing due diligence, background checks, investigations, risk management solutions and by establishing the legal compliance, financial viability, and integrity levels of outside partners, suppliers and customers seeking to affiliate with global businesses. This week is crucial for highlighting the global problem of fraud, and we are happy to see that every year, more and more organisations get involved in and support the Fraud Week.”

ACFE CEO and President Bruce Dorris, J.D., CFE, CPA, said that the support of organisations around the world helps make Fraud Week an effective tool in raising anti-fraud awareness.

“Fraud is an issue that unfortunately affects people from all walks of life around the world and it takes many forms,” said Dorris. “Whether it’s a trusted employee stealing from a small business, or organised rings of fraudsters targeting seniors in our community, most people know someone who’s been victimised by fraud. That’s why it’s so important for organisations to join in this fight together in order to raise awareness during this week. It is a serious problem that requires a proactive approach toward preventing it and educating people is the first step.”

For more information about increasing awareness and reducing the risk of fraud during International Fraud Awareness Week, visit FraudWeek.com. The 2020 Report to the Nations is available for download online at the ACFE’s website: ACFE.com/RTTN. The Report is in PDF format.

About the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners

Based in Austin, Texas, the ACFE is the world’s largest anti-fraud organisation and premier provider of anti-fraud training and education. Together with more than 85,000 members, the ACFE is reducing business fraud worldwide and inspiring public confidence in the integrity and objectivity within the profession. For more information, visit ACFE.com.

About CRI® Group

Based in London, CRI® Group works with companies across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific as a one-stop international Risk Management, Employee Background Screening, Business Intelligence, Due Diligence, Compliance Solutions and other professional Investigative Research solutions provider. We have the largest proprietary network of background-screening analysts and investigators across the Middle East and Asia. Our global presence ensures that no matter how international your operations are we have the network needed to provide you with all you need, wherever you happen to be. CRI® Group also holds BS 102000:2013 and BS 7858:2012 Certifications, is an HRO certified provider and partner with Oracle.

In 2016, CRI® Group launched Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC®) Center of Excellence – an independent certification body established for ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management Systems, ISO 37301 Compliance Management Systems and ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management, providing training and certification. ABAC® operates through its global network of certified ethics and compliance professionals, qualified auditors and other certified professionals. As a result, CRI® Group’s global team of certified fraud examiners work as a discreet white-labelled supplier to some of the world’s largest organisations. Contact ABAC® for more on ISO Certification and training.