Take action against economic crime and corruption

Forensics

Forensic services

Professional forensic services for businesses: effective investigation of financial crimes, data leaks, corporate fraud and cybercrime. We will uncover the root causes, implications and sources of threats to protect your assets.

Forensic Services: comprehensive solutions for businesses

Investigations and analytics

Investigations and analytics

Prevention and protection

Prevention and protection
52%

of organisations report experiencing fraud in the last two years¹

¹PwC’s Global Economic Crime and Fraud Survey
26%

of fraud incidents involved collusion between employees and external perpetrators¹

²ACFE's Occupational Fraud Report
43%

of fraud incidents were committed by external perpetrators¹

~50%

of occupational frauds occur due to a lack of internal controls or an override of existing internal controls (20%)²


When do companies need Forensics?

When the company leadership have reasons to suspect financial fraud by an employee or to question integrity of a counterparty, Forensic experts will help identify and address any existing or potential issues on a timely basis.

Key signs that the company may require Forensic services:

Financial outliers and inconsistencies

  • Significant deterioration of the company’s financial position;
  • Unusual fluctuations of financial performance indicators;
  • Inconsistencies between various financial reports, traces of deleted or altered financial records;
  •  Suspicious transactions or payments;
  • Unexpected changes in the asset or liability structure of the company;
  • Sudden spike in cash transactions;
  • Insufficient records of financial transactions;
  • Ineffective internal controls over financial transactions, lack of clear procedures.

Insider threats

  • Suspected employee fraud;
  • Investigations of industrial espionage;
  • Identified intellectual property and commercial secret leaks;
  • Conflicts of interest: employees with undeclared ties to competitors, vendors or customers that may result in data leaks or manipulations with contracts;
  • Suspicious employee activities, particularly for those with access to confidential information;
  • Excessive interest in information outside of one’s role;
  • Terminated employees who may intend to use the information available to them for personal benefit;
  • Rising numbers of IT security incidents.

Cybersecurity issues

  • Alerts from security systems indicating potential data breaches;
  • Inexplicable alterations or deletion of security logs;
  • Identified suspicious network activity, including unusual traffic volumes or routes;
  • Unexpected changes in databases or file systems;
  • Suspected cyberattacks - data leaks, unauthorised access to systems;
  • IT infrastructure disruptions;
  • Unusual data access trends, large data sets copied, inexplicable changes in system settings;
  • Unknown software appearing on corporate devices.

Regulatory compliance and audit

  • Compliance with anti-corruption regulations (such as FCPA, UK Bribery Act);
  • Preparations for external audit;
  • Unsatisfactory findings of the previous audit requiring additional investigation;
  • Requirements to meet new industry standards;
  • Changes in legislation or risk assessment relating to new regulations;
  • Compliance review required to confirm the company’s compliance with licensing terms and conditions;
  • Antimonopoly compliance risks;
  • Investigation required into potential non-compliance with environmental regulations.

Mergers and acquisitions

  • Pre-deal due diligence;
  • Inconsistencies in data provided at various due diligence stages;
  • Risk assessment for system and process integrations;
  • Potential conflicts of interests that may compromise adequate valuation of the company;
  • Non-transparent ownership structure;
  • Adequate business valuation required to avoid the fair price over or underpayment.
  • The transaction requires assessment for compliance with antimonopoly regulations;
  • Risks relating to integration of companies with different corporate cultures.

Counterparty and business partner due diligence

  • Suspicions regarding the integrity of business partners, vendors or customers;
  • Evidence needs to be collected and analysed to support potential breach of sanctions and evaluate the scale of non-compliance;
  • Assessment of cross-border transactions for compliance with effective sanction regimes, particularly when working with sanctioned countries;
  • Suspicion that the information provided by counterparties is misleading;
  • Suspected ties with politically exposed persons (PEPs), potential risks of corruption and conflict of interests.
  • Need to track publications, court rulings and other data that may discredit the counterparty.

Court proceedings

  • Collection and analysis of digital evidence;
  • Investigation of breaches of contract or investment agreement;
  • Identification of financial implications resulting from breach of contract or other arrangements;
  • Commercial or investment disputes requiring an independence assessment of loss;
  • Cross-jurisdiction proceedings requiring expertise in international law and finance;
  • Preparation for arbitration or legal proceedings relating to financial matters;
  • Complex structures of financial transactions, hard-to-track arrangements or transactions requiring a detailed analysis to understand their substance;
  • Need for independent expert assessment of financial documents or digital data.

Compliance and regulatory requirements

  • Need to align internal processes with new laws and regulations;
  • Need to assess compliance risks, analyse potential non-compliance and develop mitigation action;
  • Lack of compliance management system and processes and procedures to ensure compliance;
  • Suspected potential non-compliance;
  • Suspected breaches of anti-corruption law;
  • Need to develop/revise the Code of Conduct;
  • Liaison with regulatory bodies, preparation for audits.

Deteriorating operational performance

  • Inexplicable deterioration of productivity or performance;
  • Loss of customers or a market share without obvious reasons;
  • Suspected sabotage - intentionally damaged equipment, disruption of production processes;
  • Systematic issues with product or service qualities;
  • Supply chain anomalies - unusual delays, inconsistent documentation, inexplicable changes of suppliers, non-market prices;
  • Inconsistencies between internal data and external reports;
  • Lack of appropriate control over the key operating processes.

Reputational issues

  • Suspected disclosure of confidential information;
  • Lack of intellectual property protection resulting in its loss or illegitimate use by competitors;
  • Whistleblowing - reported non-compliance, unethical conduct;
  • Negative publicity - dissemination of information damaging the company’s reputation;
  • Loss of trust - doubts regarding the company’s integrity and transparency;
  • Suspected intentional actions by competitors aiming to discredit;
  • Suspected reputational loss resulting from actions of affiliated parties.

Have you noticed any indicators of forensic risks in your company?

Engage Forensics experts

Industries where Forensics are critical

Forenzik dlya bankiv

Financial services sector

Large numbers of transactions with significant cash amounts and securities make the financial services sector vulnerable to various forms of fraud, money laundering, corruption and other irregularities.

Forenzik dlya bankiv

Public sector

Effective management of public funds requires transparency and compliance with the standards and procedures in place. A timely forensic health check will help identify and prevent any corruption incidents.

Forenzik dlya ryteylu

Retail

Warehouse premises, retail floors, procurement procedures and numerous other processes provide multiple opportunities to commit fraud.

Forenzik dlya bankiv

Fuel and Energy

Energy and Oil&Gas sectors typically involve high-scale investment and therefore can be tempting for dishonest individuals to commit fraud.

Forenzik dlya promyslovoho vyrobnytstva

Industrial manufacturing

Large numbers of transactions with significant cash amounts and securities make the financial services sector vulnerable to various forms of fraud, money laundering, corruption and other irregularities. 

Forenzik dlya promyslovoho vyrobnytstva

Pharmaceuticals

A strictly regulated industry subject to pricing controls. Financial investigations will help reveal non-compliance with pricing rules, procurement fraud and many other incidents.

Forenzik dlya budivelnoyi haluzi

Engineering

The engineering industry is often exposed to tendering fraud, inflated cost of work and misuse of funds.

Forenzik dlya promyslovoho vyrobnytstva

Telecom and IT

The global technology disruption poses serious threats to cybersecurity. Digital forensics will help tackle these challenges.


5%

of revenue is lost by organisations to fraud each year²

²ACFE's Occupational Fraud Report
42%

of frauds were detected by tips²

¹PwC’s Global Economic Crime and Fraud Survey
~1 year

on average is the period between the perpetration and detection of fraud²

81%

of organisations have improved their fraud prevention and detection efforts after detection²


Forensic Health Check (FHC)

In light of the broad range of forensic services and their role for businesses, how do you determine which efforts does your business need?

Find an answer to this question using our Forensic Health Check, the first step towards building an effective protection system for your business.

What is the Forensic Health Check? Key stages:

Assessment of the current state of your business

1.1 Collect and structure needs and expectations of the key stakeholders within your organisation regarding the fraud risk prevention and detection practices, identify the scope and areas of work. 

1.2 Collect information: identify the roles, responsibilities and authorities of the responsible individuals involved in fraud risk management processes within your organisation, including:

  • ‘tone from the top’ and the role of senior leadership;
  • allocation of roles and responsibilities of other employees, delegation of decision-making;
  • whether the employees have appropriate skills and training opportunities;
  • details of the company’s operational and financial activities.

1.3 Analyse the fraud risk prevention and detection practices in place by:

  • examining the existing relevant policies and procedures;
  • reviewing financial statements, contracts and other documents relevant to the case;
  • conducting interviews and focus groups;
  • analysing any existing incidents and approaches taken to address those.

1.4 Prepare a list of key observations and risks relevant to the context of your organisation - based on the work performed, we will prepare a document with detailed findings.

Develop recommendations and prepare for implementation

2.1 Develop and prioritise recommendations for future development of fraud risk prevention and detection practices in your organisation. 

2.2 Prepare an implementation plan as a roadmap of projects structured by ‘quick wins', short-term, medium-term and long-term initiatives.

2.3 Develop a project passport for each project including a summary of project goals, key steps and milestones, stakeholders, implementation timeline, interdependencies with other projects, etc.

2.4 Identify the transitional context including the list and description of key governance areas, as well as organisational and operational components that should be considered and implemented in your organisation prior to and immediately during the project implementation.

2.5 Develop key tools and approaches required to monitor and control the implementation of changes:

  • Select appropriate tools to prevent and detect fraud
  • Develop a plan for implementation of preventative measures
  • Develop mitigation policies and procedures
  • Identify monitoring KPIs

 

Implement the changes required

3.1 Detailed planning and implementation of projects.

3.2 Perform periodic status/progress monitoring and make appropriate changes/adjustments to achieve the expected outcomes.

3.3 Deliver training and other events to develop relevant skills and competencies among your organisation’s employees.

Discuss your needs with our Forensic experts

Request a tailored risk assessment for your business

Contact us

Andriy  Tretyak

Andriy Tretyak

CFE, CISA, Forensic and Financial Crime Leader, PwC in Ukraine

Tel: +380 44 354 0404

Tap the benefits from Forensics today

Minimizatsiya finansovykh vtrat vid shakhraystva ta kiberzlochyniv

Minimise financial loss from fraud and cybercrime

Forensic help identify and prevent the schemes that may cost companies millions. We use leading analytical tools to identify hidden anomalies in financial flows and reveal complex schemes, evaluate potential impact and develop mitigation strategies to protect your assets.

Pidvyshchennya investytsiynoyi pryvablyvosti

Enhance your investment attractiveness

Implementation of Forensics signals your readiness to protect shareholder interests, demonstrates a mature risk management approach and a commitment to high standards of corporate governance. This enhances your attractiveness for potential investors and strengthens relationships with existing partners.

Vdoskonalennya system vnutrishnoho kontrolyu

Improve internal control systems

By identifying weaknesses, you will be able to improve the processes and prevent re-occurrence of incidents. We conduct an in-depth review of the existing processes, identifying control vulnerabilities. Leveraging on the leading international experience, we develop and implement tailored solutions to improve your business performance.

Zberezhennya konfidentsiynosti krytychno vazhlyvoyi informatsiyi

Protect confidentiality of your critical information

Protect commercial secrets, intellectual property and personal data from leaks. This will maintain your competitive advantage and build trust with customers and partners as a foundation of a successful business. Our methods include an in-depth analysis of digital traces allowing to detect potential data leaks before they become a threat to your business.

Fornezik otrymannya dokazovoyi bazy dlya sudovykh protsesiv

Obtain evidence for legal proceedings

Professionally collected evidence strengthens the company’s position in legal disputes. Our team uses legally enforceable methods to collect and analyse digital evidence. We create an undisputable body of evidence that meets the highest judicial standards and significantly strengthens your position in court.

Pidtrymka dilovoyi reputatsiyi

Protect and strengthen your business reputation

Quickly address incidents to protect trust with your partners and customers. Our proactive approach to Forensic allows us to predict and mitigate reputational risks. We ensure transparency of business processes to build trust with your stakeholders and increase your attractiveness to investors and partners.

Forensics: FAQ

We understand that confidentiality is critical for our clients, particularly in the context of Forensics and investigations. This is why we have implemented a comprehensive system of data protection comprising the following key elements.

Strict access control (access to data is only provided to authorised individuals):

  • Access to data is provided exclusively to authorised individuals on a need-to-know basis;
  • Multi-factor authentication is used for access to the systems; 
  • Periodic audits and monitoring of access to confidential information;
  • Clearly defined procedures for granting and revoking access rights.

Secure data channels and data encryption used to protect confidential information:

  • Encryption is used in communications; 
  • Modern encryption protocols are used to protect data;
  • Security systems and crypto protocols are updated on a regular basis.
  • VPN is used for secure remote access.

Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDA) in place: 

  • Special confidentiality terms and conditions in client contract;
  • Clear procedures for handling confidential information during and after completion of the project.

We also take additional action to strengthen our protection of confidentiality:

  • Periodic IT security training for all employees; 
  • Physical security of our offices and server rooms;
  • Clean desk and safe document destruction policies;
  • Regular security system reviews and audits;

We continuously enhance our processes and security system to meet the highest standards for confidentiality protection and give our clients complete confidence that their data is secure. 

Corporate fraud may come in various forms, but main types include:

Misappropriation of assets:

  • Theft of the company cash or property; 
  • Forgery of invoices and payments;
  • Misuse of corporate credit cards.

Misrepresentation of financial statements:

  • Overstatement of revenue or assets;
  • Understatement of expenses or liabilities;
  • Manipulations with timing of recognition of revenues/expenses.

Corruption and abuse of power:

  • Conflict of interests;
  • Bribery
  • Illegitimate remunerations. 

Each type of fraud has its own ‘red flags’ - the signs that may indicate potential issues. For example:

  • Unusual fluctuations of financial performance indicators;
  • Inconsistencies in documentation; 
  • Excessively complex or non-standard transactions;
  • Missing or inadequate supporting documents;
  • Unexpected changes in employee behaviours.

Various forensic procedures are used to identify fraud, e.g.:

  • Detailed analysis of financial transactions;
  • Internal audits and reviews;
  • Analysis of digital traces and electronic communications; 
  • Examination of unusual transactions or outliers;
  • Counterparty and partner due diligence;
  • Analysis of employee behavioural patterns, etc.

If you have any doubts or suspicions about potential fraud in your organisation, contact us for advice. We will help assess your risks and suggest effective methods to detect and prevent corporate fraud.

The fee for forensic services depends on the complexity and scope of the work needed and the resources and technologies involved.

To estimate the cost of forensic services for your organisation, get in touch with our experts directly or complete the Contact Us form. We will perform a preliminary assessment of your requirements and provide a tailored proposal that will best meet your needs and budget.

How long it takes to provide forensic deliverables depends on several key factors:

  • Complexity of the project: the scope of investigation, the number of individuals and systems involved and the background of the incident;
  • The scope of data for analysis: volume and format of data to be processed;
  • Whether any specialised examinations are required, such as data recovery, forensic examination of devices, etc.

At the beginning of the project, we provide a preliminary estimate of the timing and throughout the entire investigation we inform the Client on a regular basis about the current status of work any factors that may affect the timing.

For a more accurate estimate of the timing of work for your specific case, please get in touch with our expert for a preliminary consultation.

Using forensic services is a strategic decision for any business looking to protect its assets and enhance its performance.

Even without any previous incidents, such services may bring invaluable benefits. Here's a few key reasons:

  • Enhance investment attractiveness:  Thanks to forensic services, your business demonstrates a high level of transparency and credibility. Investors prefer businesses taking action to protect from financial crime and prevent unwanted incidents.
  • Prepare for crisis situations: Forensic experts will help develop and implement crisis response plans, allowing your organisation to swiftly and effectively respond to unforeseen challenges.
  • Predict and prevent threats: Forensic services leverage data analysis and risk monitoring to predict potential threats, minimising the risk of their realisation.
  • Mitigate potential loss: Identification of security weaknesses helps minimise financial loss caused by potential frauds and crimes.
  • Ensure regulatory compliance: Appropriate control and investigations ensure that your business meets up-to-date regulatory standards and regulations.

By implementing forensic services, you ensure long-term stability and success of your business. This is your investment in the security and transparency of your business that will provide the returns by establishing a reliable reputation in the market.

Engaging certified forensic experts is critical for several important reasons:

  • Experienced forensic experts guarantee compliance with applicable legal standards and international industry best practices; 
  • Working with certified professionals improves the chances that the evidence gathered will be admissible in court;
  • You receive not only relevant technical skills, but also a guarantee of a professional, ethical and legally supportable approach to the investigation. This will significantly enhance the effectiveness and reliability of findings, which is particularly important in addressing business critical issues.
  • The experience of forensic experts significantly increases the accuracy of data analysis and interpretation, the reliability of the evidence collected and expert opinions;
  • By engaging forensic experts, you minimise the risk of mistakes that may compromise the findings of the investigation.

Put your trust in professionals to protect your business. Get in touch with our team of certified forensic experts to discuss the details of your project.

A forensic investigation is a comprehensive process comprising several key stages:

  1. Securing evidence, ensuring data integrity and correctness;
  2. Identifying outliers via a detailed analysis of policies and procedures, financial data, documents, network usage logs, digital traces, etc.; 
  3. Creating copies of electronic data media (desktop and laptop computers, mobile phones, tablets. etc,) and analysing the electronic data obtained;
  4. Conducting interviews with key stakeholders;
  5. Issuing an exhaustive report with investigation findings, conclusions and recommendations to mitigate the implications of the incident and future re-occurrence of a similar risk (proactive risk mitigation action).

At each stage of the investigation, we use cutting-edge technologies and methodologies, following the highest forensic review standards. Our approach guarantees that we not only identify and document any incidents but also provide our clients with expert recommendations to enhance their economic security and prevent future threats.

If your company requires a forensic investigation, get in touch with us for a consultation to discuss the details of your situation. We will develop an effective action plan custom tailored to your needs.

{{filterContent.facetedTitle}}

Follow us

Required fields are marked with an asterisk(*)

By submitting your email address, you acknowledge that you have read the Privacy Statement and that you consent to our processing data in accordance with the Privacy Statement (including international transfers). If you change your mind at any time about wishing to receive the information from us, you can send us an email message using the Contact Us page.

Hide