Beatrice K. Boalt, CPA, CIA, CGMA, CFE

470-298-4140 Cushing OK

boaltassociates73@gmail.com

A casual conversation – my friend called and we talked. He is in the C Suite of his company. He works hard. He is probably paid on the low side. He is a good man.

He said “I have to pay back $4,000 to my company.” I asked what happened….He put a company expense on his credit card. He was reimbursed. His wife paid the Amex bill. The vendor did not do the job and he did not have to pay the vendor. And his next words were – “No one would ever know.”

My heart skipped not one beat but several beats.

I’m spreading the word about International Awareness Fraud Awareness Week – November 17 – 23, 2024.

I am a Certified Public Accountant. I am a Certified Internal Auditor. I am a Chartered Global Management Accountant. I am a Certified Fraud Examiner.

I do fraud investigations. People have been fired, arrested, gone to jail and/or prison due to their poor choices.

I still prefer to live life as an innocent. I still look for the good in people.

My response to him before we hung up was, “You will make the right decision.”

Today, make the right decision. Stand firm. Know who you are. Do the right thing. Grow your business.

Today I am here to help you and your company with your internal controls through awareness training for you and your employees.

Today I realized bad actors can be anyone. Today I realized I am a fraud fighter.

Certified Fraud Examiners (CFEs) estimate organizations lose 5% of their revenue annually due to fraud, according to Occupational Fraud 2024: A Report to the Nations.