Employee Fraud Help for Employers & HR Teams
You've Just Discovered Suspected Fraud - What Now?
The first 24–72 hours after discovering suspected employee fraud are critical. Most frauds leave both a paper trail and an electronic footprint - but acting without a plan can alert the suspect, destroy evidence, and prejudice any subsequent proceedings.
See our step-by-step guide: Investigation Process
What We Do for Employers
- Immediate response - forensic accountant available within 24 hours
- Evidence preservation - securing financial records, email data, and system logs before the suspect is alerted
- Preliminary assessment - quantifying the potential scale of the fraud quickly
- Full fraud investigation - producing evidence-quality findings under legal professional privilege (working alongside your solicitor)
- Loss quantification - exact figure for civil recovery and insurance claim
- Expert witness report - CPR Part 35 compliant, ready for court proceedings
- FTPF advisory - assessing whether your fraud prevention procedures are adequate under the new offence
When to Call Us Before You Call the Police
Many employers instinctively want to call the police immediately. In most cases, it is better to call a forensic accountant first - to secure evidence, quantify the loss, and advise on the most effective route to recovery (civil proceedings often recover more than criminal prosecution alone).
Common Questions Employers Ask
Should I call the police or a forensic accountant first?
In most cases, call a forensic accountant first. They can secure evidence, quantify the loss, and advise on the most effective recovery route before the suspect is alerted. Civil proceedings often recover more than criminal prosecution alone. Your solicitor can coordinate police involvement once evidence is preserved and the strategic approach is determined.
What is legal professional privilege in fraud investigations?
Legal professional privilege (LPP) protects communications and reports between a solicitor and their client from disclosure to the opposing party. Forensic accountants instructed via a solicitor produce investigation reports protected by LPP - safeguarding the employer's legal strategy. Direct instruction by the employer without solicitor involvement may waive this protection.
How is the loss from employee fraud quantified?
Forensic accountants quantify loss by identifying all fraudulent transactions from source records, reconciling against bank statements, and calculating the total misappropriated amount. The quantum includes direct theft plus associated costs such as employer NI on ghost employee wages. Consequential losses may be included where recoverable in civil proceedings.
Can I pursue civil and criminal proceedings simultaneously?
Yes. Civil and criminal proceedings can run in parallel and often should. Civil proceedings focus on recovering money for the employer through asset tracing and judgment enforcement. Criminal proceedings focus on prosecution and POCA confiscation. Running both maximises recovery and ensures the perpetrator faces appropriate consequences.
What is a freezing injunction and how does a forensic accountant support one?
A freezing injunction (Mareva relief) prevents a defendant from dissipating assets pending trial. Applications are typically made without notice and require urgent financial evidence. Forensic accountants provide preliminary quantum assessment and asset tracing analysis within 24–48 hours, identifying where fraud proceeds are held and supporting the application with credible financial evidence.
Need a forensic accountant for employee fraud?
Tell us about your matter and we will connect you with a qualified expert witness. Response within one business day.