Signals that indicate possible internal theft – Part 1 – Atlanta Georgia

Signals that indicate possible internal theft or employee theft with goods or money

1. Demonstrable shortages without administrative accounting, often described, for ease, as shrinkage.
2. Internal or external checks show stock differences or procedural errors.
3. Anonymous reports to management that may be from the home front, personnel or others.
4. Considerable shortages relating to certain personnel for which they may have taken the initiative or been asked for favours by others in exchange for reductions.
5. A sale of goods by certain sales persons need not lead to a till receipt.
6. Easy exchange, without a receipt, is possible.
7. Clients exchange or return goods with receipts or invoices that are unknown to the company.
8. The discovery of unknown (part used) receipts books near a sales point or in delivery vans. The carbon copy may be missing.
9. Repairs carried out by some employees on the basis of  “Oh, just give me …”
10. Self-loading by customers without any control at the exit.
11. Personnel arrange ‘special offers’ and make customers aware of them, unasked.
12. Personnel deliver ‘special offers’ to customers at home after working hours. Cash payment is demanded.
13. Personnel carry out repairs or installations for clients at home without invoice or receipt.
14. Goods are brought in for repair according to an agreement or guarantee when these goods, according to the administration, do not appear to have been sold by the company.
15. Goods for which the customer shows an unknown receipt or invoice are brought in for repair.
16. Deliver of goods at unusual times.

Many times several of these signals are seen in one employee. One item by itself may not be internal theft but a mistake. Look for one or more in a person. Remember, internal theft or employee theft should always prompt an employee theft investigation . Do not bury your head in the sand, employee theft will not go away on its own. It WILL get worse. Many times employers are afraid to have an employee theft investigation conducted because it will “offend” good employees. What offends good employees is to see unchecked theft going on around them.

Watch for more parts to come in future blogs!

For more information about internal theft or employee theft contact us at employee theft investigation or call 1.770.426.0547 Atlanta Georgia