Don't leave checks out. Make sure you lock them up in a safe place.
On Monday, October 5th, Tammy Lumbard was sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison, as well as, four years supervised release for embezzling more than $100,000 from Huntington Bank. Lumbard, a former Huntington Bank teller supervisor and universal banker, took the money by forging and cashing checks from various customer accounts.
As we head into the holiday season it’s important to take steps to protect yourself and your business from fraud. According to the ACFE’s Report to the Nations, in 2011, check tampering was the scheme of choice in 22.4% of cases for businesses with more than 100 employees and 7.6% of the time for businesses with fewer than 100 employees.
Remember, the following actions can help prevent check tampering schemes in your business:
- Keep the checkbook locked up and limit access.
- Institute a system of checks and balances. Have one person prepare the checks and another review the invoices and sign the checks.
- Scrutinize financial statements. If something doesn’t look right, investigate further.
If you’re concerned fraud may be occurring in your business, or are interested in learning more about preventing fraud, contact Kit Powell.
Kit Powell
Certified Fraud Examiner
231.924.8035
kitp@hscompanies.com
