Spotting business fraud early helps limit financial losses and protect your operations. Whether the threat comes from inside your organisation or from an external supplier, fraud rarely happens without leaving clues. Below, our experienced fraud investigators outline the most common red flags UK businesses should look out for.
Financial and Accounting Red Flags
Unexplained discrepancies
Look for missing funds, recurring accounting errors, duplicate invoices, or unexpected increases in expenses.
Document anomalies
Watch for missing purchase orders or receipts, incomplete records, or altered/vague invoices.
Banking and credit shifts
Notice frequent cash shortages, regular card withdrawals, or persistent overdraft overruns.
Payment pressure
Be alert to sudden or urgent requests from "suppliers" to change bank account details or bypass normal approval processes.
Employee Behavioural Red Flags: Signs of Internal Fraud
Reluctance to take leave
Employees committing fraud often avoid holidays or time off because they fear someone else will discover irregularities.
Undue control of tasks
Notice staff who insist on working alone, refuse assistance, work unusual hours unnecessarily, or resist job rotation.
Lifestyle changes
Watch for sudden, expensive purchases, luxury cars, or personal spending that does not match an employee's known income.
Audit defensiveness
Note aggression, unreasonable explanations, or an attempt to control the timeline and scope when questioned by auditors.
External and Supplier Fraud Red Flags
Unusual vendor patterns
Watch for repeated use of a single supplier without justification, uncompetitive tendering, or cosy relationships between staff and vendors.
Threshold gaming
Look out for orders to a specific vendor that regularly fall just below the financial approval threshold required for extra scrutiny.
High-pressure tactics
Recognise external offers or communications that use fear, strict deadlines, or demands for secrecy and unusual payment methods (such as crypto or wire transfers).
How Surelock Can Help With Business Fraud
Fraud Investigations
Surelock provides professional fraud investigations for businesses that suspect they have been targeted by fraud or dishonesty. From corporate and financial fraud investigations to internal fraud and employee theft investigations, our experienced team, some of whom previously served on the Fraud Squad at Scotland Yard, works to uncover the facts, gather evidence and help you take effective action.
This is really our bread and butter, we have a dedicated team of highly experienced investigators who over the years have successfully investigated most crimes, for a wide range of clients, whether it be a burglary, robbery, theft, corporate fraud, we can assist. We investigate, interview staff and suspects, will provide you with all the intelligence / evidence you need to progress the investigation, in legal or disciplinary proceedings or report and liaise with the police on your behalf.
Fraud Awareness Training for Professionals
Equip your team with the knowledge and practical skills to recognise potential fraud, understand common warning signs and know what action to take when fraudulent activity is suspected, including when a professional may be required.
Our fraud awareness training covers current fraud risks, investigative techniques and practical approaches to fraud prevention.
How to Report Business Fraud in the UK
Sadly, fraud and white-collar crime have not been treated seriously by the police and the courts in recent years, mainly because a fraud can take months to investigate and they just do not have the manpower.
Fraud can be reported online through Report Fraud, the national reporting service that replaced Action Fraud. Reports are passed to a dedicated team at the City of London Police, who assess each case and either allocate it to an investigator or refer it to another police force. However, not every reported fraud is investigated.
So, if your business suspects fraud or has been the victim of fraud, it is best to hire a professional private investigator. They will fully investigate the circumstances, take witness statements and interview suspects, then prepare an evidential report at the conclusion, which helps the authorities.
Concerned About Fraud in Your Business? Contact Surelock Today
If you would like to know more about our fraud investigations or fraud awareness training and how they could benefit your business, our team can help. Get in touch today for more information or to arrange this specialist service. We’re only a phone call away and happy to discuss your needs and offer the best possible solutions.
C: www.surelock.org/contact-us
T: 0333 6000 300
