Reference no: EM1361485

Security and Loss Prevention

You have completed your investigation on allegations against a plant employee of an acquired corporation, Lakes Inc. that is based on the basic information given below. Create a report on the results of your investigation and present final results that your investigation has concluded.

The following are the main points of the investigation, including what took place and the findings of the investigation:

Facts:
1. You conducted an investigation at the plant of Lakes, Inc. based on an anonymous tip that the company received on June 12, 2007 that an employee was submitting false expense claims.

2. The tip stated that an invoice for the purchase of a computer server was false and that the actual purchase was for a high definition (HD) flat screen television.

3. The company requested that you perform the investigation.

4. The investigation took place from August to November 2009.

5. The investigation determined that $8,795.60 in false invoices had been submitted for reimbursement through the purchasing department.

6. The associate director of purchasing and his administrative assistant were terminated.

7. The investigation determined that there was no original invoice on file but only a copy. The purchase was made with a corporate purchased card issued to Mr. Bob Smith, the Associate Director of Purchasing.

8. The vendor, Sterns, was contacted and confirmed that the invoice number on the file copy matched on the invoice they had for the sale of a HD television.

9. Lakes, Inc. maintains a physical asset database in which all nondisposable items with a purchase price of $1,000 or more are recorded. Each item is assigned a unique ID number and barcode label, which are used to track the item. The database is maintained by the administrative assistant.

10. There was no record of the computer server in the physical assets database, and no ID number had been issued for any similar item in the past 10 months.

11. An on-site visit was made to Sterns, an approved vendor since May 2005.

12. The manager, Mr. Ted Jones, advised that in the past 6 months the same individual, Mr. Bob Smith, had made 2 other purchases that he considered odd because he asked that the purchase be held for pick up by either him or his administrative assistant, Ms. Mary Bad.

13. Mr. Jones also noted that Ms. Bad had used Mr. Smith's purchase card to make an additional 3 purchases with the same request that they be held for pick up.

14. Mr. Jones provided copies of the invoices that showed the purchase of a notebook computer, a digital camera, a digital camcorder, a GPS system, and a home theater system.

15. When these invoices were compared with the plant purchasing records it was found that the files contained only copies as opposed to originals. Each of the file copies matched an original invoice as to the invoice number, date, and amount but were different as to what was purchased. All other purchases were made with the same purchase card and approved by Mr. Smith.