Payroll and Expense Fraud

If you notice that one of your employees is unusually diligent in working overtime and simultaneously generating correspondingly high expense claims, this does not automatically mean that they are an exemplary worker, nor that the rest of the staff is slacking off. It may simply be that the supposedly outstanding employee is regularly recording more hours than actually worked. Our IHK-certified corporate investigators in Bochum examine such cases and, if suspicions are confirmed, provide court-admissible evidence: +49 234 3075 0073.

Dodgy Fieldwork

Field staff necessarily enjoy a particular level of trust from company management, as they perform their duties outside the direct supervision of their superiors. While most field employees usually report their time reasonably accurately, there are regrettable exceptions who spend their working hours idly and still receive a respectable pay slip at the end of the month. Instead of attending appointments, they pursue private interests and complete professional duties – if at all – afterward or sporadically in between, often recording this as overtime. Some account managers regularly enjoy long weekends by scheduling their appointments over just three days a week, attempting to complete enough work in that period to avoid suspicion. On the remaining two days, they take time off, with the employer none the wiser, yet the full weekly salary is paid. As long as productivity appears adequate and at least an average quota is met, the perpetrators hope the fraud will go unnoticed. Nevertheless, inconsistencies eventually arise: a customer complaint, a tip from colleagues, or a supervisor catching the employee slacking off.

Our experienced detectives in Bochum are familiar with the various tactics of time and expense cheats, as they follow a handful of recurring patterns. We conduct surveillance on the suspect, document the findings in a court-admissible written and photographic report, and give our clients the means to hold the employee accountable. Employees committing overtime and expense fraud risk not only immediate dismissal but also liability for lost revenue due to incomplete or poorly executed work, overpaid wages, and even investigative costs incurred in uncovering the offence. We are happy to advise you on our case-specific investigative methods without obligation: kontakt@kurtz-detektei-bochum.de.

Reviewing Expense Claims by Bochum Detectives

Payroll fraud is often accompanied by expense fraud (“if you’re going to cheat, do it all the way”): company fuel cards are used to fill private cars, personal mail is paid via the employer’s postage budget, and a romantic dinner with a partner or secret lover may be recorded as a business meal with a client. The inventiveness of fraudulent employees is extensive – as are the financial damages incurred by affected companies. While individual amounts may seem minor, over a year they can accumulate to a significant sum. If not a single perpetrator but multiple employees fail to account properly for expenses and working hours, the financial impact can quickly become substantial, even threatening the business’s existence.

If you suspect that an employee in the office or field is behaving dishonestly and causing deliberate financial harm through falsified claims, or if you notice any other irregularities, immediate action is required. Our qualified detective agency in Bochum monitors the individual(s) during their (alleged) work and provides a comprehensive, court-admissible report. We are happy to advise you without obligation, explain the possible investigative methods, and outline the associated costs to identify the best solution for your company. For inquiries, please email us (also via our contact form) or call us at +49 234 3075 0073.