You hate to think that any employee would try to defraud your company. But it happens … a lot.  Here’s who does it.

In fact, it tends to happen even more often in times like these. People who never ever would have even entertained the idea of stealing from their employers may now be tempted to pad that expense report or walk out with a little something from the supply closet. Or worse.

Much worse. The median fraud loss for U.S. organizations is $105,000, according to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners’ just-released 2010 Report to the Nations.

So how do you protect your business and its money? Often, the best defense is a good offense. But by knowing what to watch out for (and making sure others do, too), you can minimize your risk throughout the organization.

The most likely suspect

Granted, anyone has the potential to defraud your company. But certain patterns do emerge, finds the Report to the Nations.

Check out what the typical corporate fraudster is most likely to look like in 2010:
•    male
•    between ages 36 and 45
•    with your company for 1-5 years
•    with a college degree
•    an employee (vs. a manager, though that gap is extremely narrow), and
•    working in Accounting.

Of course, remind staffers this is merely a springboard. And be sure to emphasize that no one is to be singled out and “watched” without probable cause. Otherwise “investigating” could easily cross the line into a witch hunt.

If nothing else, this profile could work to dispel some myths about who could defraud your company.

Info: To download the entire ACFE Report to the Nations, go to www. acfe.com/RTTN/2010-highlights.asp