Combatting fraud in a perfect storm
Fraud is one of the most pervasive and destructive forces in today’s economy. It is not a victimless crime — every fraudulent transaction leaves a trail of harm to people, businesses, and society at large. This report serves as both a call to action and a practical guide across professions. We must embed proactive detection into business operations, strengthen governance and accountability, and foster cultures in which raising concerns becomes safe and expected.
Research Partnership:
Fighting back against modern fraud
The IIA partnered with a multi-profession coalition to support this in-depth research project led by the ACCA (Association of Chartered Certified Accountants). This report is based on a global survey of more than 2,000 professionals in finance, auditing, risk, cybersecurity, compliance, and investigations. Results were interpreted through 31 roundtable discussions and 30 expert interviews.
The wake-up call our professions cannot ignore
Three forces define today’s converging threats:
- Cyber-enabled attacks are finding new entry points through payments, identity, and data.
- Cost pressures are pushing organizations to take shortcuts that expose them to more fraud risks.
- AI-enabled fraud collapses time and amplifies deception.
In addition, systemic fraud risk must be recognized. This is fraud that is not isolated or opportunistic, but embedded in the structures, processes, or culture of an organization or system, making it harder to detect and more damaging.
The voices from this coalition’s research show how organizations can move beyond technical compliance and embrace a new era of professional skepticism and behavioral insights — where asking not just more questions, but the right ones, is as critical as finding the right answers.