Payroll Fraud

Payroll Fraud Doesn’t Shout — It Whispers Until It’s Too Late 🔍

In April 2024, a 68-year-old Melbourne grandmother and trusted bookkeeper was sentenced to prison for stealing $4 million from a family-run construction firm over seven years.

Her crime? Payroll fraud.

Motivated by gambling addiction, she quietly diverted company funds into personal accounts, financing cruises, shopping sprees, and casino visits — nearly collapsing the business and fracturing family relationships in the process.

The most disturbing part? No one noticed... for years.

Payroll fraud thrives on trust, silence, and lack of oversight — and it can happen in any business, big or small.

Here’s the truth:

- It often goes undetected for years

- It’s usually committed by someone trusted

- It can cripple your business

💡 What can you do?

 ✔️ Implement strong internal controls

 ✔️ Conduct regular payroll audits

 ✔️ Offer anonymous reporting channels (48% of fraud in the Asia-Pacific is uncovered this way).

Don’t wait until the damage is done.

 👉 If payroll isn’t being independently reviewed in your business, it’s not secure. Let’s talk about how to protect it. Contact us today.