Multi-year forensic investigation reveals sophisticated internal fraud in agriculture business
A well-established agriculture and trading business in the UAE had sustained operations for many years with consistent revenue and seemingly stable financial performance. The business dealt with agricultural commodities and maintained complex supply chain relationships.
Despite stable top-line revenue, the business owner noticed gradually declining profitability and suspected potential internal irregularities, but lacked concrete evidence or the expertise to investigate systematically.
The business owner observed that despite maintaining consistent sales volumes and pricing, net profitability had gradually declined over multiple years without obvious external factors.
Operating expenses appeared higher than industry benchmarks and historical patterns, suggesting potential inefficiencies or irregularities.
Financial records showed inconsistencies and gaps that raised questions about the accuracy and completeness of bookkeeping.
The business owner felt they lacked clear visibility into day-to-day financial operations and couldn't trace specific transactions effectively.
Ratio engaged its forensic accounting specialists to conduct a comprehensive multi-year investigation, employing systematic analytical techniques to identify irregular patterns and trace potential fraud.
Gathered and organized multiple years of financial records, bank statements, supplier invoices, and transaction documentation for comprehensive analysis.
Used forensic accounting software and analytical techniques to identify unusual transaction patterns, timing anomalies, and statistical outliers across multiple years.
Systematically verified vendor relationships, contacted suppliers to confirm invoices and payments, and identified discrepancies between internal records and external confirmations.
Conducted detailed bank reconciliations and traced fund flows to identify diverted payments, duplicate transactions, and unauthorized transfers.
Examined original documents for signs of alteration, verified authorization procedures, and compiled comprehensive evidence for legal proceedings.
Calculated the full extent of financial loss across all affected transactions and prepared detailed forensic report with documentary evidence.
Ratio's forensic investigation uncovered a systematic embezzlement scheme exceeding AED 200,000 that had operated over multiple years through various fraudulent methods.
Documented financial loss across multiple years of fraudulent activity
Full documentation compiled for legal proceedings and criminal prosecution
Ratio's comprehensive forensic report provided the business owner with documented evidence necessary for legal action. The detailed investigation supported:
"For years, I suspected something was wrong but couldn't prove it. Ratio's forensic team uncovered the full extent of the fraud with such precision and professionalism. The evidence they compiled gave us the foundation to pursue legal action and protect our business going forward."
Business Owner, Agriculture & Trading Company, UAE
Following the investigation, Ratio implemented a comprehensive fraud prevention framework to protect the business from future incidents:
Separated payment approval, processing, and reconciliation functions across multiple trusted personnel to prevent single-person control.
Implemented strict procedures for adding new vendors with independent verification and approval requirements.
Established monthly independent reconciliation of all vendor accounts, bank statements, and transaction records.
Mandated two-signature approval for all payments above defined thresholds with documentation requirements.
Scheduled periodic forensic-level reviews to proactively identify unusual patterns before they escalate.
Created confidential reporting channels for employees to report suspicious activities without fear of retaliation.
This case demonstrates Ratio's specialized forensic accounting expertise for complex fraud investigations:
Comprehensive historical data review spanning multiple accounting periods and fiscal years
Advanced analytical techniques to identify fraudulent patterns and statistical anomalies
Independent verification of vendor relationships and transaction authenticity
Systematic tracing of diverted funds through complex transaction chains
Evidence compilation meeting legal standards for criminal prosecution and civil recovery
Professional testimony and reporting for legal proceedings when required
Ratio's forensic accounting specialists can help you uncover the truth and compile evidence for legal action.
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