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Expert Investigations
A manufacturing client based in the South of England contacted Expert Investigations after identifying what appeared to be a series of fictitious orders for finished products. With no invoices or legitimate customer activity to support these orders, the company suspected a significant internal theft and sought specialist support.
Initial Assessment and Process Review
Expert Investigations attended the factory to assess the client’s internal processes. Our investigators conducted a detailed review of order-handling procedures. From this, they identified several vulnerabilities within the system that allowed false orders to be created without detection.
The evidence suggested that this activity had been occurring for approximately 18 months, indicating a well-established scheme rather than an isolated incident. Several employees were found to have the access required to raise orders within the computer system, making it essential to narrow down the list of potential suspects.
Identifying and Tracking the Fraudulent Orders
With the next fictitious order – valued at £22,000 – Expert Investigations mounted a surveillance operation to track its movement. The stolen goods were transported via the company’s internal logistics network to a warehouse located 130 miles away. This is where they were subsequently unloaded.
To gather evidence, we installed a covert camera system alongside targeted IT monitoring software on the workstation used to raise suspicious orders. This combination captured the individual responsible for generating the fraudulent transactions.
Shortly afterwards, a further false order for £36,000 was raised. Using the same combination of surveillance, tracking, and covert recording, the team followed the order through the same route and documented the movement of the stolen goods in detail.
Building a Police-Ready Evidence File
Expert Investigations compiled a Police-style evidence file. This included surveillance footage, system logs, and a full audit trail of the fraudulent order process. Working closely with law enforcement, we ensured every evidential requirement was met to support swift and decisive action. As a result of this collaborative approach:
- Two employees from the client company were arrested
- Three search warrants were executed across multiple locations
- A wider Police enquiry into the distribution network is now ongoing
Outcome of the Investigation
Through meticulous investigation, evidence gathering, and surveillance, Expert Investigations successfully uncovered a long-running internal fraud. Valued at approximately £750,000 in stolen products over an 18-month period. The client has since strengthened internal processes to prevent similar activity in future. And they are supported by the recommendations provided as part of our investigation.
Don’t just accept theft in your organisation. Turn to an Expert.