Editor’s Note: These fraud tips were prepared for International Fraud Awareness Week, November 15-19. At Medavie Blue Cross, we believe benefit fraud mitigation is essential in improving plan sustainability and in protecting the health and wellbeing of plan members. Cross Check is our unique and comprehensive approach to fraud risk management and applies a holistic, organization-wide approach to the mitigation of benefits fraud and abuse, incorporating preventative, detective, investigative and enforcement level controls and processes.

According to the ACFE’s 2016 Report to the Nations on Occupational Fraud and Abuse. A single instance of fraud can be devastating: the median loss per fraud case was $145,000, and more than a fifth of the cases involved losses of at least $1 million.

The good news? There are some basic steps your organization can take immediately to lessen your vulnerability to fraud:

Be proactive

Adopt a code of ethics for management and employees. Evaluate your internal controls for effectiveness and identify areas of the business that are vulnerable to fraud.

Establish hiring procedures

When hiring staff, conduct thorough background investigations. Check educational, credit and employment history (as permitted by law), as well as references.

Train employees in fraud prevention

Do workers know the warning signs of fraud? Ensure that staff members know basic fraud prevention techniques.

Implement a fraud hotline

Fraud is still most likely to be detected by a tip. Providing an anonymous reporting system for your employees, contractors and clients will help uncover more fraud.

Increase the perception of detection

Communicate regularly to staff about anti-fraud policies, ways to report suspicions of misconduct, and the potential consequences (including termination and prosecution) of fraudulent behavior.

Implementing these tips could help prevent your organization from becoming a statistic.

Take action today.

Learn more at fraudweek.com. #fraudweek

Read more fraud prevention tips and our CrossCheck program in a Q&A with Mike Lijeskic, Director of Internal Audit, Head of Internal Audit and Fraud, Medavie.