Fraud Concepts and Business Ethics

This web site is designed to assist Boston College personnel by providing information and guidance concerning fraud prevention in your organization.  Fraud, and unethical behavior are "hot" topics in today's world.  The challenge for us, as Boston College employees, is taking preventative action so that frauds do not happen.  Fraud takes many forms.  Some examples include:  embezzlement, kickbacks, theft, fraudulent financial reporting, environmental crimes, software piracy, bid rigging, computer-related crime, identity theft, credit card fraud, check fraud, fraudulent workers compensation claims, ghost employee schemes, inappropriate expense reports, unreported conflicts of interest, etc.

We believe the vast majority of Boston College personnel are ethical, well-intentioned and desire to conduct University business activities with utmost propriety. The ideas and concepts discussed herein will provide staff members with specific measures to help ensure that high professional standards of integrity are adhered to by all members of the Boston College community.

It is important to distinguish between Internal Audit's role and University management's role concerning white-collar crime. Many individuals believe that frauds and other transgressions are only the concern of Internal Audit and Campus Police. However, this is incorrect. University management is responsible for maintaining an adequate system of internal control by analyzing and testing controls. Internal Audit's role is to independently evaluate the adequacy of the existing system of internal control by analyzing and testing controls. We also perform fraud investigations, and promote a positive control environment throughout the University.

As a Boston College employee, you have stewardship responsibility for safeguarding University assets under your purview. We are confident that implementation of the concepts discussed on this web site will enable you to satisfy your stewardship responsibilities and maintain the high professional and ethical standards of the University.