Trusting Assistants With Access

Embezzlement Investigation Case Study


By Monica Dalwadi, CFE, CPA, CIA; Aaron Raddock, CFE, CFCM

Explore the case study of Evelyn Reynolds, a trusted executive assistant, who embezzled more than $100,000 from a children's charity for her own nefarious use. The authors outline how she did it and their investigation.

MarchApril-greedy-assistant
Many executives are lost without their professional assistants who control their daily activities — calendar appointments, meetings, telephone calls and expenses. But what if an assistant has too much control and exploits an executive's trust? 
 


Evelyn Reynolds, a supposedly faithful assistant to the chief operating officer at a prominent non-profit organization, perpetrated a multi-faceted fraud totaling more than $100,000. In less than 10 months, she provided herself with a rhinoplasty, a recreational vehicle and a pile of cash that she didn't earn. (See Figure 1 below.) MarchApril-the-spoils 


In this article, you'll learn:

 

  • How she perpetrated this fraud and the techniques she employed.
  • The warning signs that you, your supervisors and your executives need to know.
  • Details of our investigation.
  • Controls to help mitigate the risk of a similar fraud at your organization.
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    Embezzlements are common, but they're often unnoticed until it's too late.


    (All the names of businesses and individuals are fictitious to protect the privacy of the victimized organization.)

     

     

     

     


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