Fraudulent T&E reports can indicate greater ethical lapses

In 2008, shortly after receiving my CFE credential, my boss emailed me asking to join her in a meeting with the company’s general counsel to discuss a travel and entertainment (T&E) matter. I was young and a newly minted CFE. I naturally felt terrified and nervous to be included in such a high-profile meeting at an early stage in my career. The general counsel told my boss and me that a member of upper management was potentially falsifying expense reports. This was my big chance to make a difference at my company to root out fraud but also make a name for myself.