7 Traits of a Resilient Leader

Every successful leader has encountered a challenging scenario at some point in their career. The unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, however, has forced leaders to face unforeseen new challenges. With the pandemic’s colossal impact on operations, workforces, profits and supply chains across the globe, all eyes are on leadership to guide their businesses through this crisis. Resilient Leader

Resilient leaders are generally seen as more effective, making them an asset to any business; but what is resilience and how can it be applied to your management skills?

What is Resilience?

Resilience is the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties; it is a further evolution of stress management. This makes it a “no brainer” as to why resilience is such a popular concept in today’s business environment. Many businesses are pushing the concept of resilience as a way of helping workers better cope with the stresses and strains of the modern-day office and unlock their performance potential.

In this article, we look at seven essential qualities that characterise resilient leaders, and how to increase your resilience. In general, resilient leaders:

1. Show empathy
2. Are adaptable and able to improvise
3. Are self-aware and open to feedback
4. Take calculated risks
5. Keep a positive attitude
6. Develop others
7. Communicate effectively

1. Resilient Leaders Show Empathy

COVID-19 has generated one of the greatest challenges and, simultaneously, one of the greatest opportunities for resilient leaders – at all levels. According to a Gallup U.S poll, six in 10 people are “very” or “somewhat worried” that they or a family member will be exposed to COVID-19 (Gallup, 2020). During this crisis, emotional management is even more crucial than ever. According to studies carried out by Development Dimensions International (DDI), empathy is the most critical leadership skill. Leaders who display compassion, authenticity and vulnerability – and are capable of apologising when they’re wrong and handle criticism without blame – create strong emotional bonds with their teams (DDI, 2020).

The most resilient (and effective) leaders can demonstrate empathy and a high level of emotional intelligence. When your team feels understood, they feel more motivated and more confident to contribute cultivating stronger conversations, ideas and debate. As Mark Cuban shared in a recent interview: “How you treat your employees today will have more impact on your brand in future years than any amount of advertising, any amount of anything you literally could do” (Just Capital, 2020).

2. Resilient Leaders Are Adaptable

With COVID-19 infecting approximately 311,641 people in the UK alone, health officials suggested using hand sanitiser as the easiest way to prevent the spread of the disease. Consequently, these announcements led to panic buying (Euronews, 2020). In this type of situation, a resilient leader should be able to visualise this action as an opportunity – for example, dozens of spirit manufacturers across the UK started to produce hand sanitisers (i.e. BrewDog and Leith Gin). This is a classic example of an instant attitude adjustment – looking at what they can do as opposed to what they can’t (Telegraph, 2020).

When faced with change, resilient leaders can focus on the things within their business that they can still control. Whether impacted by new technologies, environmental challenges or even ethical dilemmas, the modern business landscape is always changing. A resilient leader needs to be flexible and adaptable to succeed. Is flexibility part of your leadership style?

3. Resilient Leaders Are Self-Aware and Coachable

According to Health Care Business Today, self-awareness and coachability are “The Two Most Important Leadership Traits” (Health Care Business Today, 2019). We think so, too. Resilient leaders are self-aware, confident, and most of all, able to recognise their strengths and overcome their weaknesses. Resilient leaders are open to feedback, ask for feedback and are always demonstrating a real effort to improve.

4. Resilient Leaders Take Calculated Risks

Successful leaders earned their success through taking calculated risks. When Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos launched AmazonFresh, he was scrutinised by others because he didn’t choose a successful delivery or supermarket executive to run the venture. Instead, Bezos selected a team that had previously run a web-based food delivery service in the ‘90s (which collapsed after two years in business). Why? Bezos knew that the team had learned from their failure, which made them the perfect choice to succeed with a new project.

Resilient leaders like Bezos take calculated risks while accepting that failure is a by-product of innovation and success. They learn to become comfortable with being uncomfortable, and flourish as the world changes around them.

5. Resilient Leaders Can Keep a Positive Mindset

The impact of COVID-19 is tough to manage. It is vital to have a positive mindset that can influence fellow professionals and raise team morale while maintaining business momentum.

Under the challenging circumstances posed by the COVID-19 crisis, a resilient leader needs to be enthusiastic, offer praise for success, and give credit when it’s due. American psychologist Carol Dweck has stated in her book “Mindset: The New Psychology of Success” that “a change of mindset must happen before other positive transformation can occur.”

Resiliency is needed when we encounter failure. As a resilient leader, you shouldn’t view failure as final, but as a necessary step to move further along your journey.

6. Resilient Leaders Develop Others

The most resilient leaders are concerned about the development of their teams. Developing others helps everyone to learn from their mistakes. We continue to find that leaders who want and accept honest feedback for themselves are more likely to give productive feedback and coaching to others.

7. Resilient Leaders Communicate Effectively

Effective communication helps teams understand changes, expectations and new directions. This understanding is the key to the success of any team. The most resilient and best leaders always communicate their intentions effectively to others and are willing to help their teams understand a new strategy or direction.

The COVID-19 pandemic is proving to be the ultimate test for business leadership. In times of crisis, only certain individuals can adapt and stand tall amongst the crowd. When it comes to leaders, being able to implement resilience tools and strategies will not only make you a better leader but help the company overall.

Who is CRI Group?

Based in London, CRI Group works with companies across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific as a one-stop international Risk Management, Employee Background Screening,

In 2016, CRI Group launched Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC®) Center of Excellence – an independent certification body established for ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management Systems, ISO 37301 Compliance Management Systems and ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management, providing training and certification. ABAC® operates through its global network of certified ethics and compliance professionals, qualified auditors and other certified professionals. As a result, CRI Group’s global team of certified fraud examiners work as a discreet white-labelled supplier to some of the world’s largest organisations. Contact ABAC® for more on ISO Certification and training.

Filed under: Automotive, Aviation, Background Investigation, Compliance Solution, COVID-19 Insights,

Fraud Advisory Panel deep dives into the HBOS scandal

On 30 January 2017, following a four-month trial, former HBOS employees Scourfield and Mark Dobson involved in HBOS scandal were convicted of fraud and corruption involving a scheme that cost the bank £245m. Scourfield pleaded guilty to six counts including corruption, and Dobson was found guilty of counts including bribery, fraud and money laundering.

The HBOS (Halifax Bank of Scotland) fraud trial was highly unusual in that senior bankers were convicted of crimes, including fraud and hiding the proceeds of crime, in the boom of irresponsible lending ahead of the 2008 crash. As Lloyds reopens compensation claims over HBOS fraud and almost a decade after the HBOS fraud victims will hopefully be finally compensated. Loyds damning review found that victims were not all treated equally after fraudsters plundered £1bn to fund sex parties, superyachts and lavish holidays. The victims were the taxpayer, small business customers of the bank, and HBOS shareholders.

Fraud Advisory Panel

Fraud Advisory Panel discusses the HBOS scandal in an executive breakfast briefing. Which will take a deep dive into the case and take stock of the significant challenges faced by counter-fraud professionals to ensure fair access to justice for those affected by fraud and financial crime, especially SMEs. The agenda is comprised of the following:

• The impact of the HBOS fraud on its victims.
• The practical challenges faced by law enforcement and prosecutors in large corporate frauds.
• The work of the APPG on Fair Business Banking to support SME victims.
• The key lessons that can be learnt from HBOS and how these can be used to inform proactive action to support victims.

Guest speakers

• Nick Gould, Aria Grace Law
• Brian O’Neill QC, 2 Hare Court
• Anthony Stansfeld, Police Crime Commissioner, Thames Valley
• Kevin Hollinrake MP Thirsk and Malton, Co-chair,  All Party Parliamentary Group on Fair Business Banking

In the chair

• Rachel Sexton, director, Fraud Advisory Panel

Registration Expired!

Filed under: Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption Solution, Compliance Solution,

Background Screening Red flags: Numbers Don’t Lie

Want to know what types of red flags are most often found on résumés and employment applications? CRI® Group’s EmploySmart™ experts provided some statistics on their latest pre- and post-employment screening engagements, and they give insights into where companies are most vulnerable in the hiring process. background screening red flags

The operations team found that providing incorrect employment details is the most common red flag, as it was uncovered in about 4.5 per cent of background screenings. This is followed by providing incorrect education degree details as well as having adverse media (unfavorable news or online mentions), both at 2.33 per cent.

Most employers would probably say that when it comes to educational background, the only thing worse than providing incorrect degree information would be outright claiming a fake degree – which occurred in nearly 2 per cent of cases. Other red flags included having a criminal record (1.5 per cent), a civil litigation record (1.27 per cent), and providing a fake address (also 1.27 per cent). To round out the findings, the operations team found bankruptcy records, fake certificates and negative references among 0.85 per cent of those screened.

Deception Among Job Seekers is Real

Anytime someone intentionally provides false information in their résumé, they are committing résumé fraud – usually in the hopes of gaining a competitive edge in the hiring process. “There are even business services out there that will knowingly assist candidates with changing their résumé in this way, such as offering advice on how to hide employment gaps or how to add false information that looks realistic. Some will even provide fake transcripts and fake letters of recommendation” (HR Daily Advisor, 2018).

The same goes for fabrications on an application. It can occur anywhere in the process, and the candidate will likely continue to misrepresent themselves in the interview process to maintain their fraud. As mentioned above, helping candidates embellish or even fabricate credentials has become a business unto itself. “On the surface, these appear to be candidates taking desperate measures. But the candidates themselves may not be the only ones at fault. As recruitment has migrated online and become automated … opportunities for scammers have arisen. Professional recruiters, who get placement fees when they land candidates in jobs, have a clear incentive to game the system, Zhao says. They are ‘middlemen who can make significant profit by misrepresenting clients’” (Inc.com, 2019).

There is only one clear remedy and protection method to combat this type of fraud: thorough and comprehensive background checks. Most organisations, however, don’t have the time, resources, or the expertise to conduct the needed level of background screening on their own. This is where CRI® Group’s EmploySmart™ comes in. The robust pre-employment background screening service helps organizations worldwide avoid making uninformed and potentially harmful hiring decisions. As a leading provider of specialised local and international employment background screening, CRI® Group’s uses EmploySmart™ to provide risk mitigation and give business leaders confidence in their hiring process. EmploySmart™ includes a thorough menu of screening that fulfills your organization’s risk management needs. These checks include the following:

• Address verification – one of the red flags discussed above.
• Identity verification – what are they hiding? Falsifying one’s identity is a major red flag.
• Previous employment verification – candidates might claim false employment to beef up their résumés.
• Education & credential verification – screeners check degrees and education history.
• Local language media check – what is uncovered about the candidate in news reports?
• Credit verification & financial history – candidates who conceal financial problems can be a fraud risk (local privacy laws apply).
• Civil litigation record check – lawsuits can indicate red flags, background screening will uncover the details.
• Bankruptcy record check – when hiring someone for a financial or leadership position, it’s important to know if they have bankruptcy filings.
• International criminal record check – checking criminal records is essential for the safety of your employees and your business.

These are just a few of the essential checks that are part of the EmploySmart™ process. CRI® Group’s network spans the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia-Pacific for providing international risk management, background screening and due diligence solutions provider. Don’t tempt fate and invite red flags into your business by making risky hires. The proper pre-and post-employment screening will uncover those hidden things that a candidate might not want you to know. Contact CRI® today and learn more about how EmploySmart™ will help provide your organisation with that extra layer of protection you need. Get a FREE QUOTE now!

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COVID19 increases identity theft cases: 7 steps to lessen your risk

What does an embezzler spend their money on? In the case of a New York man’s alleged fraud, just about everything, apparently. According to IDentutyUSA identity theft is on the rise during COVID-19 pandemic. Experts predict that one out of every four people in the United States will be a victim of this growing crime trend as more people work from home because of COVID-19.  While data from Experian and the National Hunter Fraud Prevention Service shows that fraud rate rises 33% during Covid-19 lockdown. As many as 1 in 10 people are now victims of identity fraud annually, with 21% of these individuals having been victimized multiple times.

When fraud investigators are asked what is the biggest fraud risk to the public at large, identity theft is usually at or near the top of the list. In today’s technologically connected world, criminals can get personal identifying information on countless unsuspecting individuals with just a few keystrokes.

At CRI® Group, our experts have investigated their fair share of identity theft cases, and while they can be very damaging, there is good news – many could have been avoided (and can be avoided in the future) with some proper due diligence. With that in mind, here are some important tips to help lessen the chances of becoming a victim of this insidious fraud:

1. (If/When out) Be careful using public wifi

When using the wifi at a coffee shop, Internet café or any other public place, don’t access bank account information or other sensitive information. Your data is vulnerable to those looking to steal it.

2. Update your passwords regularly

Change your passwords and vary them among different accounts. Password managers like LastPass can help you keep track of them.

3. Don’t become a victim of phishing

Be very skeptical of unsolicited emails or website pop-ups that pose as legitimate sites (like those pretending to be a bank, a delivery service, or the IRS, for example) and ask you for personal identifying information, or financial particulars. Don’t follow links or click on attachments for any of these unconfirmed emails or sites.

4. Consider going paperless

Identity thieves can still get your information the old-fashioned way: by intercepting your mail, going through your trash or finding other ways to get bills, invoices or receipts. Shred documents that you do have and don’t need, and opt to go paperless (requesting electronic documents only) as often as possible.

5. Check your bank and credit card statements

If someone is using your existing accounts, you’ll want to know as quickly as possible so that your bank can be alerted and take the proper measures.

6. Watch for fraud alerts

Most banks will now proactively alert their customers when they see suspicious transactions. If this is an optional service, opt-in – it’s better to be safe than sorry. Then you can confirm whether the transaction is actually fraudulent or not.

7. Monitor your credit history

Credit reports can help you know if any new lines of credit have been fraudulently opened in your name. Services include Experian, Equifax, TransUnion, and Callcredit, and in the U.S., you are able to receive your credit report once a year at no charge.

Identity theft is a serious problem, and it’s not going away anytime soon. But it’s good to know that there are some common-sense precautions we can all take to lessen our chances of having our information stolen.

If you do become the victim of ID theft, or believe your information may have been compromised, there are resources to help you deal with the crisis.

In the U.S., you can visit IdentityTheft.gov. This official U.S. government website invites users to report if they have been victims of identity theft. Based on the information they provide, victims are assisted with a personalized recovery plan, and can receive step-by-step instructions on how to proceed and navigate the sometimes murky and complicated world of untangling identity theft.

In the UK, ActionFraud National Fraud & Cyber Crime Reporting Centre provides tips, advice and a reporting system as your first point of contact if you have been a victim of fraud.

Many other countries and jurisdictions provide similar services. If you are a victim of identity theft, rest assured you are not alone. It is one of the most common frauds around the world, but with a little preventative action, we can lessen its incidence and its impact.

Identity theft is a persistent problem in business, but it doesn’t have to be a crisis at your company. By using a common sense approach and some key prevention strategies, you can help ensure that your employees know the rules and are less likely to be victims. For assistance in developing and implementing a fraud prevention strategy, contact us today or get a FREE QUOTE now!

Speak up – report any illegal, unethical, or improper behavior

Ethics & Compliance Hotline is an anonymous reporting mechanism that facilitates reporting of possible illegal, unethical, or improper conduct when the normal channels of communication have proven ineffective, or are impractical under the circumstances. At CRI Group, we are committed to having an open dialogue on ethical dilemmas regardless.

Learn more about how EmploySmart™ can help your company stay protected during these strange and uncertain times. Contact CRI®  today.

About us…

Based in London, CRI® Group works with companies across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific as a one-stop international Risk Management, Employee Background Screening, 

In 2016, CRI® Group launched the Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC®) Center of Excellence – an independent certification body established for ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management Systems, ISO 37301 Compliance Management Systems and ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management, providing training and certification. ABAC® operates through its global network of certified ethics and compliance professionals, qualified auditors and other certified professionals. As a result, CRI® Group’s global team of certified fraud examiners work as a discreet white-labelled supplier to some of the world’s largest organizations. Contact ABAC® for more on ISO Certification and training.

MEET THE CEO

Zafar I. Anjum is Group Chief Executive Officer of CRI® Group (www.crigroup.com), a global supplier of investigative, forensic accounting, business due to diligence and employee background screening services for some of the world’s leading business organizations. Headquartered in London (with a significant presence throughout the region) and licensed by the Dubai International Financial Centre-DIFC, the Qatar Financial Center – QFC, and the Abu Dhabi Global Market-ADGM, CRI® Group safeguard businesses by establishing the legal compliance, financial viability, and integrity levels of outside partners, suppliers and customers seeking to affiliate with your business. CRI® Group maintains offices in UAE, Pakistan, Qatar, Singapore, Malaysia, Brazil, China, the USA, and the United Kingdom.

Contact CRI® Group to learn more about its 3PRM-Certified™ third-party risk management strategy program and discover an effective and proactive approach to mitigating the risks associated with corruption, bribery, financial crimes and other dangerous risks posed by third-party partnerships.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Zafar Anjum, MSc, MS, CFE, CII, MICA, Int. Dip. (Fin. Crime) | CRI® Group Chief Executive Officer

37th Floor, 1 Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5AA United Kingdom

t: +44 207 8681415 | m: +44 7588 454959 | e: zanjum@crigroup.com

Filed under: COVID-19 Insights,

TPRM: When is it time to conduct third-party screening?

When to conduct third-party screening?

Why do organisations screen their employees but not the companies they work with? Failing to screen third-party screening to the same level as permanent staff will increase your risks on many levels – from brand reputation to loss of money.

The nature of business today is largely shaped by our connected world. Many organisations conduct business across international borders and/or overseas and as part of various strategic and beneficial partnerships. In fact, the technology revolution and other factors that have removed barriers from business make it more essential than ever to have suppliers, vendors and other supporting companies helping to establish supply chains in various locations. And while they can be a great benefit to an organisation, these partnerships also represent an inherent security risk.

Third-party screening in compliance perspective

Vendors, suppliers and other third-party partners are entities largely outside of your control. While your organisation might have a high level of internal controls and stringent standards for ethical conduct, the entities that you partner with might not share those controls or values. Therefore, if something goes wrong, their failings can affect your organisation in terms of financial loss, liability, and damage to reputation.

Europe’s horse-meat scandal in 2013 or Quest Diagnostics data breach in 2019 is strong examples. Major organisations like Tesco were caught up in financial and PR disaster when they found that some of their suppliers were using horse meat in products sold as 100 per cent beef. Consumers were outraged, and many of the larger companies caught up in the scandal admitted that they had not performed proper due diligence or closely monitored their suppliers and their standards. And in the case of Diagnostics, the exposed records of 11.9 million patients.

When is the right time to conduct due diligence?

While third-party risk management should be an ongoing process, there are certain times when it is absolutely crucial for any organisation. At CRI® Group, we counsel our clients always to use third-party screening when doing any of the following:

• Performing pre-merger and acquisition research
• Conducting pre-IPO due diligence
• Engaging new clients
• Employing, contracting or retaining foreign business partners
• Implementing a consistent and audit-worthy AML and anti-corruption compliance program

Dodging trouble

Conducting 3PRM due diligence investigations at the right time has helped our clients avoid some major pitfalls, including the following:

• Merging with an international business embroiled in several behind-the-scenes legal battles
• Getting caught up in making procurement decisions involving the inappropriate influence of government officials who were slated to receive kickbacks
• Partnering with organisations that were potential credit risks, have claimed bankruptcy, have dissolved stated companies or were faced with debtor filings.
• Awarding work to an overseas contractor with absolutely no prior experience
• Affiliating with a contracting company owned by a politician with significant influence on future awards

With a network of trained professionals positioned across five continents, CRI® Group’s third-party risk management (3PRM™) services will provide your business with a comprehensive approach toward managing all third-party management risks. Contact us today and learn more about how we can help you address all of your third-party screening and due diligence needs – get a FREE QUOTE now!

VIEW OUR RISK MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS BROCHURE

GET FREE QUOTE

About CRI® Group

Based in London, CRI® Group works with companies across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific as a one-stop international Risk Management, Employee Background Screening, 

We have the largest proprietary network of background screening analysts and investigators across the Middle East and Asia. Our global presence ensures that no matter how international your operations are, we have the network needed to provide you with all you need, wherever you happen to be. CRI® Group also holds BS 102000:2013 and BS 7858:2012 Certifications is an HRO certified provider and partner with Oracle.

In 2016, CRI® Group launched the Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC®) Center of Excellence – an independent certification body established for ISO 37001 Anti-Bribery Management Systems, ISO 37301 Compliance Management Systems and ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management, providing training and certification.

ABAC® operates through its global network of certified ethics and compliance professionals, qualified auditors and other certified professionals. As a result, CRI® Group’s global team of certified fraud examiners work as a discreet white-labelled supplier to some of the world’s largest organisations. Contact ABAC® for more on ISO Certification and training.

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Filed under: All Industries, All Regions,

Fraud Advisory Panel UK counter fraud 2019 report is out!

Fraud poses a major threat to the UK and the world. The slow progress in fighting fraud in 2019 was evident to all of us with the never-ending stream of news stories documenting bribery and corruption cases around the world in 2019. We documented each with our article on Top 10 Bribery and Corruption Cases of 2019  where we count down the stories:

• Juniper Networks
• Alstom
• Microsoft
• KPMG
• Samsung Heavy Industries
• Fresenius Medical
• Walmart
• TechnipFMC
• Ericsson
• Unaoil

But these cases helped some of the welcome signs that government and law enforcement were beginning to ratchet-up their interest in fraud with new regulatory updates. 2020 was looking promising to all fraud fighters around the world. Unfortunately COVID-19 pandemic has turned the tide in the fraudsters’ favour – creating the current environment of fear, confusion and economic uncertainty in which fraudsters thrive.

The latest Fraud Advisory Panel’s report, The calm before the storm UK counter fraud in 2019 highlights all of these and more. According to the report the SFO continued to conclude
successful deferred prosecution agreements (though still without converting any of them into individual prosecutions):

• 53% conviction rate (17 defendants out of 32)
• 11 criminal investigations opened
• 8 defendants charged (investigations closed without charge – 14)
• 16 defendants awaiting trial
• £3.9m funds recovered
• 11 new confiscation orders (combined value £4.1m)
• £1.5m for the first Account Forfeiture Order
• 70 total caseload

And all of the stories help illustrate the need for organisations to have proper controls in place to prevent bribery and corruption. A certification such as ISO 37001 – Anti-Bribery Management Systems standard can provide a comprehensive approach to mitigating bribery and corruption risk. Organisations of all sizes and industries should take steps now to ensure that they don’t end up on a future list of top bribery and corruption scandals. Only a well resourced, cross-sector, intelligence-led response can tackle fraud.

Staying one step ahead of any critical risk to your organisation is part of being an effective business leader. For assistance in developing and implementing a fraud prevention strategy, contact us today or get a FREE QUOTE now!

Who is CRI Group?

Filed under: Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption Solution, Compliance Solution, COVID-19 Insights,

Fraud Advisory Panel have set up a COVID-19 fraud watch group

The Fraud Advisory Panel have set up a COVID-19 fraud watch group.  A cross-sector and cross-industry coalition of trusted partners (including the Cabinet Office and City of London Police) who meet weekly to share information on emerging fraud threats and trends affecting business. The panel aims to act as a conduit to warn the public, private and third sectors about COVID-19 fraud risks. In addition to supply  preventative actions that can be taken.

Measures announced over recent months to deal with COVID-19 have seen our day-to-day life drastically changed forcing us to spend more time at home and online. Unfortunately, criminals are using every opportunity they can to scam innocent people and businesses. GOV.UK has also released advice and guidance on how to protect yourself and your business from fraud and cyber crime. This guidance explains simple steps you can take to protect yourself and your business against fraud and cyber crime and where to get help. The National Cyber Security Centre has also published advice on how to spot COVID-19 scams and keep remote working safe.

If you think you’ve been scammed or you’ve found something which looks like fraud or a scam, contact Action Fraud.

Staying one step ahead of any critical risk to your organisation is part of being an effective business leader. For assistance in developing and implementing a fraud prevention strategy, contact us today or get a FREE QUOTE now!

Have you read?

• Brexit poses new bribery challenges, ISO 37001 provides solutions
• Bribery and corruption plague Middle East, how can ISO 37001 help?
• As South Asia Grapples with anti-bribery compliance, ISO 37001 provides solutions
• Whitepaper: Organised catastrophe of international Pakistan airlines
• Rolls-Royce Case study: Ethics & Compliance
• ISO 37001 FAQ
• Are you ready for ISO 37001?
• Don’t have an ethical code of conduct? Your organisation needs one

Who is CRI Group?

Filed under: Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption Solution, Compliance Solution, COVID-19 Insights,

COVID-19’s impact on Cyber security: is your team safe?

When you download an app and it asks to access your contacts, location, and other information, it seems harmless enough, right? Surely the app will only use your data for its stated purpose, and only when needed? We all know that is not the whole truth. However, with COVID-19 forcing your workforce to embrace new practices of remote working you need to ensure your team’s business data is safe and your cyber security is too. Cybercriminals around the world are capitalising on this crisis, and your employees may not be aware. WHO reports fivefold increase in cyber attacks, urges vigilance, according to the article some 450 active WHO email addresses and passwords were leaked online along with thousands belonging to others working on the novel COVID-19 response.

According to a ScienceDaily article, “7 in 10 smartphone apps share your data with third-party services.” As the article warns:  “More than 70 percent of smartphone apps are reporting personal data to third-party tracking companies like Google Analytics, the Facebook Graph API or Crashlytics. When people install a new Android or iOS app, it asks the user’s permission before accessing personal information. Generally speaking, this is positive. And some of the information these apps are collecting are necessary for them to work properly: A map app wouldn’t be nearly as useful if it couldn’t use GPS data to get a location. But once an app has permission to collect that information, it can share your data with anyone the app’s developer wants to – letting third-party companies track where you are, how fast you’re moving and what you’re doing.”

The article also finds that the problem is not just limited to cell phones and tablets:

“Tracking users on their mobile devices is just part of a larger problem. More than half of the app-trackers we identified also track users through websites. Thanks to this technique, called “cross-device” tracking, these services can build a much more complete profile of your online persona.”

Another article, “Your Apps May Be Selling You Out” by Mondaq, sounds the alarm as well. The authors write that many of us likely aren’t aware of the degree to which our information is shared with advertisers and other third parties when we sign up for various apps. The principle is simple enough:

“If you have ever downloaded a ‘free’ app, you may have pondered how the app’s creator can maintain a financially viable company by giving away its product. The answer soon becomes evident when an advertisement pops up, interrupting your interaction with the app. The less obvious answer may come to you when you uncomfortably wonder how the ad that just popped up somehow relates to the items you browsed on Amazon a few days ago. Coincidence? Probably not. This happens because, in addition to selling advertisements, app creators may also access and sell information collected from your phone to allow advertisers to customize the ads they send to your device.”

How can people reasonably expect to solve this dilemma, and protect their privacy? How can organisations help their teams protect themselves? Short of changing laws, the answer is to be more vigilant in monitoring downloaded apps and our security settings. Follow this advice:

• Don’t give apps permission to access your personable information. Most app stores require apps to gain permission before using your location, camera or using other information. If you deny the apps these permissions, your personal information should be safe from their grasps.
• Check the permissions you have granted your existing apps. You may be letting them access personal information without even realizing it (even for apps you don’t use!).
• Don’t sign up for apps on websites, especially ones you don’t know or trust. You have more protection when they are downloaded through a popular app store.
• Delete apps that you don’t remember downloading or no longer need/use.
• Consider adding security and privacy apps that scan your phone to help you find security risks. In other words, apps that police your other apps!

Unfortunately for those of us who frequently use mobile devices and are now working-from-home because of COVID-19 the odds are stacked against us when it comes to controlling and protecting our personal information. The best we can do is be aware of the risk and try to minimize it as best as possible. And to support new laws and regulations that aim to protect consumers and their privacy in all aspects of our “online lives.”

It is important to remember that the same principles that apply to protecting yourself on mobile devices and elsewhere also apply to protecting your business. Just as you must vet your apps, websites and other content to make sure they come from trusted sources, it is also critical to thoroughly check third party partners and perform background checks on potential and existing employees to ensure that your organization doesn’t face unseen risks from fraud and corruption.

CRI Group offers an entire suite of expert services focused on protecting your organization through proper pre-employment screening and background checks. These protections include:

• Employee Integrity Due Diligence
• Personnel Vetting & Pre-Employment Background Screening
• Vendor & 3rd Party Screening

Staying one step ahead of any critical risk to your organisation is part of being an effective business leader. Contact us today to get started on implementing a robust program that will serve you well for years to come. Get your FREE QUOTE now!

Filed under: Background Investigation, Compliance Solution, COVID-19 Insights,

Ethical code of conduct: What should be covered?

Business leaders are usually quick to communicate their expectations to employees, especially when it comes to financial goals or tasks that they want to be accomplished. However, what is often lacking is a clear, concise explanation of what the organisation expects in terms of ethical behaviour. The recent article “Puffery or Not? Courts Examine Corporate Codes of Conduct” explains that although a number of federal courts have found code of conduct statements to be non-actionable puffery, given the uncertainty in the face of the novel CODIV19 pandemic, public companies are ought to review their codes of conduct and revise them if necessary to mitigate litigation risk. Ethical code of conduct:

Does your organisation have an ethical code of conduct? If not, you might be making assumptions that your employees know to conduct themselves in an ethical manner, when, in fact, this expectation only exists in a grey area in their minds – if at all. In fact, some employees who have engaged in fraud, corruption or other unethical situations have claimed that while they knew their behaviour was wrong, they thought it was implicitly accepted by their bosses and, in some cases, their company overall.

Rather than assume that ethical rules “go without saying,” every organisation should spell out what they expect of their employees when it comes to ethical behaviour. At CRI Group, we counsel business leaders on the principle that every organisation should have a written, carefully considered ethical code of conduct as part of their fraud prevention strategy. CRI’s Certification program through the ABAC Center of Excellence includes developing an ethical code of conduct as part of the training and development phase for clients.

What should be covered?

An ethical code of conduct should be tailored to your company and your organisation – no two will be the same. What are the risks inherent in your organisation? What about in your industry? A pharmaceutical company will have some different risk areas than a retail store, for example. A nonprofit organisation might have concerns that relate to fundraising, a government agency might be focused on preventing bribery or collusion.

The goal of an ethical code of conduct is to help all employees understand the expectation that they always behave in a legal and ethical manner, and that the organisation has zero tolerance for unethical behaviour. It should include the following focal points:

1. Business values

This can include your organisation’s mission and vision and should help set the tone for how the organisation relates to its clients, partners, its own employees and the public at large.

2. Guiding principles

The principles that guide your company include customer satisfaction, financial success and profitability, improvement and growth. Your company might also follow policies of corporate responsibility, such as respect for social and environmental issues, and support of the community and/or nonprofit efforts.

3. Role of leadership

This section of the code of conduct should state that management has clearly endorsed the code and that employees can approach any manager or executive with ethical concerns or complaints.

4. Regulatory and compliance

This section should communicate the organisation’s commitment to meeting all compliance requirements, from OSHA and EPA to Sarbanes-Oxley and Dodd-Frank. This reinforces leadership’s expectation that employees must act diligently and ethically to uphold those standards, as well.

5. Employee responsibility

Every employee, from top to bottom, shares the responsibility toward upholding the ethical standard defined in the code. Contractors and volunteers are also expected to follow the standard of behaviour.  Furthermore, the code should make clear that if the unethical behaviour is detected, turning a blind eye or deciding “it’s not my problem” is unacceptable. That is a breach of the ethical code.

CRI Group can help your organisation with the finer points of drafting and implementing an ethical code of conduct. ABAC Center of Excellence includes this critical piece as a part of any robust fraud, bribery and corruption prevention program.

After the ethical code of conduct is approved by company leadership, it should be read and signed by all employees (with the signed copies kept on file by the organisation). And it should be displayed prominently in the office. Unethical behaviour, including fraud and other corruption, is everyone’s problem, and it must be prevented, detected and reduced. Staying one step ahead of any critical risk to your organisation is part of being an effective business leader.

ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management System certification is offered under CRI Group’s ABAC® Centre of Excellence, an independent certification body established for Anti-Bribery Management System training and certification, ISO 37301 Compliance Management Systems and Risk Management System certification. The program will be tailored to your organisation’s needs and requirements. For assistance in developing and implementing a fraud prevention strategy, contact ABAC today or get a FREE QUOTE now!

Who is CRI® Group?

Based in London, CRI® Group works with companies across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific as a one-stop international Risk Management, Employee Background Screening, 

In 2016, CRI® Group launched the Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC®) Center of Excellence – an independent certification body established for ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management Systems, ISO 37301 Compliance Management Systems and ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management, providing training and certification. ABAC® operates through its global network of certified ethics and compliance professionals, qualified auditors and other certified professionals. As a result, CRI® Group’s global team of certified fraud examiners work as a discreet white-labelled supplier to some of the world’s largest organisations. Contact ABAC® for more on ISO Certification and training.

Filed under: Automotive, Aviation, Background Investigation, Compliance Solution, COVID-19 Insights,

Newly published whitepapers examine corruption laws and fraud

Fraud and corruption are always evolving. Changes in methods, technology and other factors make it critically important those trying to prevent and detect it to evolve, as well. Part of that process is to analyse fraud, corruption, bribery, money laundering and other crimes through the lense of research and casework. When experts share their findings and their knowledge into the numerous laws and regulations that address fraud, everyone benefits – especially vulnerable businesses and other organisations. CRI Group has recently published three new whitepapers that provide insightful looks into issues at the forefront of fraud and corruption today. They range from deep dives into the U.S., U.K. and other anti-fraud and anti-corruption laws around the world, to close examinations of actual fraud cases that hold lessons for all of us. We invite you to download these whitepapers and increase your knowledge of fraud, corruption, proper compliance, risk assessments, due diligence and more.

 1. “The Catalysts for Economic Crime: An Investigative Study Into Causal Factors of the Perpetration of Transnational Financial Crimes”

This whitepaper provides an in-depth study of transnational financial crimes and the national laws and regulations that govern them. Laws in the U.S. and the U.K, in particular, are compared and examined in terms of effectiveness in preventing financial crimes.

The comparative study focuses on corporate fraud. “The Catalysts for Economic Crime” pursues the question as to how weaknesses in national laws can be considered “a core causal factor in the perpetration of transnational financial crimes.” Readers will learn about the need to strengthen such laws or risk continued and increased criminal activity.

Different types of financial crimes are examined, including money laundering, due to its prominence as a form of transnational financial crime. The research provides a detailed discussion of the inadequacies in current national laws, and proposes solutions through increased accountability, compliance-focused on self-governance and heightened monitoring for violations, among other important considerations. Download the whitepaper for free.

2. “Countering Bribery & Corruption in the Public & Private Sectors: Anti-Corruption Culture, Risk Assessment, Auditing & Compliance”

This publication provides an insightful look at the responsibility of corporations to monitor and mitigate risks. This whitepaper examines two high profile corruption cases, Airbus and Rolls-Royce, to provide a deeper understanding of how bribery and other financial crimes can take root at organisations without proper prevention procedures and inadequate controls.

The global nature of the enterprise that makes corruption even more prevalent in modern times also makes prevention more difficult. When it comes to putting procedures in place to prevent bribery and corruption, “the concept of ‘adequate procedures’ is “vulnerable to interpretation depending upon national or industrial jurisdiction … and many enforcement agencies and government authorities have failed to provide guidance regarding the definition of ‘adequate procedures’ as it shapes both Anti-Corruption guidelines and legal defence.

Case studies often provide an extremely effective way of demonstrating the effect of inadequate controls and procedures when it comes to corruption. In the cases of Airbus and Rolls-Royce, the financial crimes and their ramifications were significant. Airbus committed to financial penalties of $4 billion; a system of “intermediary leverage” involved hundreds of its agents in 16 countries “to encourage national and airline purchase of the company’s civilian aircraft and satellites.” In the case of Rolls-Royce, a four-year investigation uncovered corruption, false accounting and failure to prevent bribery, leading to fines in excess of ?497.2 million – which accounted for approximately 3.4% of Rolls-Royce’s revenues for 2016. Find out what can be learned from these cases and how proper controls could have prevented them. Download the whitepaper for free.

3. “Organised Catastrophe of Pakistan International Airlines: Major Critical Risk Elements – Mismanagement – Corruption”

This whitepaper provides another case study, this one a close examination of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) which has been embroiled in a scandal. The cases of professional fraud involve fake degrees and fraudulent licenses, and there have been cases of air accidents with loss of lives. This white paper investigates how the PIA case is not a coincidence, but rather an “organised failure of institutional management, state, and internal controls.”

In fact, the PIA investigation comes at a time when fraud and corruption among state-owned enterprises in Pakistan and elsewhere is rising at an alarming rate. This has links to fraud in governmental institutions, and PIA is just a high-profile example of what can result when such corruption goes unchecked.

This whitepaper analyses two major risk elements at PIA, in terms of mismanagement, and corruption in the form of kickbacks. This research paper also proposes solutions for dealing with such systemic, organizational crimes, the foundation of which is to implement a business-based risk management framework. Download the whitepaper for free.

Let’s talk!

If you have any further questions or interest anti-corruption solutions, please contact us.

CRI Group has safeguarded businesses from any risks, providing investigations (i.e. insurance fraud), employee background screening, investigative due diligence, business intelligence,  third-party risk management, forensic accounting, compliance and other professional investigative research services. In 2016, CRI Group launched Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC®) Center of Excellence – an independent certification body established for ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management Systems, ISO 37301 Compliance Management Systems and ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management, providing training and certification. ABAC® operates through its global network of certified ethics and compliance professionals, qualified auditors and other certified professionals. Contact ABAC® for more on ISO Certification and training.

Filed under: Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption Solution, Compliance Solution,