Meet Samia El Kadiri; Gifted Consultant, Author & Trainer

CRI Group™ is delighted to welcome Samia El Kadiri as an Auditor at our sister brand the Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC™) Center of Excellence. Samia provides audit services and expertise on existing compliance and Anti-bribery Anti-corruption management systems to assess effectiveness and vulnerabilities while ensuring compliance with Internal Standards, FCPA rules, UK Bribery Act laws, Anti-Money Laundering regulations, and all other global, regional and local regulations. For this reason, we are also delighted to announce that Ms El Kadiri will be a guest speaker on our upcoming webinar with our sister brand ABAC® titled “Building a Culture of Compliance and Trust Through ISO 37301:2021 Compliance Management Systems”.

MORE ON THE WEBINAR HERE

Widespread trust is built on a company culture of doing the right thing, where every employee contributes because they understand and believe in its importance. Don’t miss out!

Meet Samia

Samia El Kadiri Consultant , Author & Trainer 6σGB |IRCA- QMS Lead Auditor | TOT Auditor | Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC®) Center of Excellence

She brings in over eight years of progressive experience working in private and government owned entities in compliance, management, quality assurance and excellence functions. Possess keen understanding, oversight and reporting mechanisms on Financial Crimes – Anti-Money Laundering, UAE Central Bank regulations, Dubai and UAE federal government mandates. She Developed and delivered various number of workshops and awareness sessions to leaders and decision makers on “Good Corporate Governance Practices”, “Development of Strategic Plan and Effective Policies” and “Financial Ethics” (AML&CFT according to local Guidelines). She authored reports and research papers on Compliance and the evolution of CG in the MENA region.

She participated in the ESG Index; MENA wide Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) Index in cooperation with Standard & Poor’s with the support of the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

She is a Consultant at DIFC – Hawkamah Institute for Corporate Governance charged with leading entities consultancy and advisory engagements in identifying the relevant controls, processes and frameworks and recommend areas of improvements. She works closely with clients in assessment and development, advisory and succession planning across multiple industries (Dubai and Federal Government entities, Healthcare, Financial institutions including Banks, and Real Estate) and functional topics (Ethics, Strategic excellence, ESG, Clinical Governance, Regulatory Compliance, Audit & Risk , Policies & Procedures…etc.).

Prior to joining Hawkamah she was the Regulatory Compliance Officer and Chief Editor of Compliance newsletter at Wall Street Exchange, a member of Emirates Post Group where she developed systems, policies and procedures for compliance of relevant UAE laws. Prior to that she worked with the American Clinics for Psychiatry and Neurology where she focused on health care compliance of Dubai Healthcare Authority’s mandates. Prior to ACPN she worked at Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai where she focused on government excellence, quality management, and customer happiness.

She is Graduated with a BSC in Economics. She is a Certified Train the Trainer – Institute of Leadership and Management (UK), In addition to other accreditations related to Anti-Money Laundry (AML) and Counter Financing Crimes. She is fluent in English, Arabic and French.

WATCH SAMIA AT OUR UPCOMING WEBINAR

Samia is our guest speaker at our upcoming WEBINAR “Building a Culture of Compliance and Trust – an essential part of a corporate compliance program”. Our intention with this free webinar is to be able to provide resources on corporate compliance to organisations around the globe that will aid them in expansion and an ethical working environment. Widespread trust is built on the corporate culture and understanding of making the morally correct decision and we want to aid organisations to reach a degree to which every employee contributes towards this because they understand and believe in its importance. Our “Building a Culture of Compliance and Trust Through ISO 37301:2021 CMS” webinar will highlight all essential parts of a corporate compliance program.

SAVE YOUR SEAT NOW!

Our webinars, resources and other events are always designed with our clients in mind. Expect to be provided detailed insights and expert opinions to all of your questions and queries in regards to compliance adequate due diligence for third-party risk management, corporate compliance program and what it means for your organisation.

Check out some of Samia’s publications:

• “HOW SHOULD BOARD MEMBERS OVERSEE CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS” – Thought leadership piece published on April 2020 with a comprehensive review of GCC Corporate Governance regulations on crisis communication.
• “CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND DATA PROTECTION DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE GCC” – A study report in partnership with a leading Corporate Governance software provider company, it provides an overview of recent developments in corporate governance and data protection landscape in the MENA region.
• UAE Business Magazine, Article “The Benefits of Good Governance in Times of Crisis”
• “COMPLIANCE FUNCTION; Reporting lines and Effectiveness” – Survey report about the role of Compliance function in the MENA region- July 2021

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CRI Group™ Celebrates World Accreditation Day

World Accreditation Day: Contribute to Sustainable Development Goals with ISO Standards

International Standards published by ISO represent globally recognized guidelines and frameworks based on international collaboration. ISO standards “provide a solid base on which innovation can thrive and are essential tools to help governments, industry and consumers contribute to the achievement of every one of the SDGs”. For every SDG goal, ISO has identified the standards that make the most contribution. We are proud to announce that all ISO standard certification, implementation or training offered through ABAC™, contribute to at least 3 of the UN’s sustainable development goals.

On this year’s World Accreditation Day, visit our ABAC™ to read the full article and learn more about how your organisation can benefit from ISO standards 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, Business Intelligence, Due Diligence, Compliance Solutions and other professional Investigative Research solutions provider. 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 BS102000:2013 and BS7858:2019 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 37001:2016 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 organisations. 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

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Mubadala Petroleum Achieved ISO 37001 ABMS Certification Through CRI Group™

Corporate Research and Investigations Limited (CRI Group™) announced that Mubadala Petroleum, a leading international oil and gas company, has successfully achieved ISO 37001 Anti-Bribery Management Systems certification.

The announcement was made by Zafar Anjum, CEO at Corporate Research and Investigations Limited. “We are honoured to certify Mubadala Petroleum for ISO 37001, as the ethical and transparent front-runner in the oil and gas industry.”

Mubadala Petroleum is a leading international, upstream oil and gas exploration and production company that manages assets and operations spanning ten countries globally, with a primary geographic focus on the Middle East and North Africa, Russia and Southeast Asia.

The ISO 37001 certification was achieved through ABAC™ Certification, a component of CRI Group’s Anti Bribery and Anti-Corruption (ABAC™) Center of Excellence, accredited by the Emirates International Accreditation Center (EIAC) for administering ISO 37001 ABMS certification.

ABAC’s Scheme Manager, Huma Khalid added: “Mubadala Petroleum was very motivated to achieve the globally recognised certification to prove their commitment to the highest integrity and accountability levels across the world. It is an honour to certify Mubadala Petroleum in the UAE in numerous business areas including but not limited to ABC ethics & compliance, ABC risk assessment and management, business management, investigations and reporting, due diligence and employment procedures. It is encouraging that exponential number of worldwide organisations start deciding to not only commit to their sustainable business commitments but also achieve certification to promote transparency inside and outside their organisations.”

ABOUT CRI GROUP™

Since 1990, CRI Group™ (Corporate Research and Investigations Limited) has safeguarded businesses from fraud and corruption, providing insurance fraud investigations, employee background screening, investigative due diligence, third-party risk management, compliance and other professional investigative research services.

CRI Group’s ABAC™ Center of Excellence provides certification and training solutions to local organisations in the field of Anti-Bribery Management Systems, Risk Management Systems, ISO 37301 Compliance Management Systems.

Stop Bribery and Corruption Today – With ISO 37001 Certification!

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The Story of Our CEO and Company

The Story of CRI Group™

By Zafar I. Anjum, Group CEO

THE BEGINNING: EVENT THAT CHANGED ME

Shortly after leaving the Pakistani Rangers in 1994 (five years after my graduation), I took over my father’s private investigation organisation – called, at the time, the Metropolitan Detective Agency. During this period, I was involved in investigating a case of suspected insurance fraud. The case involved a grandfather attempting to lay claim to his daughter’s life insurance settlement following her death under the pretext that he was responsible for the guardianship of her four orphaned children. After investigation, it was revealed that this was not the case and that the grandfather was attempting to defraud his late daughter’s insurance company.

Much like my feeling towards the case, the situation’s outcome could be characterised in two ways – one positive and one negative. I remember the overwhelming pride I felt in our success on the positive side. However, this was somewhat overshadowed by a sense of what is perhaps best articulated as injustice – I saw first-hand how fraud is damaging. And although fraud was having (and continues to have) a detrimental effect on the people, the lack of an effective solution to the problem meant that, frustratingly, such crimes were able to continue.

UNCOVERED MY FIRST FRAUD; WHAT’S NEXT?

Whilst I had managed to deal with one case of fraud and thus prevented the successful committing of a crime, this was just a single instance of fraud – I had done nothing to move towards an overall reduction of the problem. In other words, I concluded that I had managed to treat a mere symptom rather than the underlying illness.

DEDICATION TO INVESTIGATING FRAUD

Although the case itself was not particularly unusual, at least as far as fraud cases go, one particular aspect of the affair struck me – that, in contrast, most crimes are dealt with by the justice system, and fraud is peculiar. It often mandates investigation by an external agency or organisation that specialises in fraud detection. I noticed that such organisations were sorely lacking in Pakistan at the time – and that there was a distinct lack of counter fraud education in the general population, which aided those committing fraud greatly. Furthermore, even where individuals were aware that they were being defrauded, they lacked knowledge of effectively resolving disputes between themselves and the defrauder.

With this analysis in mind, I concluded that there needed to be significant growth in the counter-fraud industry within Pakistan. This is where the privatised nature of fraud investigation could make a significant positive impact. 

Although the police might not have had the resources to deal with fraud in its entirety, there was certainly an incentive for private companies to increase their spending in this area. In other words, there was a clear market opportunity for the expansion of the anti-fraud industry, and one that I knew how to fill with my experience and knowledge. Although I am market-minded as a matter of business necessity, it has become apparent to me over recent years that I am at my most motivated not when I am seeking organisational growth but when I am seeking professional development.

Corporate Research and Investigations Ltd (CRI Group’s First Logo)

FUTURE PLANS: CRI GROUP™ EXPANSION

With this conclusion in mind, I continued with the operation and expansion of Corporate Research and Investigations Limited “CRI® Group”. As well as expanding the CRI® Group, I began to take more and more of an interest in the professional aspects of fraud investigation. For this reason, in 1995, I became the first member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners from Pakistan, and in 1998 I was appointed the Area Governor for Pakistan and the Middle East by the World Association of Detectives.

The Area Governor appointment letter, issued to Zafar Anjum by
World Association of Detectives, 1998

If I were to summarise the one lesson that I learned due to my early experiences in Pakistan, it would be important to expand counter-fraud and counter-corruption to where it is needed. The ramifications of this lesson did not end when I left Pakistan either. My awareness of areas into which fraud prevention might be further expanded has continued. For this reason, I have taken a particular interest in the emerging area of corporate corruption and fraud.

CRITICAL REFLECTIONS ON MY PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Being a business owner, it is only natural that my personal development has been attached to the development of my organisation. As noted above, I have sought to have my organisation grow in line with my field – where there has been a need to combat corporate corruption and fraud, I have sought to conquer the resulting market. Similarly to how I have sought to expand my business, I have also found it necessary to seek out personal development opportunities whenever they become available. To this end, I have consistently been seeking out academic development since 2009. I have since completed an ICA International Diploma in Financial Crime Prevention, ICA International Diploma Governance, Risk and Compliance, ICA International Diploma in Anti-Money laundering, and MSc in Counter Fraud and Counter Corruption Studies. I completed another Master in Fraud and Financial Crime with Distinction and a Master of Laws (Legal Practice Intellectual Property). It is only natural that I am currently seeking to learn academically and contribute something to academia in the form of my PhD thesis.

In terms of personal development, I can therefore consider myself lucky to bring my career experience to doctorate-level study. Still, I will be able to take what I have learned at the doctorate level and apply it in a professional setting. Although I am market-minded as a matter of business necessity, it has become apparent to me over recent years that I am at my most motivated not when I am seeking organisational growth but when I am seeking professional development.

Hard work and dedication are two values ingrained into our core and are found in all facets of our operation. We believe that true value comes from fostering trust with our colleagues and clients at an equal level. We take great care in keeping integrity at the forefront of our Anti-Corruption, Compliance and Risk Management services. We wish to build long-term relationships in which we can be counted on to provide efficient and cost-effective services.

CRI Group’s very first international directory advertising in the UK during 1998

Looking Forward…

I believe it is important to constantly look for ways of improvement, especially in this rapidly changing industry. Each new technological development is an opportunity for us to advance our capabilities and competencies. Making use of the finest equipment and the most advanced technologies is one of the many ways that we set ourselves apart from the competition. I take great pleasure in implementing the most innovative ways to provide for our colleagues and team.

Our goal is to provide principled and reliable Anti-Corruption, Compliance and Risk Management Services for our clients. With the shifting marketplace, we pride ourselves on maintaining our core values as a constant. The message to our client is that your satisfaction is the main driving force behind our business. When you choose our services, you can expect a professional, high-quality experience every time.

Thank you all for your dedication, and congratulations on our 32nd anniversary!

With gratitude and wishing for more years to come for the CRI Group™ family,

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ESG: CRI Group™ Environmental Policy

Corporate Research and Investigations Limited “CRI Group™” is a certified member of GBB (Green Business Bureau), seeks excellence in every aspect of our business and is committed to minimising the environmental impacts of our business operations. After extensive new compliance requirements across the ESG (Environmental, social and governance) and working with Green Business Bureau, we are committed to strictly implementing the same commitments we agreed with GBB certification. 

The CRI Group™ and all directly employed sub-contractors, and agents, agree to comply with the below rules and will continue to ensure compliance. Here is our global Environmental Policy.

Our commitment is to:

• Continuously improve our environmental performance and integrate recognised environmental management best practices into CRI® Group operations.
• Reduce our consumption of resources and improve the efficient use of those resources.
• Measure and take action to reduce the carbon footprint of CRI Group™ activities to meet our published objectives and targets.
• Purchase qualified electronic equipment globally recognised as the most energy-efficient equipment available.
• Manage waste generated from our business operations incorporating reduction, re-use and recycling in accordance with the principles of the waste hierarchy
• Manage CRI® Group business operations to prevent pollution.
• Give due consideration to environmental issues and energy performance in the acquisition, design, refurbishment, location, and buildings use.
• Ensure environmental, including climate change, criteria are considered in the procurement of goods and services.
• Comply as a minimum with all relevant environmental legislation and other environmental requirements to which the firm subscribes.
• Maintain our certification to ISO 14001 program in 2022 implementation and rigorous.
• Monitoring and review.

To meet our commitments, we will:

• Provide CRI® Group’s Executive Board oversight and review of environmental policies and performance and allocate resources for effective direction and implementation.
• Monitor key objectives and targets for managing our environmental performance at least annually.
• Use a green web hosting service for our business websites with completely carbon neutral.
• Communicate internally and externally our environmental policy and performance regularly and encourage feedback.
• Communicate the importance of environmental issues to our people.
• Work together with our people, service partners, suppliers, landlords, and agents to promote improved environmental performance.
• Promote appropriate consideration of sustainability and environmental issues in the services we provide to our clients.
• Review our environmental policy regularly.

This environmental policy represents our general position on environmental issues and the policies and practices we will apply in conducting our business.

What is ESG?

ESG (Environmental, social and governance) criteria increase interest to companies, their investors and other stakeholders. With growing concern about the ethical status of quoted companies, these standards are the central factors that measure the ethical impact and sustainability of investment in a company. 

In less than 20 years, the ESG movement has grown from a corporate social responsibility initiative launched by the United Nations into a global phenomenon representing more than US$30 trillion in assets under management. According to Juliet Chung and Dave Michaels, “ESG Funds Draw SEC Scrutiny”, Wall Street Journal in the year 2019 alone, a surge of capital totaling US$17.67 billion flowed into ESG-linked products, an almost 525 per cent increase from 2015.

ESG factors cover a wide spectrum of issues that have traditionally been excluded from financial analysis:

Environmental:

• Climate change
• Resource depletion
• Waste and pollution
• Deforestation

Social:

• Working conditions, including the use of child labor
• Local communities
• Conflict
• Health and safety
• Employee relations and diversity

Governance:

• Executive pay
• Corruption
• Political affiliations and donations
• Board composition, diversity and structure
• Tax strategy

These factors have increasing financial relevance as global interest in ethical investment grows. 

Meeting the ESG Imperative

Increase your shareholder Engagement with Corporate Governance Solutions with our DueDiligence360™ service and our sister brand ABAC™ ISO certification.

Have confidence in your decisions when selecting your business partners, customers and workforce. Our due diligence reports provide research and insights from financial to legal and reputational standing.

Request a free report sample today!

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Download our brochure now!

About CRI Group™

Corporate Research and Investigations Limited (CRI Group™) has been safeguarding businesses from fraud, bribery and corruption since 1990. Globally, we are a leading Compliance and Risk Management company licensed and incorporated entity of the Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC) and Qatar Financial Center (QFC). CRI™ protects businesses by establishing the legal compliance, financial viability, and integrity levels of outside partners, suppliers and customers seeking to affiliate with your business. Based in London, United Kingdom, CRI™ is a global company with experts and resources located in key regional marketplaces across the Asia Pacific, South Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, North and South America. Our global team can support your organisation anywhere in the world.

In 2016, the company launched the Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC™) Center of Excellence – an independent certification body that helps organisations mitigate internal and external risks by providing a complete suite of Anti-Bribery, Compliance and Risk Management programs.

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CRI® Group celebrates International Anti-Corruption Day

Wednesday the 9th of December marks the International Anti-Corruption day since the passage of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption on 31st October 2003. Based on AntiCorruptionDay.org, as the world is recovering from COVID-19 pandemic, this year “the campaign for International Anti-Corruption Day will therefore focus on measures to reduce the risks of mismanagement and corruption without compromising the speed and flexibility demanded by the health crisis, while ensuring an inclusive recovery. This year’s motto “RECOVER with INTEGRITY” focuses on recovery through corruption mitigation and emphasizes that inclusive COVID-19 recovery can only be achieved with integrity.”

Bribery and corruption stories 2020

Even with much of the world under partial lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s been no shortage of bribery and corruption cases. Each of these stories makes it clear that organisations must have proper controls in place to prevent bribery and corruption. ISO 37001 Anti-Bribery Management Systems standard provides a comprehensive approach to mitigating bribery and corruption risk. In no particular order, we collated some of the top bribery and corruption stories we’ve seen so far in 2020. Click here to read the full list. 

Airbus

In February, French-based Airbus agreed to pay a record $4 billion in fines for alleged bribery and corruption spanning at least 15 years. The company reached a plea bargain with prosecutors in Britain, France and the United States. According to prosecution documents, Airbus used a global network of agents or middlemen for corrupt transactions, included payouts disguised as commissions to push airplane sales.

“Fallout from the Airbus bribery scandal reverberated around the world on Monday as the head of one of its top buyers temporarily stood down and investigations were launched in countries aggrieved at being dragged into the increasingly political row.” (Reuters, 2020)

Novartis

While the investigation into suspected corruption at Novartis began seven years ago, it appears that 2020 is the year the company can finally close this damaging chapter in its history. The resolution comes at a steep cost. The Swiss-based pharmaceutical company will pay a staggering $1.3 billion in a settlement for kickbacks, bribery and price-fixing.

“The latest settlements cover two different cases. In the first, federal prosecutors claim Novartis used ‘tens of thousands of’ speaker programs and events — some entailing exorbitant meals — as disguise to provide bribes to doctors. The goal, according to prosecutors, was to encourage doctors to prescribe its drugs, including Lotrel, Valturna, Starlix, Tekturna, Tekamlo, Diovan and Exforge.” (Fierce Pharma, 2020)

Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder

While political corruption is nothing new, his constituents were nevertheless shocked when Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder was arrested, along with four alleged co-conspirators, as part of a $60 million racketeering and bribery investigation. The alleged scheme is being described as one of the biggest public corruption cases in Ohio, U.S. history.

“All the charges are tied to what federal prosecutors said was a criminal enterprise dedicated to securing a bailout for two nuclear power plants in northern Ohio owned by FirstEnergy Solutions of Akron. The bailout is expected to cost the state’s utility ratepayers $1 billion.” (Cincinnati Enquirer, 2020)

Alexion Pharmaceuticals

Charged by the SEC with violating the FCPA by bribing officials in Turkey and Russia, Alexion Pharmaceuticals will pay $21.4 million to resolve an investigation that began in 2015. The Connecticut, U.S.- based company was also accused of failing to keep accurate financial records at subsidiaries in Brazil and Colombia.

“In Turkey and Russia, Alexion paid government officials and doctors at state-connected hospitals to promote use of its blood-disease drug, Soliris. Alexion retained a consultant in Turkey from 2010 to 2015 with ties to health officials. Alexion Turkey paid the consultant over $1.3 million for ‘consulting fees and purported expense reimbursements,’ the SEC said. … In Russia, Alexion paid doctors at government hospitals over $1 million from 2011 to 2015 to increase Soliris prescriptions. … The bribery resulted in Alexion being ‘unjustly enriched’ by about $6.6 million in Turkey and $7.5 million in Russia, the SEC said.” (FCPA Blog, 2020)

> Read the full list of bribery and corruption cases in 2020

Prosecution of corruption is like a dose of painkillers. It can help with the symptoms, but it won’t solve the problem. On the other hand, the anti-bribery management system is comparable to a healthy diet. No one is excited about it but some of us are more determined to choose an apple instead of cake. International Anti-Corruption Day is the best time for organisations of all sizes and industries take steps now to ensure that they don’t end up on a future list of top bribery and corruption scandals. Earlier this year, we published a series of articles how ISO 37001 standard could be implemented into the different industries – the first part of the article focused on automotive, aviation, insurance industries, while the second edition examined how pharma and healthcare, property, IT and telecommunications, food and beverage industries might benefit from ISO 37001 certification too.

CRI Group’s continuous fight against bribery and corruption risks

At CRI Group we understand, that corruption and bribery affect any organisation, large or small, public or not-for-profit. It has the potential to cause severe harm to your business, including financial loss, dire legal consequences, damage to your brand, company’s reputation and sustainable development. Therefore anti-bribery needs to be managed correctly and effectively. ISO developed ISO 37001:2016 ABMS standard helps organisations promote an ethical business culture. “Designed to help your organisation implement an anti-bribery management system (ABMS), and/or enhance the controls you currently have. It helps to reduce the risk of bribery [and corruption] occurring and can demonstrate to your stakeholders that you have put in place internationally recognised good-practice anti-bribery [and anti-corruption] controls”.

The first step of demonstrating your organisation’s commitment to implementing an effective anti-bribery management system solutions is to commit to ISO 37001 solutions. In order to offer you ISO 37001 training and/or certification, CRI Group launched an Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC®) Center of Excellence. ABAC® offers a complete suite of services and solutions designed to educate, equip & support the world’s leading business organisations with the latest best-in-practice risk & performance assessments, systems improvement & standards certification. ABAC® programs protect your organisation from damaging litigation & safeguard your business in the global marketplace by providing certification & training not only in ISO 37001 Anti-Bribery Management Systems but also in other internationally recognised ISO standards such as ISO 37301 Compliance Management Systemss and ISO 31000 Risk Management Systems implementation.

ABAC® offers ISO 37001 Introductory, Internal Auditor and Lead Auditor training to upskill the teams and organisations who want to show a proactive way of demonstrating your organisation’s commitment to ethical sustainability. Your employees will be able to recognise any form of corruption, and report it. Our trainers are the best in the business. They’re passionate about sharing their knowledge with you and/or your employees. ABAC® trusted experts have years of hands-on and business experience – they bring the subject matter to life with relevant and contemporary examples.

Companies should take a zero-tolerance attitude towards corruption and put policies in place covering issues such as gifts, supply chains and whistle-blowers, in order to promote a fair and just environment. In business terms, integrity pays: the world’s most ethical companies prove a clear correlation between ethical business practices and improved financial performance.

Recently, ABAC® also launched ISO 31000 Risk management e-training – even though this course is for risk management in general, ISO 31000 implementation and training give businesses a broader view of all risks associated with their organisations and how to overcome them. ISO 31000 training is focused on improving your and/or your team’s skills in implementing ISO 31000 Risk Management which will help organisations see both the positive opportunities and negative consequences associated with all types of risk, and allow for more informed, and thus more effective, decision making, namely in the allocation of resources.

> Learn more about ISO 31000 training

Expand Your Third-Party Risk Management Strategies

CRI Group is launching a third-party compliance verification and certification program – 3PRM-Certified™ – across the Middle East, Europe and the Asian region. This Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM) program can help organisations establish the legal compliance, financial viability, and integrity levels of outside partners, suppliers and customers seeking to affiliate with their business.

Third-party relationships are critical in business today and include partnerships with suppliers, distributors, consultants, agents and other contractors. While such affiliations are essential to the success of your organisation, the consequences of inadequate due diligence cannot be overestimated. The risk of data breaches and supply chain disruptions continue to rise with COVID-19, so does the need for an effective TPRM program. Whether you’re a TPRM professional looking for a certification to advance your skillset, or the leader of your organisation considering how to better equip your team with the best knowledge and skills, the 3PRM-Certified™ program is an all-in solution.

Support International Anti-Corruption Day – consider ISO 37001, ISO 31000 and ISO 19600 as invaluable tools of your Third-Party Risk Management Strategy. Combined with due diligence, background screening, business intelligence and compliance solutions, ISO standard certifications and training can lift your overall risk management process and help your business mitigate risks from third-party affiliations, protecting your organisation from liability, brand damage and harm to the business.

> Read more about the 3PRM-Certified™ program

Supporting International Anti-Corruption Day 2020

Find below CRI Group’s resources helping you to know more about bribery and corruption risk. It does not wait and can happen anytime – we encourage you to think about anti-bribery and anti-corruption not only on International Anti-Corruption Day 2020 but all year round. Explore our other resources, or sign up for risk management, compliance, anti-bribery and anti-corruption related news, solutions, events and publications in your inbox. We will be happy to hear from you if you have any questions at all – contact us today or get a quote for any anti-bribery, anti-corruption, risk or compliance management solutions through our ABAC® Center of Excellence. Explore our recourses and expert insights in the Q&A sessions now:

Q&A: Corporate Fraud and Corruption in Pakistan

Q&A: Corporate Fraud and Corruption in the UK is growing, FAST!

Q&A session with our CEO: the United Arab Emirates fighting Fraud and corruption

Prove that your business is ethical
ABAC® published the free Highest Ethical Business Assessment (HEBA) to evaluate businesses’ current Corporate Compliance Programs. Find out if your organisation’s compliance program is in the line with worldwide Compliance, Business Ethics, Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption Frameworks. Let ABAC® experts prepare a complimentary gap analysis – the HEBA survey is designed to evaluate your compliance with adequate procedures to prevent bribery and corruption across the organisation. This survey is monitored and evaluated by qualified ABAC® professionals with Business Ethics, Legal and Compliance background. The questions are open-ended to encourage a qualitative analysis of your Compliance Program and to facilitate the gap analysis process.

TAKE THE SURVEY HERE!

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, Business Intelligence, Due Diligence, Compliance Solutions and other professional Investigative Research solutions provider. 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 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.

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CRI Group™ Celebrate 2021 International Fraud Awareness Week

CRI Group™ is once again a proud supporter of 2021’s International Fraud Awareness Week. Taking place throughout the week of November 14th to November 20th of 2021, International Fraud Awareness Week is a global effort is a move to diminish the influence of fraud by advocating for anti-fraud awareness and education. According to the 2021 ACFE Report to the Nations, organisation’s continue to lose about 5% of revenue to fraud each year and currently, there are more than 3.3 billion people in the global workforce with nearly all of them having access to or control over some portion of their employer’s cash or assets – an amount which contributes to such a loss.

Corresponding to the most recent ACFE report, other fraud trends which have remained constant throughout the last few years include:

• Asset misappropriation is the most identified scheme
• Tips are the greatest process of exposure
• The lengthier that fraud goes unbridled, the greater the median loss

Zafar Anjum, founder, and CEO of CRI Group™ said that International Fraud Awareness Week (called Fraud Week, for short) is a crucial endeavour drawing attention to fraud and aiding to support better education towards communities about the liabilities that accompany fraud. “CRI Group™ has been a proud supporter of Fraud Week for past years”, Anjum said. “It’s an important time to urge organisations of all shapes and sizes to conduct proper due diligence and minimise risk. Only by addressing fraud and corruption proactively can we make progress in preventing and detecting it”.

For CRI Group™, though, assisting organisations with the deterrence and detection of fraud is a year-round responsibility which is why Fraud Week is a wonderful occasion to acknowledge CRI® Group’s contemporary exertions in the bout alongside fraud; it is also a wonderful time to look ahead on CRI Group’s activities which are all nearing their time of action.

Here are just a few of the highlights:

Active Participants 

CRI Group™ participated in conferences as a means of educating professionals on fraud and corruption; such as the PBSA 2021 Annual Conference. Furthermore, our experts discussed ISO 37001 and other anti-bribery management solutions with a range of industry professionals across the world by inviting them as speakers to our webinars and actively collaborating with them through other means. “CRI Group™ is comprised of subject-specific experts with diversified speciality areas,” Anjum said. “Our audit team has years of substantive field experience as investigators, compliance officers and legal professionals.”

Continue educating the masses

With ABAC™ in place, we found that corporate leaders were eager to learn more about preventing bribery and fighting corruption however, one other obstacle remained in our way; the pandemic. 2021 saw CRI alongside ABAC™ continue their efforts to share best practices, demonstrate resources and discuss the latest technology for preventing corruption despite the global pandemic which admittedly, probably has changed the way the corporate world works forever. Our webinars are designed with every passing moment in mind so that solutions and advice can be entirely bespoke to the client at hand. Our webinars to date include:

• Protecting Your Company from the Global Corruption Pandemic

We kicked off the year with a webinar built to explore and identify a combination of institutional solutions for managing and monitoring corporate compliance to prevent bribery and corruption in a modern enterprise. The aim of this webinar was to identify how to protect your organisation from global corruption and to critically assess the applicability of several recent legislative guidelines to the proactive mitigation of corruption and bribery in corporate administration across the world. Based on Airbus and Rolls-Royce cases of multinational, multi-party bribery, the webinar dived into the consequences of systemic inadequacy, confirming a paradigm shift in corporate oversight and network risk management.

• Bribery discovered: what to do in the next 48 hours? with Robert Youill, Executive Director at Key Risk Consulting Asia

We explored what course of action to take in the first 48 hours after discovering bribery as well as how to prepare for such crisis management and finally, how to manage the risks more effectively and minimise the chances of such a situation happening at all. Key speakers consisted of CRI Group’s/ABAC’s own Zafar Anjum, and Robert Youill, Executive Director at Key Risk Consulting Asia. Both talked about the steps you have to take in the next 48 hours after bribery is discovered concerning your organisation and how to identify the gaps in your existing anti-bribery anti-corruption management system.

• Pitfalls Most Organisations Often Commit – the importance of implementing Anti-Bribery Management System (ABMS) with DATO’SRI AKHBAR SATAR, Managing Director at Akhbar Corporate Integrity Services

Here at CRI™, we like to say why be a part of the problem when you can be a part of the solution? This webinar covered information regarding bribery, including consequences of bribery and defences to bribery as well as an overview of the regulatory framework, specifically the New Corporate Liability provision under Section 17A of the Malaysian Anticorruption Commission Act 2009 and a comparative study of Section 7 of the UK Bribery Act 2010. This webinar is great for organisations who wish to widen their knowledge and expertise regarding the ISO 37001 Anti-bribery Management System standard.

• What does it mean to be a whistleblower? with MACC Senior Assistant Commissioner & Head Private Sector Branch Community Education Division (Tuan Haji Mohd Nur Lokman Samingan) and President – Association of ABMS Practitioners Malaysia, Dr KM Loi

Whistleblowing does not only refer to the act of a whistleblower who informs, reports or discloses on someone or the organisation is conducting or going to conduct any illicit activity which may harm the interests of stakeholders. Meanwhile, it has also emerged in its mainstream functions and the essential roles in leading today‘s modern corporations to enforce effective whistleblowing policy within their compounds of governance. The goal was to provide resources and access to organisations around the globe on standards and certifications that will aid them in expansion and an ethical working environment.

• Compliance & Adequate Due Diligence for Third-Party Risk Management with SAMIA EL KADIRI, IRCA Lead Auditor, Governance & Compliance Consultant, in collaboration with DQG

Widespread trust is built on a company culture of doing the right thing, where every employee contributes because they understand and believe in its importance. Our “Building a Culture of Compliance and Trust Through ISO 37301:2021 CMS” webinar in collaboration with Dubai Quality Group and our sister brand the Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC™) Center of Excellence highlighted all essential parts of a corporate compliance program. The aim of this webinar was to be able to provide resources on corporate compliance and due diligence to organisations around the globe that will aid them in expansion and an ethical working environment.

All of our webinars are designed with our audience and beyond in mind and we aim to educate and equip corporate leaders of all industries and sizes with the resources we have available to us.

Raised Fraud Awareness

Our content is created to inform and provide important information that might be missed in today’s news cycles – that being said, CRI Group™ has produced more than 50 educational news articles and publications to help educate business leaders, government leaders, professionals and the public about fraud and corruption. Our subject matter experts deliver important information, such as why forensic accounting can be important during a fraud investigation, or how risk assessments can be used to better protect your organisation.

The methods for committing fraud are ever-evolving, so it’s no question that our experts remain dedicated to building their skill sets and staying on the cutting edge in a bid to help clients be successful in detecting and deterring fraud in and out of their immediate workspace. To do so we have launched a few new educational articles:

• Due diligence and tips to avoid fraud
• 8 Steps to prevent fraud
• Reporting Fraud: Do you know what measures to implement?
• 2021 Fraud Week: Prevention is Key
• Why International Fraud Awareness Week is a great time to reflect
• Reporting Fraud: Do you know what measures to implement?

Collaborating with Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption Centre of Excellence (ABAC™)

At CRI Group™, we recognised the need for an independent certification body for ISO 37001: Anti-Bribery Management System which is why we founded the ABAC™ Center of Excellence back in 2016. Our goal was and still is to assist organisations worldwide in certification for anti-corruption, risk management and compliance; we do this largely by providing training and certification for ISO 37001. Our experts help organisations implement effective anti-bribery management programs using widely accepted controls, systems and best practices in line with local and international legislation. 2021 allowed CRI Group™ various opportunities to work hand in hand with our sister brand to materialise our missions at both brands and make them into a reality that benefited so many corporate leaders and personnel across the globe.

CRI Group™ is proud to announce that we will be hosting a free webinar on December 9th 2021 in conjunction with our sister brand Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC™) Center of Excellence Group. Our intention is to be able to provide resources on corporate compliance to organisations around the globe that will aid them in expansion and an ethical working environment. In recent years, third-party risk management has become a primary concern for organisations, amid increased outsourcing against a backdrop of rising costs, digitisation and low-interest rates, which have put downward pressure on margins. While there are many benefits driving outsourcing, e.g., increased efficiency and scale, it naturally also increases the level of risk and complexity of third-party relationships. Coupled with increased lengths of agreements, on average five to seven years, the need for ongoing performance management becomes that much greater.

Take advantage of this free webinar on third-party due diligence and oversight. Register below and save your seat today!

SAVE YOUR SEAT (Expired Now)

Accrediting global corporations with ISO 37001

CRI Group’s sister brand ABAC™ Center of Excellence was also incredibly honoured to earn official accreditation from Emirates International Accreditation Center – EIAC (UAE) to administer training and certification for ISO 37001 ABMS. The year 2021 saw the ABAC™ Center of Excellence accrediting organisations such as UDA Holdings Berhad Group (UDA) and Mubadala Petroleum with the certification which is a success in the sense of achieving a transparent corporate model. Founder and CEO of CRI Group™ Zafar Anjum has stated “EIAC provide objective evidence that organisations operate at the highest level of ethical, legal and technical standards…That’s exactly where ISO 37001 fits in – helping to protect organisations from bribery and money laundering.”

Found fraud

Through various client engagements, CRI Group’s investigative analysts found a large number of red flags indicating possible fraud. How many? The answer may be surprising: our agents discovered more than 700 red flags across 80 countries. The first step in fighting fraud is knowing that it exists. The sooner it is discovered, the less damage a fraud scheme can do to an organisation.

During International Fraud Awareness Week, think about the statistics at the beginning of this article … and ask yourself or your colleagues: Are we doing all we can to prevent fraud? Remember, the landscape is always changing, and fraudsters will do everything they can to use evolving technology and other methods to find vulnerabilities. Moreover, the best way to fight fraud is to prevent it in the first place. CRI Group™ is here to help, contact us today to learn more.

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CRI® Proud Official Supporter of International Fraud Awareness Week 2020

International Fraud Awareness Week, November 14-20 – and CRI® Group is once again a proud Official Supporter of this global movement. Fraud Week was created to reduce the impact of fraud and corruption by promoting anti-fraud awareness and education.

Fraud statistics

Fraud is still increasingly common. Even when it comes to hiring employees, companies must be vigilant. CRI® Group’s investigative 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.

Read more in our article “Background Screening Red flags: Numbers Don’t Lie”.

In another survey conducted by CRI® Group, which analyzed how COVID-19 has impacted human resources and its functions, it was revealed that companies understand the fraud risk factor during the pandemic: nearly 77 per cent of HR professionals accept that there is a risk that employees can initiate fraudulent activity because of the work-from-home arrangement.

Also, the shocking number of survey participants highlighted that they have encountered employee fraud in their career. Luckily, most companies do conduct background screening of some type. In fact, 85 per cent do so, which is important because many companies have learned that trust can be misplaced. While an overwhelming 92 per cent said they trust their employees with confidential data, background screening can help verify that your employees aren’t hiding anything in their backgrounds that might put your company at risk.

Read more about the survey, as it provides valuable information for companies, employees, and human resources professionals and teams who serve them. It also sheds light on the critical need for increased employee background screening and data protection during a tumultuous time.

Some other stats to note (the following come from the ACFE):

• The average fraud lasts 18 months before it is discovered. The longer a fraud lasts, the greater the financial damage (schemes that last for several years can cause hundreds of thousands of dollars).
• The most common detection method for fraud is tips. And organisations that have reporting hotlines are much more likely to detect fraud through tips than organisations without hotlines.

All of the above indicates that the fraud issue is real and organisations must take actions to prevent the fraud risks for their organisations and even careers. For CRI® Group, the goal is to help business leaders think about fraud and corruption this week and take steps to minimise it year-round. So, what is your organisation doing for Fraud Week?

Get involved in the Internal Fraud Awareness Week

Join CRI® Group and ACFE in the fight against fraud. ACFE provides a great set of the following tools to go a step further in your role and to start discussions amongst peers, co-workers, executives and stakeholders in your community about how important fraud prevention is to society as a whole:

• Post on social media using new badges and informative images with the tag #fraudweek
• Add the new Official Fraud Week Supporter badge to your email signature.
• Invite a ACFE to talk to your employees and co-workers virtually on how to avoid common mistakes when preventing fraud.
• Download the free Fraud Week logo to share on materials or websites.
• Involve your local chamber of commerce or city council to spread tips on fraud prevention for small businesses.
• Host a talk or seminar for your co-workers or community on regularly staying aware of fraud prevention best practices.
• Perform a fraud check-up for your organization and present your findings to executives, as well as a proactive plan for how to remedy weak spots in your current controls.

How does CRI® Group fight fraud?

CRI® proudly celebrates International Fraud awareness week and highlights that this occasion (called Fraud Week, for short) is an important effort to put a spotlight on fraud, help educate people about its perils and build a fraud-free future.

“Fraud Week reminds us that awareness is any organization’s first line of defense against fraud and corruption, as properly trained employees will have a better opportunity to recognise the red flags of fraud, and a better understanding of their organization’s zero-tolerance policy toward such behavior”, Zafar Anjum, founder and CEO of CRI® Group says.

“Fraud is everybody’s problem, and it cannot be prevented and detected if employees aren’t provided with the information they need to combat it. Providing a robust anti-fraud training program increases your company’s protection from risks of fraud and unethical behavior. An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure.”

For CRI®, though, helping organizations prevent and detect fraud is a year-round commitment. That’s why Fraud Week is a great time to reflect on CRI® Group’s recent efforts in the fight against fraud, and to also look ahead to activities on the near horizon. Below are just a few of the highlights.

Does your organization have a training program in place that addresses fraud, bribery and corruption? And, if so, how robust is your training? How often is it administered? And how do you know it’s working?

These are important questions, especially considering the fact that we know most fraud is discovered internally through employee tips. A recent case study is a perfect illustration of that.

Case study: Conflicts of interest

A major pharmaceutical company’s security department received conflict of interest complaints that reportedly involved a range of employees, from sales personnel on up to the chief financial officer (CFO).  The company engaged CRI® Group to conduct an integrity due diligence and conflict of interest investigation in order to uncover unethical practices, including bribery and corruption, by senior employees.

CRI® Group’s investigators quickly launched a risk assessment of the company’s third-party relationships, which included several interviews with identified vendors and suppliers to help ascertain the engagement process and associated risks.

Investigators found one of the vendors used letterhead that lacked a physical address, and the only contact information listed was a single cell phone number. Site visits, background checks and interviews helped determine that the suspicious vendor was not a company at all – but a single person, and he was none other than the brother-in-law of the client company’s CFO. Worse still was the fact that this obvious fraud was being conducted right under the noses of the company’s procurement and finance professionals.

CRI® Group investigators discovered that the individual’s residence was being utilised as a warehouse to help facilitate the fraud. Comprehensive litigation records check with local and regional courts found that the subject was previously convicted in federal court and spent three years in prison for the charges of selling counterfeit products, physician samples and expired medicines; further regulatory checks found that his pharmacist license had been cancelled.

The fraud had continued for five years. However, the one thing that saved the company from further financial harm was the fact that employees had stepped forward to report unethical behaviour. If not for their action, the fraud could have continued indefinitely.

Fraud Week reminds us that awareness is any organisation’s first line of defence against fraud and corruption, as properly trained employees will have a better opportunity to recognise the red flags of fraud, and a better understanding of their organisation’s zero-tolerance policy toward such behaviour.

CRI® Group’s Certification body, ABAC® Center of Excellence provides employee training as part of the curriculum for a participating organisation. In fact, ISO 37001:2016 certifies that your organisation has implemented reasonable and proportionate measures to prevent bribery, and these measures involve training, top-level leadership, bribery risk assessment, due diligence adequacy, financial and commercial controls, reporting, audit and investigation.

Some key things to remember:

• Anti-fraud training should be mandatory. This includes managers and executives, who should also receive special training regarding their position of responsibility.
• Anti-fraud training should be an element of new employee orientation. After that, it should be provided to all employees on an annual basis, if not more frequently.
• Training might be presented live (in-class), on video or online in an interactive format. The live class is preferred, as it allows questions and personal engagement. However, in today’s business world, some employees work remotely and an online format may be more feasible.

Fraud is everybody’s problem, and it cannot be prevented and detected if employees aren’t provided with the information they need to combat it. Providing a robust anti-fraud training program increases your company’s protection from risks of fraud and unethical behavior. An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure.

Learn more about how CRI® Group and the ABAC® Center of Excellence can help you have a well-trained workforce serving as your front line of defence against fraud, bribery and corruption.

CRI® Group is here to help and create a fraud-free future. Contact us today to learn more about our ABAC® training and certification opportunities, our EmploySmart background checking process, our investigative services and other offerings.

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, Business Intelligence, Due Diligence, Compliance Solutions and other professional Investigative Research solutions provider. 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 BS102000:2013 and BS7858:2019 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 37001:2016 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 organisations. 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

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CRI® Group Joins Movement to Shine a Spotlight on Fraud

2021 International Fraud Awareness Week kicks off November 14-20 worldwide. Fraud costs organisations worldwide an estimated 5 percent of their annual revenues, according to a study conducted by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE). The ACFE’s 2020 Report to the Nations on Occupational Fraud and Abuse analysed 2,690 occupational fraud cases that caused a total loss of more than $7.1 billion.

The seriousness of the global fraud problem is why CRI® Group announced that it will be participating in International Fraud Awareness Week, Nov. 14-20 as an official supporter to promote anti-fraud awareness and education. The movement, known commonly as Fraud Week, champions the need to proactively fight fraud and help safeguard business and investments from the growing fraud problem.

CRI® Group joins hundreds of organisations who have partnered with the ACFE, the world’s largest anti-fraud organisation and premier provider of anti-fraud training and education, for the yearly Fraud Week campaign. As an official supporter, CRI® Group will continue engaging in various activities, including raising awareness for businesses on how to prevent fraudulent actions within and outside their organisations.

CRI® Group has been a supporter and active participant of the Fraud Awareness Week since the very beginning. Zafar Anjum, CRI® Group founder and CEO, said: “It is a crucial awareness tool to put a spotlight on fraud and encourage organisations to take action not just this week, but year-round. Since 1990, we have been safeguarding businesses from fraud, bribery and corruption by providing due diligence, background checks, investigations, risk management solutions and by establishing the legal compliance, financial viability, and integrity levels of outside partners, suppliers and customers seeking to affiliate with global businesses. This week is crucial for highlighting the global problem of fraud, and we are happy to see that every year, more and more organisations get involved in and support the Fraud Week.”

ACFE CEO and President Bruce Dorris, J.D., CFE, CPA, said that the support of organisations around the world helps make Fraud Week an effective tool in raising anti-fraud awareness.

“Fraud is an issue that unfortunately affects people from all walks of life around the world and it takes many forms,” said Dorris. “Whether it’s a trusted employee stealing from a small business, or organised rings of fraudsters targeting seniors in our community, most people know someone who’s been victimised by fraud. That’s why it’s so important for organisations to join in this fight together in order to raise awareness during this week. It is a serious problem that requires a proactive approach toward preventing it and educating people is the first step.”

For more information about increasing awareness and reducing the risk of fraud during International Fraud Awareness Week, visit FraudWeek.com. The 2020 Report to the Nations is available for download online at the ACFE’s website: ACFE.com/RTTN. The Report is in PDF format.

About the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners

Based in Austin, Texas, the ACFE is the world’s largest anti-fraud organisation and premier provider of anti-fraud training and education. Together with more than 85,000 members, the ACFE is reducing business fraud worldwide and inspiring public confidence in the integrity and objectivity within the profession. For more information, visit ACFE.com.

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, Business Intelligence, Due Diligence, Compliance Solutions and other professional Investigative Research solutions provider. 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 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.

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CRI Group™’s ABAC™ anniversary: 4 years of achievements

CRI Group™’s ABAC™ Center of Excellence Limited is excited to be celebrating the 4 years anniversary since its formation back in 2016.

At ABAC™, we are committed to helping businesses fight bribery and corruption inside and outside their organisations. Every day, we work extensively to promote transparent business relations across the world and spread knowledge about the negative impact of bribery and corruption.

For the last four years, we educated, equipped and supported the world’s leading business organisations with the latest best-in-practice risk assessments, performance assessments, systems improvement and standards certification.

To commit with our promise to ensure the highest quality of certification and training services, ABAC™is affiliated with leading certification and accreditation bodies around the world. These affiliations and accreditations help demonstrate the high level of experience, knowledge and credibility we provide in anti-bribery, risk and ISO 37301 Compliance Management Systems management to our clients on a daily basis. That’s why ABAC® has achieved essential accreditations from the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), Emirates International Accreditation Center (EIAC) for ISO 37001 Certification, and membership in the Association of British Certification Bodies (ABCB).

ABAC™ is also a member of the “Partner in Corporate Governance” programme with the Malaysian Institute of Corporate Governance (MICG) and a Corporate Member of Transparency International Malaysia (TI-M). From the last year, ABAC™ became a registered vendor of the Ministry of Finance Malaysia, got registered with Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation under the Malaysia Ministry of International Trade and Industry, has been accepted as an Alliance Partner of Business Integrity Alliance, Malaysia, and became an Observing Member of Association of Anti-Bribery Management System Practitioner, Malaysia. Learn more about our affiliations and accreditations here.

The past year has helped ABAC™ to expand our network even more and establish core business relationship across different regions. The bigger ABAC™ team is thankful to all clients, partners and global teams for being together in this journey and wishes for many more years of continuous partnerships.

See below our timelines.

Who is CRI Group™ & ABAC™?

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, Business Intelligence, Due Diligence, Compliance Solutions and other professional Investigative Research solutions provider. 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 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.[/accordion_son][accordion_son clr=”#ffffff” bgclr=”#1e73be” title=”2 Years Anniversary”]ABAC celebrates 2 years since the formation of the CRI Certification, now re-branded as the ABAC™ Center of Excellence, back in October 2016. For two years we have gone from strength to strength, having hosted two ABAC Summits in both Pakistan and Malaysia, with plans for more to come.

2018 has seen great advances for us. This year CRI Group™ has been granted accreditation by the Emirates International Accreditation Center – EIAC (formerly known as Dubai Accreditation Center – DAC) for the scope of ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management System Conformity Assessment Body. The accreditation is the first of its kind awarded to a certification body specialising in global anti-bribery and anti-corruption, risk and compliance standards.

Similarly, our application for UKAS has now been accepted and we are working hard towards achieving this further accreditation, thus giving us that greater credibility edge. We are excited to see where the next two years moving forward will take us.

Let’s stay connected!

3 Years Anniversary

CRI Group’s ABAC® Center of Excellence is proud to be celebrating three-years anniversary since its formation back in 2016. For three years, ABAC has gone from strength to strength, having hosted three ABAC® Summits in Karachi, Islamabad and Kuala Lumpur, with plans for more to come. During this time, ABAC® was accredited by EIAC for administering ISO 37001 certification, audited and awarded clients with ISO 37001 ABMS certifications, collaborated with Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, Transparency International, The Malaysian Youth Council and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Foundation to develop a nationwide anti-corruption awareness campaign on International Anti-Corruption Day and initiated other activities to fight bribery and corruption globally. Bribery and corruption is everybody’s problem, and it cannot be prevented and detected if your employees aren’t provided with the information and training they need to combat it.

ABAC® is committed to promoting transparency and compliance to businesses and their professional relationships. Let’s address bribery and corruption together.

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