The Prevalence of Fraud
The panels on the map summarize the percentage of respondents per region or country suffering at least one fraud incident in the last 12 months, and the top areas and drivers of most frequent fraud in each region or country.
Fraud was reported by almost all (95%) of the participants in the last 12 months in Colombia, the highest proportion in the survey and a 12% increase compared to 2015.
Colombia
Respondents in China reported the widest spread of fraud types. Out of all the regions, participants in China named regulatory or compliance breaches as the primary fraud (41%), which was nearly twice the global average.
China
68% of respondents in India said their company was affected by fraud in the last 12 months, 14% below the global average of 82%. Overall, companies in India reported a 12% reduction in the incidence of fraud over the last 12 months.
India
Despite a 3% increase in exposure since 2015, the incidence of fraud reported by respondent companies in Italy was below the global average at 77%.
Italy
Theft of physical assets and the misappropriation of funds were the two most common types of fraud reported by respondents in the UK. Both were more widespread in the UK than in any other region.
United Kingdom
Participants in Russia reported a 9 percentage point increase in fraud over the last 12 months at 82%, equal to the global average. The most common types of fraud were theft of physical assets, theft of data, and vendor or procurement fraud. Theft of assets was 9% above the global average of 29%.
Russia
Respondent companies in Sub-Saharan Africa experienced one of the highest fraud incidence levels of all regions covered in the survey: 89% had experienced at least one type of fraud in the past year. Executives in the region reported the highest incidence of internal financial fraud (31%), 11% higher than the global average of 20%.
Sub-Saharan Africa
Respondent companies based in the Middle East reported the highest increase in fraud over the past 12 months of all regions surveyed. Over a quarter (26%) more companies said they had experienced fraud compared to 2015. Overall the incidence of fraud in the Middle East was 6% above the global average of 82%.
Middle East
World Map
United States
Canada
Mexico
Brazil
The U.S. was the only country where IP theft was the most common type of fraud reported. Information theft, loss, or attack was the second most mentioned type of fraud impacting companies in the U.S., followed by conflicts of interest in the management team.
80% Experienced fraud
27% IP theft (e.g. of trade secrets), piracy, or counterfeiting
24% Information theft, loss, or attack
24% Management conflict of interest
34% of respondents from Canada cited theft of physical assets or stock, above the global average of 29%. Information theft, loss, or attack was the second most prevalent type of fraud in Canada, mentioned by 32% of respondents compared to the global average of 24%.
88% Experienced fraud
34% Theft of physical assets or stock
32% Information theft, loss, or attack
32% Regulatory or compliance breach
32% Vendor, supplier, or procurement fraud
The striking detail to take away from the survey of companies in Mexico is the frequency of vendor and supplier fraud, which at 52% was the highest of all countries surveyed and double the reported global average of 26%.
82% Experienced fraud
52% Vendor, supplier, or procurement fraud
30% Theft of physical assets or stock
18% Corruption and bribery
Brazil was one of three countries surveyed whose incidence of fraud came under the global average of 82%. The other two were India and Italy. Just over two-thirds (68%) of Brazilian participants said they experienced fraud in the past 12 months, 14% below the global average.
68% Experienced fraud
24% Theft of physical assets or stock
21% Information theft, loss, or attack
21% Vendor, supplier, or procurement fraud
95% Experienced fraud
43% Management conflict of interest
43% Vendor, supplier, or procurement fraud
38% Theft of physical assets or stock
25% Information theft, loss, or attack
25% Theft of physical assets or stock
37% Vendor, supplier, or procurement fraud
41% Regulatory or compliance breach
28% Theft of physical assets or stock
27% Management conflict of interest
27% Corruption and bribery
27% Vendor, supplier, or procurement fraud
77% Experienced fraud
26% Information theft, loss, or attack
26% Regulatory or compliance breach
90% Experienced fraud
41% Theft of physical assets or stock
37% Misappropriation of company funds
24% Market collusion
33% Information theft, loss, or attack
26% Vendor, supplier, or procurement fraud
89% Experienced fraud
30% Information theft, loss, or attack
26% Theft of physical assets or stock
