Final answer:
The question concerns identifying which option is not a symptom of understatement of liability fraud. Option a), having original purchase-related records when copies could exist, is not a symptom of this type of fraud, whereas the other options are direct indicators of potential wrongdoing in financial reporting.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is asking which of the provided options is not a symptom of understatement of liability fraud. To address this, we must understand what liability fraud entails, particularly the understatement aspect. Liability fraud in financial accounting refers to the intentional omission or underreporting of financial obligations or debts on a company's balance sheet to make the company appear more financially stable than it truly is. Symptoms of such fraud may include various forms of document abnormalities and odd behaviors around the auditing process.
Looking at the options presented:
- Original purchase-related records where copies could exist.
- Denied access to records, facilities, certain employees, customers, vendors, or others from whom audit evidence might be sought.
- Last-minute adjustments by the entity that significantly affect financial results.
- Missing documents.
Options b), c), and d) are certainly symptoms of potential fraud, as they suggest deliberate hindrances to the audit process or alterations to financial data. Option a), concerning the existence of original purchase-related records where copies could exist, does not in itself suggest fraud and thus is the correct answer. Such records may simply suggest a normal business process where original and copy documents are maintained for record-keeping.