Question

In a fraud examination, original documents must be protected from damage and tampering to:

O protect the chain of custody.
O develop documentation for employee dismissal.
O establish motive.
O ensure that suspects are unaware of an investigation in progress.

Answer 1

In a fraud examination, original documents must be protected from damage and tampering to protect the chain of custody, develop documentation for employee dismissal, and ensure suspects are unaware of the investigation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The purpose of fraud examination is to accurately notate evidence of fraud in order to prevent any future fraud, recover losses from fraud, and strengthen internal controls. The four key steps to examine fraud are: obtaining evidence, reporting, testifying, and assisting in fraud detection and prevention.

In a fraud examination, protecting the original documents from damage and tampering is crucial for several reasons:

1. To protect the chain of custody: Original documents must be securely stored to ensure their integrity and prevent unauthorized access or alteration. This is important because the chain of custody establishes the authenticity and reliability of the evidence.
2. To develop documentation for employee dismissal: Original documents provide the necessary evidence to support disciplinary actions, such as dismissal, when fraudulent activities are discovered.
3. To ensure that suspects are unaware of an investigation in progress: By protecting the original documents, investigators can prevent suspects from tampering with or destroying evidence, which could impede the investigation and hinder the discovery of the truth.