Catch the “Warning Signals”: The Fight against Fraud and Abuse in Non-Profit Organisations

Over the last few years, almost every day, the media has reported increasing fraud and abuse cases. The cases reported are irrespective of being committed by for-profit organisations or non-profit organizations (NPOs). This proves that fraud has become a disease that is spreading and increasing worldwide, and Malaysia is not an exception. As NPOs are formed to further charity and noble purposes, it comes as a surprise that NPOs have become conduits for fraudulent acts such as the embezzlement of funds by fraudsters and the misuse of the collection of charitable funds for personal benefit. In line with this, the objective of this paper is to provide review of warning signals from both financial and non-financial indicators influencing the occurrence of fraud and abuse. The overall review contributes to the literature on warning signals of fraud and abuse in NPOs. It will also provide useful insight for the relevant regulators and NPOs, in establishing and implementing effective risk management, using a risk-based approach and board effectiveness perspectives in protecting the NPOs from being a victim of fraud and abuse.