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Guide to Combating Corruption & Fraud in Infrastructure Development Projects

  • Detection
    • Complaints
      • General initial interview questions
      • How to Generate Complaints and Reports
      • List of fraud reporting sites for Multilateral Development Banks
    • Red Flags
      • Red Flags Listed by Project Cycle
      • “Visible red flags” of Implementation Fraud
      • Proactive Fraud Detection Tests
    • Due Diligence
      • “Top Five” Due Diligence Background Checks
      • Free and Subscription Internet Sites
      • Local and On-Site Due Diligence Checks
      • Due Diligence Service Providers
  • Proof
    • Proving Common Schemes
      • Corruption Schemes
      • Bid Rigging Schemes
      • Collusive Bidding Schemes
      • Fraud Schemes
      • The Basic Steps of a Complex Fraud and Corruption Investigation
    • Elements of Proof for Sanctionable Offenses
      • Elements of Proof of Corrupt Practices
      • Elements of Proof of Obstructive Practices
      • Elements of Proof of Coercive Practices
      • Elements of Proof of Collusive Practices
      • Elements of Proof of Fraudulent Practices
  • Evidence
    • The Basics of Evidence for Investigators
  • Prevention
    • Anti-fraud Resources
Home » Proof » Most Common Schemes » Potential Schemes: Hidden Interests (Conflicts of Interest)

Potential Schemes: Hidden Interests (Conflicts of Interest)

Project or government officials can take undisclosed financial interests in companies or suppliers that provide goods, works and services to the project.  Such firms often are shell companies, without permanent staff or significant assets, that operate out of residences or other business fronts.

RED FLAGS OF HIDDEN INTERESTS

Essentially the same as bribes and kickbacks, including primarily:

  • Reports or complaints that a project or government official has an undisclosed interest in a contractor or supplier (such interests often are known to project staff and contractors)
  • The use of bid rigging schemes and other acts by project officials that tend to steer contracts to certain companies
  • Project or government officials pressure contractors to select a particular subcontractor or supplier
  • A bidder or supplier is not listed on the internet or in business or telephone directories
  • A company’s address is a residence or other non-business location
  • A contractor or supplier provides a wide variety of disparate goods and services at high prices (indicating it is a broker owned by an insider)
  • A contractor subcontracts all or most of the work received (indicating it could be a shell company)

CASE EXAMPLES OF HIDDEN INTERESTS

See actual case examples of hidden interests from investigated cases.

BASIC STEPS TO DETECT AND PROVE HIDDEN INTERESTS

  1. Identify and interview all complainants to obtain further detail.
    • General interview questions
    • Hidden interests questions
  2. Conduct due diligence background checks on the suspect firms and individuals to identify possible hidden ownership of vendors and suppliers. 
  3. Examine the Bid Evaluation Report and other bidding documents for the red flags listed above, particularly:
    • Interference in the bidding process by the suspect official to favor a particular bidder
    • Bidding irregularities that favor the suspect bidder, as listed in the bid rigging schemes section of this Guide.
    • High priced, high quantity purchases of diverse products from a single supplier.
    • Addresses, telephone numbers or personnel (e.g., relatives of the suspect project official) that link the company to a project official.
  4. Call and make an unannounced visit to the listed premises of the suspect firm to confirm its existence or hidden interests by project or government officials.

See a much more detailed description of the ten basic steps in a complex fraud and corruption investigation.

A hidden interest by project or government officials in a contractor or supplier constitutes a corrupt practice.

Category: Most Common Schemes

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info@iacrc.org

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