Turks pessimistic about cases of fraud
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Hurriyet Daily News
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Haziran 11, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL -People in managerial positions in Turkey are far more pessimistic about measures to prevent fraudulent practices by businesses compared to their European counterparts, according to a survey released in Istanbul yesterday.
The average rate of participants from Europe who believed that incidences of fraud would increase in a couple of years stood at 55 percent, while this ratio was 67 percent among Turkish participants, according to the survey conducted by the Ernst & Young audit company.
The "2009 European Fraud Survey" aims to measure the perception of fraud risk in the face of economic downturn and also the tolerance of unethical behavior in the business world, which is far higher in Turkey than in Europe.
The survey was conducted in 22 European countries including Turkey and polled 2,246 employees "from the shop floor to the boardroom." Turks made up 102 of all participants. The Fraud Investigation and Dispute Services of the company conducted the survey. Dilek Çilingir, partner of the Fraud Investigation and Dispute Services and Osman Dinçbaş, the general manager of Ernst & Young Turkey disclosed the survey results at a press meeting.
Employees from various sectors such as banking, manufacturing and consumer products participated in the survey, while the majority of participants were from the manufacturing sector, followed by technology, communications and entertainment.
No trust
More than half, 56 percent, of Turkish respondents said the risk of fraud would increase because they did not trust their company’s management. This ratio is far beyond the European average of 29 percent. Turks’ second highest reason, at 52 percent, was that the company management did not focus on anti-fraud measures. The number for European participants who did not trust company managers was 29 percent, while 31 percent said the company did not focus on anti-fraud efforts. Of Turkish respondents, 41 percent also believed that the processes and procedures to prevent fraud were inadequate. However, the survey also disclosed some contradictions in the responses of Turkish participants. While the majority of the participants pointed at company management increasing the risk of fraud, they also stated that the company managers act honestly. 22 percent of the participants said they always act in honesty, while 27 said they generally act so.
Meanwhile, 29 percent of respondents said fraudulent acts were most likely to occur at top-level management of the company, which is a far lower ratio than in Europe, where the average is 42 percent. The participants also said that they were sure that no fraudulent act would occur in their own company. 24 percent said they were extremely sure, while 25 said they were fairly sure. Çilingir said this contradiction arose because employees believed fraudulent acts happened in other companies but not in theirs.
Another conclusion of the survey was Turks’ high tolerance for unethical acts to survive an economic downturn. Half of the 102 participants said a cash payment to win or retain business was a justifiable act.
The "2009 European Fraud Survey" aims to measure the perception of fraud risk in the face of economic downturn and also the tolerance of unethical behavior in the business world, which is far higher in Turkey than in Europe.
The survey was conducted in 22 European countries including Turkey and polled 2,246 employees "from the shop floor to the boardroom." Turks made up 102 of all participants. The Fraud Investigation and Dispute Services of the company conducted the survey. Dilek Çilingir, partner of the Fraud Investigation and Dispute Services and Osman Dinçbaş, the general manager of Ernst & Young Turkey disclosed the survey results at a press meeting.
Employees from various sectors such as banking, manufacturing and consumer products participated in the survey, while the majority of participants were from the manufacturing sector, followed by technology, communications and entertainment.
No trust
More than half, 56 percent, of Turkish respondents said the risk of fraud would increase because they did not trust their company’s management. This ratio is far beyond the European average of 29 percent. Turks’ second highest reason, at 52 percent, was that the company management did not focus on anti-fraud measures. The number for European participants who did not trust company managers was 29 percent, while 31 percent said the company did not focus on anti-fraud efforts. Of Turkish respondents, 41 percent also believed that the processes and procedures to prevent fraud were inadequate. However, the survey also disclosed some contradictions in the responses of Turkish participants. While the majority of the participants pointed at company management increasing the risk of fraud, they also stated that the company managers act honestly. 22 percent of the participants said they always act in honesty, while 27 said they generally act so.
Meanwhile, 29 percent of respondents said fraudulent acts were most likely to occur at top-level management of the company, which is a far lower ratio than in Europe, where the average is 42 percent. The participants also said that they were sure that no fraudulent act would occur in their own company. 24 percent said they were extremely sure, while 25 said they were fairly sure. Çilingir said this contradiction arose because employees believed fraudulent acts happened in other companies but not in theirs.
Another conclusion of the survey was Turks’ high tolerance for unethical acts to survive an economic downturn. Half of the 102 participants said a cash payment to win or retain business was a justifiable act.