A company’s potentially biggest enemy is not necessarily its clients, service providers or suppliers but its own employees. The impact of internal criminal activity is still grossly underestimated by South African businesses.

Credible research has shown that over 80% of company thefts are perpetrated by employees, or with their knowledge, while corruption and collusion between employees has been recorded in 48% of theft and fraud cases. More recent survey results confirm that the frequency, value and sophistication of internal theft and fraud is still growing worldwide.

In order to stem this tide, global audit companies recommend the development and implementation of a code of ethics & business conduct and a fraud and corruption policy incorporating confidential prevention & detection mechanisms. This thinking has been reinforced by the Sarbanes Oxley Act in the USA, the King reports and the Companies Act (2008) in South Africa.

Whistle Blowers (Pty) Ltd offers an innovative crime prevention & detection service which acknowledges the idiosyncrasies of the specific business environments and, as such, has adopted an approach that is unique in concept & practical in application.

In simple terms, Whistle Blowers is an independent subscription service that is designed to provide employees of subscribing companies with the means to anonymously “blow the whistle” on fraud, criminal activity and/or other irregularities in the work place. In a nutshell employees have access to a 24Hr communication centre, equipped to receive information by phone, fax, post or e-mail.

More than just a hotline, the Whistle Blowers project management approach ensures the buy-in and support of all players, educates all levels of staff on the mechanics & benefits of the program, motivates staff to make use of the program and help prevent crime, identifies criminal activity by recruiting the services of honest employees, qualifies the information received at the Communications Centre, provides feedback in the form of comprehensive reports, advises on the course of action, offers ongoing project management and facilitates appropriate resolution.