Which is a common tool used during fraud investigations?

During fraud investigations, conducting interviews is a fundamental tool used to gather information directly from individuals who may have knowledge about the case. Interviews allow investigators to probe into the details of the incident, understand different perspectives, and potentially uncover inconsistencies in stories or behaviors that could indicate fraudulent activity.

Interviews can also help establish timelines, clarify facts, and develop a comprehensive understanding of the circumstances surrounding the fraud. The effectiveness of interviews lies in the investigator's ability to build rapport with the interviewee, utilize effective questioning techniques, and discern between truthful and deceptive responses.

While documentation review, surveillance, and focus groups are also significant methods used in fraud investigations, they serve different purposes. Documentation reviews focus on collecting and analyzing records, such as financial statements or emails, to identify discrepancies. Surveillance involves monitoring individuals or activities to gather evidence of wrongdoing, whereas focus groups often gather opinions and feedback but are not typically used in the direct investigation of fraud incidents. Hence, interviews stand out as a direct method to extract relevant information directly related to the case at hand.