This list is not exhaustive and the ingenuity of those involved in corruption knows no bounds! But you should beware of:
- Abnormal cash payments.
- Abuse of the decision process or delegated powers in specific cases.
- Agreeing contracts not favourable to the organisation either because of the terms or the time period.
- An abnormally high commission percentage being paid to a particular agency. This may be split into two accounts for the same agent, often in different jurisdictions.
- An individual who never takes time off even if ill, or holidays, or insists on dealing with specific contractors himself or herself.
- Avoidance of independent checks on the tendering or contracting processes.
- Bypassing normal tendering or contracting procedures.
- Company procedures or guidelines not being followed.
- Invoices being agreed in excess of the contract without reasonable cause.
- Lavish gifts being received.
- Making unexpected or illogical decisions accepting projects or contracts
- Missing documents or records regarding meetings or decisions..
- Payments being made through a third party country – for example, goods or services supplied to country ‘A’ but payment is being made, usually to a shell company in country ‘B’.
- Pressure exerted for payments to be made urgently or ahead of schedule.
- Private meetings with public contractors or companies hoping to tender for contracts.
- Raising barriers around specific roles or departments which are key in the tendering or contracting processes.
- The payment of, or making funds available for, high value expenses or school fees (or similar) on behalf of others.
- The unusually smooth process of cases where an individual does not have the expected level of knowledge or expertise.
- Unexplained preference for certain contractors during tendering period.