Fighting White-Collar Crimes Using Forensic Investigation Skills to Enhance Operational Efficiency – Cameroon as a Case Study

Abstract

The demand for forensic accountants and certified forensic investigation professionals (CFIPs) is increasing by the day in response to recent, well-publicized accounting scandals and regulatory failures. The scandals have given rise to government agency investigations and shareholders lawsuits, which often call for the special skills of the forensic accountants and CFIPs. Therefore the objective of this paper was to examine the concept of forensic accounting and its relevance to combating fraud and corruption in developing countries. It was however gathered that forensic accounting is a new trend, which is yet to gain ground in developing economies. In Cameroon, forensic accounting is just emerging and companies/individuals have begun to taste the benefits. In this study we revealed the functions of the forensic accountants, enumerated the steps to be taken before qualifying as a forensic accountant, educated the public on the issues to which forensic accountants may be called, listed out the institutions that most often make use of CFIPs and forensic accountants and showed the prospects of making a career in forensic accounting. The paper therefore concluded that this special but expert skill now emerging in world financial and economic landscape is used to protect the hard earned income of governments, corporations and individuals as well as recovering those that might have been cleverly stolen away by fraudsters, corrupt people and economic saboteurs.

Keywords: Forensic Accounting, Fraud prevention, Fraud, Corruption, White-Collar Crimes, Cameroon