Payroll Fraud Prevention:

Red Flags & Effective Controls

Master red-flag detection and fraud controls to safeguard payroll processing. Uncover ghost employees, fake timesheets & payment diversion schemes with AI-powered automated controls.
  • CPE/CPD: 2.5 credits*
  • Video: 1.5 hours
  • Text: 42 pages
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+ VAT for EU non-business customers

FRAUD PREVENTION PROGRAM
  • Premium edition (see below)
  • Text Course: 14,200 words
  • Quizes: 21 questions
  • Access: Forever
  • All levels
  • Certificate of completion
  • English subtitles
Payroll Fraud: 15% all fraud cases in USA & Canada, 12% in West Europe · median loss $50K · 25% cases > $250K · 18 months to discover

Practical Skills You Will Gain

  • Identify the 6 most frequent payroll fraud schemes: Including ghost employees, falsified hours, commission schemes and fake raises.
  • Recognise the 8 red flags red flags and warning signs: Read HR and payroll data the way a fraud examiner does, before the next pay run leaves the bank.
  • Design and deploy 7 preventive controls: Explore key strategies to establish robust safeguards that prevent payroll fraud before it occurs
  • Deploy detective controls: Gain insights into monitoring techniques that help identify suspicious activities early
  • Implement AI and technology controls: Understand how to use RPA (Robotic Process Automation) and AI (Artificial Intelligence) to enhance your fraud prevention capabilities
  • Build the business case and audit trail: Size your payroll-fraud exposure and document controls that protect your organisation and you.

Access Premium Materials

  • 42-Page Text Course: every topic re-explained in a clean, structured written format, with 100+ callouts spotlighting the points that matter and the practical tips that change behaviour. Pair it with the video lessons, or keep it as a desk reference you reach for whenever a real case lands on your screen.
  • 8 Red Flag Cards: a printable one-pager built for the moment fraud actually shows up in your payroll queue. Pin it at your desk, scan the signs, and if one or more match — pause the pay run and investigate.
  • ACFE Fraud Key Findings 13th Edition: infographics on occupational fraud — payroll appears in 10–15% of cases worldwide and median losses for SMEs reach ~$141K, often undetected for 12–18 months. The numbers every CFO will ask for.
  • Foothill Industries case study: a realistic, step-by-step walk-through of how a payroll coordinator can divert payments — and exactly which controls would have caught it. The kind of case study that changes how your team reviews payroll.
  • 8 Review and 13 Final Quiz Questions: placed across the course and at the end to test understanding and confirm you can apply each scheme, red flag and control in your own payroll environment.
  • Glossary: clear, working definitions for the terms and abbreviations you will meet in real cases — phantom payroll, ghost employee, BEC, direct deposit fraud, withholding misuse, RPA, and more.

Join Us

Built for the people who own the payroll control environment — controllers, CFOs, HR and finance managers — and for the payroll specialists, internal auditors, consultants and HRIS leads who run it day to day. This course will sharpen your fraud lens and give you the red flags, must-have controls and AI-supported defences to protect your organisation from costly payroll schemes — before the next pay run goes out.

+ VAT for EU non-business customers

Testimonials

What our learners say

The course includes updated concepts like AI and RPA. I like it and I will pass it along to my colleagues.
Famorcan M., CIA
Great use of examples to solidify key points. Good info on payroll across the board.
Tony W., CPA (US)
Great overview of the topic. Provides pragmatic actions to review and improve security around payroll process.
Jennifer M.
Very good overview of fraud scenarios, red flags, possible preventive controls and detective controls.
Erik K., CIA
It was good course and I gained a lot of useful knowledge about how to prevent payroll fraud.
Yen Ju T., ACCA
This information is very useful. The handouts are clear and well organized.
Ann C., CPA (US)
Pertinent material and instructor was very thorough.
Tammy L., CPP
Useful course. Covers a very large range of relevant topics.
Alain C.
Very thorough and kept it interesting.
Cindy G.
Thank you for the detailed curriculum.
Shiraz Z., CFE
Loved the topic. Good presenter.
Eric E., SHRM - CP
Thank you for the detailed curriculum.
Shiraz Z., CFE
Big topic in segregation of duties.
Angelica R.
Interesting course.
Kathryn C.
Practical.
Judes Jean N., CPA Canada
Great.
Riley H., CPA (US)
Well presented.
Charles van V.
Good.
Shivangi A., CPA (US)

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a payroll or HR background to take this course?

No formal background required. The course works for payroll specialists reviewing pay runs for the first time and for controllers redesigning the framework. Every term is defined in the glossary, and explanations are in plain business English. If you process, approve, audit or oversee payroll — this is built for you.

How do the 2.5 CPE/CPD credits work for my licence?

Most CPE/CPD frameworks calculate credits at 50 minutes = 1 credit. This course delivers ~127 minutes of instructional content (88 min video + 8 review and 13 final questions at ~1.8 min each), giving an estimated 2.5 credits. Acceptance and the correct credit treatment are the learner's responsibility under their licensing body's rules. Please confirm with your board before claiming.

What's included in the premium edition — and what's actually downloadable?

  • A 42-page text course (~14,200 words) re-explaining every video topic in a structured written format with 100+ callouts spotlighting the points that matter (not a transcript), includes the glossary
  • 8 Red-Flag Cards (print-ready PDF) — one card per red flag, ready to hand to your payroll team
  • the ACFE 2024 Fraud Key Findings infographics (PDF) for the numbers your CFO will ask for
  • Certificate of Completion.
  • All downloads are yours to keep and reuse at work.

How does access work — and do I get future updates?

Lifetime access on RSAgile, on any device. Updates to the video and text lessons as well as premium materials are included at no extra cost. Downloads stay with you regardless of any later platform changes.

Is this course region-specific (US / EU / global)?

Global. The 6 schemes, 8 red flags and 14 controls apply across jurisdictions. ACFE statistics are shown for both USA & Canada (~15%) and Western Europe (~12%). Examples cover different regions, with documented real cases from New Zealand (NZ$120K museum case) and the United States (Michigan IRA withholding theft); nothing is tied to a single country's tax code.

How does the 14-day money-back guarantee apply?

Full refund within 14 days of purchase if the course isn't what you need — provided you have not completed a substantial portion of the video lessons or downloaded the premium materials. In clear "download-and-refund" abuse cases we refund only the unused portion. Fair and consistent with professional-education practice.

How is VAT handled, and what about buyers outside the EU?

EU consumers pay VAT, calculated at checkout. EU businesses with a valid VAT ID enter it at checkout for reverse-charge invoicing (no VAT charged). Buyers outside the EU pay the listed price, no VAT or other tax added.

Can my company buy multiple seats?

Yes. Please contact us and we will prepare an offer. You can use the contact link in the footer.

What's the difference between this course and the AP Invoice Fraud course in the program?

Different entry points, complementary controls. Payroll Fraud focuses on employee-side risks (ghost employees, hours and rate manipulation, direct-deposit diversion, withholding misuse). AP Invoice Fraud focuses on vendor-side risks (fictitious invoices, shell vendors, BEC, vendor master manipulation).

The Practical Fraud Prevention Program covers both — most professionals need both lenses.

How and when do I receive the Certificate of Completion?

You can generate it once you have viewed all lessons and passed the final quiz. Delivered as a PDF you can download, print or share on LinkedIn.

About the Instructor

Peter Ilas, FCCA

  • A 30-year career in leadership positions in finance, accounting, external and internal audit, and business controls through consulting services
  • Versatile interim executive fulfilling finance leadership roles
  • Seasoned expert in finance and accounting, with a distinguished record of achievements
  • Committed strategic advisor, bringing a wealth of innovative ideas
  • Business processes and controls improver
  • Creator of the world's first comprehensive courses on E-Invoicing Mandates
  • Author of project management books, under Ready Set Agile brand
  • Explore my complete profile and accomplishments on LinkedIn

Final Reassurance Band

What's inside (at a glance):  88 min video · 42-page text course (14,200 words, 100+ callouts) · 8 Red-Flag Cards (PDF) · ACFE Fraud Key Findings Infographics · Foothill Industries case study · 8 review + 13 final quiz questions · glossary · Certificate of Completion.

Why this is a safe buy: Lifetime access on any device · Free updates including new premium content · Downloads yours to keep · 14-day money-back guarantee.

What one prevented case is worth: The SME median loss for payroll fraud is ~$141K, with cases typically running 12–18 months before detection. One blocked ghost employee or one stopped direct-deposit diversion pays for this course many times over — and makes the Practical Fraud Prevention Program one of the highest-ROI investments on your training budget.

Skills that accelerate your career or consulting: Fraud prevention and AI-supported controls are among finance's fastest-growing skill areas. Walk away with a fraud examiner's lens, a 14-control playbook and AI and tech-monitoring know-how you can use to grow in your role or to advise clients.

+ VAT for EU non-business customers

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