You think an employee is stealing from the business.
What you do in the next 48 hours matters more than anything that happens later.
First: don’t confront them
The instinct is to call the person in and demand answers. Don’t. The moment they know they’re suspected, evidence starts disappearing: files deleted, phones wiped, money moved. Every option you have is stronger while they don’t know.
The first 48 hours
- Say nothing to the employee, and limit who knows inside the business, including people you trust.
- Preserve, don't investigate. Secure financial records and backups. Don't search their computer or email yourself: done wrong, it can compromise evidence and breach workplace and privacy law.
- Don't dismiss them yet. Termination at the wrong moment can trigger claims and destroy your best sources of evidence. Timing is a legal decision.
- Get advice before reporting to police. Police prosecute; they don't recover your money. If funds can still be frozen, civil action usually comes first. When and how to report
What we do
We run the investigation covertly and lawfully, directed by lawyers, so findings are usable in court. Where money or assets can be secured we obtain freezing orders, often within days. We time the termination, run the recovery, and prepare the police referral when the moment is right.
We have acted for many businesses in exactly this position, from family companies to listed groups. What we can never promise is a particular result: recovery depends on speed, and on where the money has gone. What we can promise is a clear assessment, early, of what is realistically recoverable and what it will cost to try.
A client's experience. Russell, the owner of a Riverina transport business, discovered his general manager had been defrauding the company. His account, in his own words:
embed added at launch
Talk to us today
All consultations are private and confidential. For urgent matters please call +61 3 8676 7929. Telephone is answered out of hours. Contact us
