Occupational Fraud vs. Consumer Fraud: What’s the Difference and Why It Matters
- Michael Blevins
- Jul 8
- 2 min read
Fraud is a word we hear often, but not all fraud is created equal. At Blevins Associates Consulting, we specialize in helping organizations prevent, detect, and respond to occupational fraud. But as a trainer for Operation Shamrock and advocate for fraud awareness, we also dedicate time to educating the public about consumer fraud, which affects individuals and families every day.
What Is Occupational Fraud?
Occupational fraud refers to fraud committed by employees against their employer. It’s the most costly form of fraud for businesses, especially small and mid-sized organizations. Common types include:
Asset misappropriation (e.g., stealing cash, inventory, or equipment)
Corruption (e.g., bribery, conflicts of interest)
Financial statement fraud (e.g., manipulating books to hide losses)
These schemes are often long-running, hidden, and devastating. As Certified Fraud Examiners (CFEs), we help companies uncover vulnerabilities through fraud risk assessments, internal control reviews, and employee training. Our goal is simple: stop fraud before it starts.
What Is Consumer Fraud?
Consumer fraud, on the other hand, targets individuals, not companies. It’s the kind of fraud that shows up in phishing emails, fake sweepstakes, or fraudulent calls pretending to be from the IRS. The most common consumer fraud schemes we see include:
Phishing and identity theft
Credit card and bank account fraud
Medicare and health insurance scams
Telemarketing and online shopping scams
While anyone can be a victim, seniors are especially vulnerable. That’s why we offer community education events focused on empowering individuals, particularly older adults, to recognize and avoid these schemes and scams.
A Dual Mission: Consulting and Community Education
At Blevins Associates Consulting, we work with small and midsize businesses to mitigate the risk of occupational fraud. But we also believe fraud prevention is a community responsibility. That’s why we speak regularly on topics like:
Consumer vs. Occupational Fraud – A clear breakdown of schemes and prevention strategies
Fraud and the Senior Community – Tools to protect older adults from common scams
What Is a Fraud Risk Assessment? And why every business should have one
If your business, nonprofit, HOA, or senior group would like to host an educational session, we’d be glad to help. Below is list of topics we typically cover.
Let’s Talk
Whether you’re a business owner concerned about fraud inside your organization or a community leader looking to protect others from scams, Blevins Associates can support your mission.
📩 Contact us today at Michael@BlevinsAssociates.com
📞 Or call (760) 206-3717
🌐 www.BlevinsAssociates.com
Together, we can fight fraud at every level.
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