Fraud risk factors and auditing standards: a call for the replication of empirical research

Accounting fraud and many other forms of fraud and corruption are occurring around the globe. Alternative strategies that are based on sound research-based findings from different situations are needed if there is to be a systematic reduction in the occurrence of these forms of fraud. This research note introduces a topical research issue in the area of fraud risk factors and auditing standards in relation to different forms of fraud, and models of fraudulent behaviour, and identifies a more scientific approach that can be used to empirically examine these issues. It also calls for the future replication of this empirical research in another environment to extend the relevance of the developed model to a broader context. This research note outlines the background to this research issue, research problems and hypotheses, justification for the research, definitions, a proposed scientifically based research methodology and recommendations