As COVID-19 has spread beyond China, capturing news headlines and shaking financial markets, companies have put together action plans to address the impact of the epidemic on their business—focusing on areas ranging from supply chain management to employee safety. Recently, the U.S. Center for Disease Control confirmed that, as many companies had forecasted, the virus reached U.S. shores, causing additional business and market disruption (try to find hand sanitizer or a N95 rated mask at the local grocery store).
Companies with effective risk management processes are making preparations to address how the virus will impact their business ecosystem. But corporate leaders aren’t the only ones making preparations. Global criminal organizations continually scour the news for potential fraud schemes. Fear and confusion create a climate ripe for fraud. And global companies with deep pockets are prime targets. Here are some potential schemes in house counsel should prepare for.