A 45-year-old woman accused of defrauding families affected by Albania’s 2019 earthquake allegedly posed as a government official and promised victims new apartments or compensation in exchange for large sums of money, according to Tirana police.
Police said on August 27 that Ina Cakaj had been identified following an investigation by the Economic Crime Investigation Sector. Authorities allege that she targeted families in the Fushë-Krujë area, taking between €1,000 and €10,000 by promising to help them obtain housing or financial compensation.
A newly published audio recording by Albanian outlet JOQ Albania appears to capture a woman identified as Cakaj speaking with one of the residents she allegedly targeted.
In the recording, the woman reportedly introduces herself as an adviser to Prime Minister Edi Rama and refers to a…
MANAGEMENT & CULTURE (THE “TONE AT THE TOP”)
Fraud thrives in “sloppy” environments where leadership ignores the rules.
- The Fraud Triangle: For fraud to occur, three elements must be present: Pressure (the need for money), Rationalization (thinking “I deserve this”), and Opportunity (weak controls). You can only control the Opportunity.
- Whistleblower Hotline: Provide an anonymous way for staff to report “odd behavior.” Most internal frauds are caught via tips, not audits.
- Background Checks: Conduct credit and criminal record checks for all employees in financial or data-sensitive roles.
- Annual Ethics Training: Make sure every staff member knows that the company has a Zero Tolerance policy toward “borrowing” from petty cash or fudging overtime.