Detection of Financial Statement Frauds Using Beneish Model: Empirical Evidence from Listed Pharmaceutical Companies in Bangladesh

Abstract

Financial statement fraud had the most significant financial impact on companies when compared to the other categories of occupational fraud as per ACFE Report to the Nations 2014. This study aims to determine the value of Beneish M-Score and to identify whether selected pharmaceutical companies were manipulating there earnings or not. Financial information of 14 pharmaceutical companies was collected from their annual reports of 2014-18. This study finds that pharmaceutical companies of Bangladesh are engaged in Earnings Manipulation and they are doing it on a continuous basis. The results of our study show a deteriorating financial condition of pharmaceutical industry which should make the auditors and regulators more cautious in detecting financial statement frauds.

Keywords

• financial statement fraud
• occupational fraud
• beneish m-score
• earnings manipulation