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Companies lose over 5% of their revenue annually to fraud

Companies lose more than 5 per cent of their revenue each year to fraud, according to data from an international study by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), presented by Chrystalla Kazara, vice president and director of training for the organization’s Cyprus office.

KEY FACTS

  • The study examined 1,921 real-life cases of job fraud from 138 countries.
  • Kazara pointed out that the losses of companies from fraud annually amount to more than 3.1 billion dollars.
  • She added that fraud cases are divided into three categories – embezzlement, corruption and misuse of financial statements. Embezzlement was the most common category, accounting for 89 % of cases in the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners survey, Kazara explained.
  • According to her, during the coronavirus pandemic, there was a serious increase in losses from fraud by 24 %, with the biggest jump being marked by cases of corruption – 33 %, and in second place was fraud with financial statements. According to her, this is due to the compromise of the companies’ internal control systems.

TANGENT

Kazara pointed out that specifically for Eastern Europe, the most serious problems are due to corruption, which refers to 71 % of the cases in the study by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.

The study also indicates that more than half of the frauds are due to company employees. Kazara emphasized that if employees were trained in how to act on fraud, it would prevent a large number of cases.

Chime’s Nasdaq Debut: A 37% Leap in the Fintech Arena

Chime set to debut on Nasdaq

On June 12, 2025, Chime had a groundbreaking debut on Nasdaq, where its shares surged by an impressive 37%. Initially priced above the expected range at $27, the shares closed the day at $37.11, setting a new market cap of $13.5 billion. From a valuation of $25 billion in its last venture round, this IPO marks a recalibration for Chime amidst evolving market dynamics.

The offering raised roughly $700 million, with an additional $165 million from existing shareholders. Despite the lower valuation, CEO Chris Britt highlights Chime’s commitment to serving Americans earning $100,000 or less, often overlooked by traditional banks. “We help our members avoid fees, access liquidity, and build savings,” Britt stated confidently.

Chime’s strong revenue momentum, with $518.7 million reported last quarter and a revenue increase by 32% year-over-year, underscores its growth potential. The company also achieved $25 million in adjusted profitability, improving its profit margin by 40 points over the past two years.

Chime now stands among fintech giants like eToro and Circle, rekindling investor interest in fintech IPOs. The future looks promising as other players like Klarna and Bullish eye public offerings.

For further insights into fintech innovation and investment opportunities, explore European Banking Evolution: Cyprus as a Catalyst for Regulatory Innovation and discover how Cyprus continues to play a pivotal role in financial advancements.

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