What type of fraud was committed by Belinda when she submitted an expense report for a company dinner?

The type of fraud involved in submitting an expense report for a company dinner is often categorized as expense account padding. This form of fraud occurs when an employee inflates or fabricates expenses in order to receive reimbursements that exceed their actual expenses. In this scenario, if Belinda reported expenses that were higher than what was legitimately incurred, or if she included expenses for meals that were not business-related, this would constitute expense account padding.

Submitting a fraudulent expense report can undermine the integrity of financial reporting within an organization, as it leads to unauthorized payments and can have broader implications for budgeting and financial controls. This type of fraud is especially prevalent because it often goes undetected if there are inadequate oversight and approval processes in place for expense claims. Understanding this concept is crucial for those involved in financial examination and fraud prevention, as it highlights the need for robust policies and monitoring of expense-related claims to deter fraudulent behavior.