At a time when digital exchanges are intensifying, attempts to falsify documents are experiencing a real explosion. Belgium, like its European neighbours, is not spared. However, awareness remains slow on the part of companies, which are often ill-prepared to deal with this type of threat.
La document fraud Refers to all tampering, manufacturing or editing a document in order to deceive and gain undue advantage.
This type of fraud spares no sector of activity, or any size of company: from SMEs to large organizations, all can be victims.
In concrete terms, cases of documentary fraud are numerous and varied. Some of the most common examples include:
Documentary falsification has become a major driver of identity fraud, representing nearly 60% of cases detected in Europe depending Europol.
In Belgium, the situation is not much more reassuring. According to a study conducted by Finovox in partnership with the independent polling institute Selvitys, in March 2025, 65% of Belgian companies say they have already been confronted with document fraud.
Some areas of activity, due to the sensitive nature of the documents they process on a daily basis, are particularly vulnerable to document fraud. Let's take stock.
The sector banking is among the most exposed to documentary fraud.
THEopening accounts, thegranting of credits Or the financial product management rely on key documents: identity documents, proof of income, residence certificates and many others.
These are all elements that fraudsters seek to manipulate in order to bypass verification procedures!
Insurance is also at the forefront when it comes to documentary fraud.
During the subscribing to a contract, of a claim for compensation Or of a sinister, companies must be able to rely on the authenticity of the documents provided.
A false statement or falsified justification may be enough to misrepresent the risk assessment or the amount of compensation.
Finally, real estate is another classic entry point for fraudsters.
Les rental files Or the real estate acquisitions rely largely on the reliability of the documents submitted: pay slips, tax notices or even employer certificates.
The risks are very real, especially in areas with high rental tension such as Brussels. Indeed, in 2024, Brussels rent prices increased by 2.8% on average. An acceleration that follows inflation and that encourages fraudsters to falsify documents to meet ever higher rental criteria.
Underestimating document fraud means exposing yourself to serious consequences that can, in the long term, weaken a business. Let's take a look at the main risks!
The first consequence is of course Financial.
In Belgium, proven fraud costs on average several tens of thousands of euros, according to PwC. This amount can explode if the fraud is only detected after several months or if it is repeated.
Beyond direct losses, it is necessary to integrate hidden costs associated with internal investigations, to crisis audits, at the securing processes and, in some cases, legal proceedings initiated to recover funds or prosecute fraudsters.
Document fraud also involves the legal responsibility businesses.
In the event of a breach in verification processes, a business may be held responsible for distributing falsified documents, violating compliance standards, or failing to detect attempts at money laundering or tax evasion.
Penalties can be severe: administrative fines, criminal sanctions, or even a ban on tendering for public tenders in certain serious cases.
In the event of documentary fraud, a company's reputation is also at stake.
Being associated with fraud, even as a victim, can eroding customer trust, of financial partners, and investors.
In a context where brand image is a strategic and fragile asset, reputational damage can have long-term consequences: loss of contracts, difficulty attracting new customers or partners, decrease in the value of the company.
Finally, organizational impacts are often underestimated.
Documentary fraud requires thoroughly review internal processes, of redeploying resources to manage the emergency, and may result in the demobilization of teams.
In some cases, this results in a lasting loss of productivity, a climate of internal distrust, or even an increase in turnover if employees lose confidence in the company's ability to ensure a secure environment.
To effectively protect yourself against document fraud, it is not enough to apply a few spot checks. It is a question of adopting a global approach that combines organizing, training and tech. Let's take stock of the main levers of action to be deployed.
First, it is essential to strengthen documentary verification procedures at all critical stages:
Concretely, this involves the establishment of cross checks, the systematic request for additional supporting documents in case of doubt, and the involvement of several collaborators in the validation of sensitive documents.
Raising team awareness plays a key role in the prevention of document fraud. Collaborators must be trained to recognize warning signs : inconsistencies in the information provided, visual abnormalities on the documents, format errors or unusual background of the demand.
In addition, it is necessary to train the various teams, Finance, Purchasing, Purchasing, HR or even Legal Services in order to create a solid first line of defense against fraud attempts.
Integrating efficient technological solutions is becoming essential to secure document flows.
Finovox offers a technological solution that allows businesses to protect themselves effectively. Thanks to artificial intelligence, the solution analyzes and verifies the authenticity of submitted documents, quickly and reliably.
This type of tool allows you to:
The integration of technologies such as Finovox into validation procedures not only reduces the risk of fraud, but also improves the reliability and traceability of documentary exchanges.
With such a solution, businesses can secure their operations, preserve their reputation and gain peace of mind in the face of growing risks.
Do you need to know more about the solution offered by Finovox?
