After a chance conversation with a collaegue recently I have begun to question whether it is the threat of legislation that will actually drive organisations to implement voice recording on their traders’ mobile phones, or in fact a more pressing issue…
Rogue Traders can be the thorn in the side of any major financial organisation, so banks should be enlisting all the latest technology in order to catch them wherever they can, including evidence revealed within both their landline and mobile voice communications. Now to be fair if a trader wants to have a conversation on a pay-as-you-go mobile phone there is very little that the powers that be can do to prevent a fraudulent trade. But if an organisation has voice recording in place at least they can tell the press that they have made best efforts to monitor and record their traders activities.
In the wake of the banking and financial crisis, any hint or whiff of corruption will be thrust into the spolight quicker than you can say ‘here we go again’ and therefore managing risk is at the top of every financial institutions agenda. If they can win the PR battle then perhaps they can win back public support, or at least their tolerance.
Top 6 rogue traders in recent years:
Nick Leeson – $1.3 billion
John Rusnak – $691 Million
Mr. Copper – $2.5 Billion
Liu Qibing – $200 Million – $1 Billion (unconfirmed)
Brian Hunter and Amaranth – $6.5 Billion
Jerome Kerviel – $7.1 Billion
