How should a Court Revenue Assistant handle a suspicious payment to prevent fraud?

• A. Accept the payment without verification.
• B. Destroy the payment record immediately.
• C. Flag as unusual, verify payer identity, consult supervisor, and document the case; follow fraud prevention controls.
• D. Post it as regular revenue without investigation.

Answer: (C)

Handling suspicious payments is about applying fraud prevention controls to protect revenue and maintain a clear audit trail. When a payment looks unusual, the correct response is to flag it, verify the payer’s identity, consult a supervisor, and document the case, then follow the organization’s established fraud prevention procedures. This sequence helps confirm whether the payment is legitimate and ensures any potential risk is managed consistently and transparently. Verifying identity reduces the chance of accepting forged or misattributed funds, supervisor input ensures policy alignment and proper escalation, and thorough documentation creates a traceable record for investigations and audits. Following the approved controls also protects the integrity of revenue data and supports accountability across the team. Conversely, accepting without verification, destroying records, or posting as normal revenue without investigation would remove or mask important information, potentially enabling fraud and compromising the revenue system.