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PWC offers fraud tip-off service to Indian firms

Pricewaterhouse Coopers, the world's largest accounting firm, said on Monday it had launched a service to help employees blow the whistle on fraud or any other wrongdoing in their companies.

The service called EthiCall will allow employees of firms signing up for the service to call a toll-free line to PWC and pass on information on fraud or any other unethical practice.

PWC's call centre will screen the calls and protect the callers' identity from the company to protect employees from victimisation. PWC will then relay the information to the company to help it tackle the problem.

"In a globalised economy, investment flow is dependent a great deal on the investors' perception of governance practices in a company," Vali Nijhawan, a partner with Pricewaterhouse Coopers in India, told a news conference.

"Our service, EthiCall, aims to make a big difference in India in this very crucial area," he said.

The service is aimed at protecting companies from "potential loss of revenues and reputation," a company statement said.

The firm runs a similar service in the United States.

"Each organisation will have a dedicated number and code. The team at PWC end will ensure a caller authentication process before proceeding with the call," the statement said.

Pricewaterhouse officials said EthiCall would be priced according to the number of employees working for the companies signing up.

"EthiCall has been designed and developed keeping in mind the widely prevalent financial systems among companies in India, the company said.

Nijhawan said the firm had rolled out the service to Indian companies four to five weeks ago and was talking to several firms to market the service.

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