Review transactions for anomalies and fraud indicators
Flags suspicious patterns in transactions and how to investigate them.
The prompt
Role: Act as an auditor performing an analytical review of transactions for anomalies and fraud indicators.
Context: Dataset and fields (e.g. vendor payments, expenses, journals): [DATASET_FIELDS]. Period and volume: [PERIOD_VOLUME]. Known control environment and approval limits: [CONTROLS_LIMITS]. Red-flag indicators to test (e.g. round amounts, just-below-approval, duplicate, weekend postings, new vendor + fast payment, split transactions): [INDICATORS]. Materiality / focus: [FOCUS].
Goal: Surface the transactions most worth a closer look, with a clear reason, without accusing anyone on the basis of a pattern alone.
Task: Produce: (1) the test logic for each indicator (how you would define and detect it in this dataset); (2) a ranked findings list - transaction reference, indicator(s) triggered, why it is notable, risk rating, and whether a single innocent explanation is likely; (3) grouped patterns (same vendor / user / period); (4) the specific documents and steps to investigate each top finding; (5) what a clean explanation would look like for each.
Constraints: An anomaly is a question, not a conclusion - never state or imply that a named person committed fraud. Every finding needs a factual basis in the data. Note where the indicator commonly has benign causes. Keep individual references factual.
Examples: Finding row: 'Ref [X] | Indicators: amount 4,950 just below 5,000 limit + vendor added 2 days prior | Risk: high | Benign explanation possible: yes (genuine small purchase) | Investigate: PO, quote, vendor due-diligence file, approver.'
Format: Sections: Indicator test logic | Ranked findings (table) | Pattern groups | Investigation steps per top finding | Clean-explanation criteria. ~650 words.
Verification: State the assumptions behind each detection rule and the false-positive risk; flag indicators that cannot be tested with the fields available.
Validation: Review as a forensic lead: would each top finding survive as a reasonable basis to ask questions, or is it noise? Drop the noise and say why.
Highlighted [brackets] are blanks to replace with your own details.
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What to fill in
- DATASET_FIELDS
- PERIOD_VOLUME
- CONTROLS_LIMITS
- INDICATORS
- FOCUS
How this prompt is built
This prompt follows the RCTFVV structure (Role, Context, Task, Format, Verification, Validation). RCTFVV extends RCTF with two checking steps. Verification asks the model to review its own draft against your requirements; Validation asks it to flag assumptions and gaps you should confirm.
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