Can comparing register totals to cash drawer amounts reliably detect cashier skimming?

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Sometimes
• D. Only for small amounts

Answer: (B)

Relying on a simple tally of register totals against the cash in the drawer isn’t enough to catch cashier skimming. A cashier can skim cash and still have the till appear to balance by using adjustments such as voids, refunds, or no-sale entries that shift money back into the till or offset the theft in ways that aren’t obvious in the end‑of‑day count. In other words, the drawer can come out correct even while theft is occurring, because the fraudulent activity is masked by how transactions are recorded or adjusted.

To improve detection, rely on additional controls beyond just reconciliation: scrutinize unusual patterns in voids and refunds, monitor no‑sale keys, use independent cash counts or surprise cash audits, and pair these with surveillance or CCTV and supervisory review of cash handling. This combination makes skimming harder to hide and increases the chance of catching it.