Use of Beneish M-Score: Case Study in the Spanish Fishing Sector

Authors

  • Raquel Fernández-González Department of Applied Economics, University of Vigo, Lagoas-Marcosende s/n, 36310 Vigo, Spain Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5356-2793
  • Félix Puime-Guillén Department of Business, University of A Coruña, 15008 A Coruña, Spain Author https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7341-9134
  • Patricia Coloret Portela Department of Applied Economics, University of Vigo, Lagoas-Marcosende s/n, 36310 Vigo, Spain Author https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6724-6943
  • Dragan Pamucar 1) University of Belgrade, Faculty of Organizational Sciences, Department of Operations Research and Statistics, Belgrade, Serbia; 2) Department of Applied Mathematical Science, College of Science and Technology, Korea University, Sejong 30019, Republic of Korea Author https://orcid.org/0009-0001-9876-0328

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31181/ijes1412025203

Keywords:

Financial statement manipulation, Fraud, Red tuna, Beneish model, Spain

Abstract

The manipulation of financial statements is a practice used by companies to obtain illicit benefits or advantages over competitors. One of the world's largest bluefin tuna exporters is implicated in an alleged fraud case and accused of committing multiple crimes, including offenses against public safety and money laundering. This study analyzes the company's likelihood of fraud using the Beneish method, which detected potential accounting irregularities in five of the eight years examined (2015–2022). The findings appear to corroborate the fraud allegations against the company.

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Published

2025-08-08

How to Cite

Fernández-González, R., Puime-Guillén, F., Coloret Portela, P., & Pamucar, D. (2025). Use of Beneish M-Score: Case Study in the Spanish Fishing Sector. International Journal of Economic Sciences, 14(1), 246-258. https://doi.org/10.31181/ijes1412025203