U.S. businesses may want to operate abroad for many reasons. Examples include opportunities to grow their customer bases, diversify revenue streams, establish competitive advantages and reduce production costs. Amid all the potential benefits, however, lie some serious risks, including fraud. Business customs and laws can vary widely by country. So before you start operating abroad, perform thorough due diligence. Corrupt business customs Corruption is a business risk in every country, but in some countries, it’s widespread. For example, if you want to build a factory, you might encounter officials who expect cash bribes or local politicians accustomed to excessive wining and dining in exchange for their cooperation. If you’re importing or exporting goods, customs officials might solicit bribes to process shipments faster or to mischaracterize their origins...