April 07, 2020

Are Rewards Necessary for Whistleblowers in Europe?

April 07, 2020/ Sarah Hofmann

With each new edition, the ACFE’s Report to the Nations shows the importance of tips in detecting fraud. In the upcoming 2020 edition of the report, 43% of the fraud cases were discovered through tips, and in organizations with fraud awareness training and formal reporting mechanisms, the number rose to 56%. Establishing a hotline, anonymous web form, email address or other tip reporting mechanism is often an inexpensive, and highly effective, way to detect fraud in organizations of all sizes and industries. But what use is a tip reporting tool if no one uses it?

Stephen Kohn spends a lot of his time pondering this question. Kohn is widely recognized as one of the U.S.’s leading whistleblower and qui tam attorneys, and currently represents Danske Bank whistleblower Howard Wilkinson. In his keynote address at the 2020 ACFE Fraud Conference Europe, presented virtually, he asked attendees, “How do you create a whistleblower program where most employees will report?”

February 28, 2020

Do You Know Where Your Corporate Ethics Come From?

February 28, 2020/ Sarah Hofmann

Most fraud examiners understand that setting an ethical tone at the top is a vital part of an anti-fraud strategy. According to the 2018 Report to the Nations, having an established code of conduct reduced the amount lost per fraud instance by as much as 56%. However, it’s one thing to understand how important tone at the top is and an entirely different thing for organizations to actually establish and stick with an ethical framework and attitude that carries through all their business decisions.

Waheed Alkahtani, CFE, the executive director of the Saudi Anti-Fraud Association, discussed the importance of ethical decision-making during his session, “What is the Value of Corporate Ethics?” at the 2020 ACFE Fraud Conference Middle East in Dubai this February. “We have to sell the concept of conducting business with the highest ethical standards,” Alkahtani said. “With companies, countries and individuals, once they decide to be ethical and have principles, things will change.”

February 14, 2020

GDRFA - Dubai and ACFE to Host 2020 ACFE Fraud Conference Middle East on 23 February

February 14, 2020/ Sarah Hofmann

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA-Dubai) along with the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) will host the 2020 ACFE Fraud Conference Middle East in Dubai 23-25 February.

This conference will bring together more than 350 professionals from public and private sectors, and will provide a platform to exchange ideas, expertise and discuss the latest trends and tools in fraud detection, response and prevention. Attendees will hear from expert speakers about important cases and trends that have emerged in the technology development and financial sectors.

January 23, 2020

Spotlight on Sessions at the 2020 ACFE Fraud Conference Middle East

January 23, 2020/ Sarah Hofmann

Attendees at the 2020 ACFE Fraud Conference Middle East will have the opportunity to hear from subject matter experts on current fraud issues, case studies, practical solutions and more this February. The conference, which takes place February 23-25 in Dubai, has four tracks of educational sessions to choose from, along with two keynote speakers during general sessions.

One can’t-miss session is “What Is the Value of Corporate Ethics?” Taught by the executive director of the Saudi Anti-Fraud Association, Waheed Alkahtani, CFE, attendees will raise their understanding about the importance of the ethical decision-making and codes of conduct for individuals and organizations. They will learn how to recognize conflicts of interest, how people reach ethical decisions and the value of maintaining ethical business practices.

November 15, 2019

2020 ACFE Fraud Conference Middle East Will Return to Dubai With GDRFA as Hosts

November 15, 2019/ Sarah Hofmann

Dubai's General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) to host the 2020 ACFE Fraud Conference Middle East. The conference will take place 23-25 February 2020 at Madinat Jumeirah.

The agreement was signed by Major General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri, Director General of the GDRFA in Dubai, and by Bruce Dorris, J.D., CFE, CPA, the President and CEO of the ACFE.

October 24, 2019

Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction to Speak at Law Enforcement Summit

October 24, 2019/ Sarah Hofmann

Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction John Sopko will address more than 150 law enforcement and government anti-fraud professionals in Washington, D.C., November 7. The 2019 ACFE Law Enforcement and Government Anti-Fraud Summit will be held at Washington Plaza at Thomas Circle and will feature educational sessions on topics ranging from cyberfraud and money laundering to whistleblower protection and subcontractor fraud.

October 23, 2019

Cultivate a Culture of Asking Why

October 23, 2019/ Sarah Hofmann

Preet Bharara has a more impressive résumé than most people can even fathom. Before writing his New York Times best-seller “Doing Justice: A Prosecutor’s Thoughts on Crime, Punishment, and the Rule of Law,” and hosting the podcast Stay Tuned with Preet, he served as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York for a little less than eight years. He made a name for himself there prosecuting white-collar crime. After prosecuting numerous cases of insider trading, corruption and money laundering, Bharara has expansive insight into what factors allow fraud to start, and to flourish, in organizations.

Bharara told attendees at the 2019 ACFE Fraud Risk Management Summit that culture is one of the most important facets he saw in preventing fraud.

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