What Fraud Examiners Can Learn About Report Writing from a Journalist’s Plagiarism Case

/
What Fraud Examiners Can Learn About Report Writing from a Journalist’s Plagiarism Case

When investigating a financial fraud case, anti-fraud professionals know the importance of following established steps and best practices. From beginning an investigation, through collecting evidence and conducting interviews, they follow generally accepted guidance and document each stage in their final report. This diligence is important not just for financial fraud cases, but for other types of fraud — such as academic and journalistic fraud.

Read More

Theranos Whistleblower Is Building a Better Way Forward

/
Theranos Whistleblower Is Building a Better Way Forward

During the 2021 ACFE Women’s Summit, in the first keynote of the day, the ACFE’s Director of Research, Andi McNeal, CFE, CPA, introduced two women who have been championing the work of whistleblowers, sharing their stories and working to erase the stigma behind whistleblowing.

Erika Cheung and Cynthia Cooper engaged the virtual audience in an enthralling conversation about the ethical underpinnings that drive people to speak up when they see wrongdoing within a company. Cheung was one of the first whistleblowers who reported the medical malpractice at Theranos, which ultimately led to the shutdown of their medical lab. Cooper played a pivotal role in uncovering fraud at WorldCom and is now an influential speaker, consultant and author.

Read More

Upping Your Tech Game in Times of Extraordinary Change

/
Upping Your Tech Game in Times of Extraordinary Change

In the session titled “Upping Your Tech Game in Times of Extraordinary Change” at the 2021 ACFE Women’s Summit, attendees heard from four tech experts in the anti-fraud field. As the conversation began, a few of the panelists commented on how rare (and delightful) it was to be on a tech panel with all women. However, it didn’t take long for them to dig in and demonstrate why they are each considered experts in their respective fields.

Read More

Turning Your Bad Habits Into Superpowers

/
Turning Your Bad Habits Into Superpowers

In an inspiring and humor-filled session at the first-ever ACFE Women’s Summit, the ACFE’s Director of Research, Andi McNeal, CFE, CPA, and Communications Manager, Mandy Moody, CFE, invited attendees to hold a mirror up to ourselves and examine some habits that we may consider to be professional defects, in order for us to reframe these habits as sources of power.

Read More

Cybersecurity Journalist says SolarWinds Hack is a “Harbinger” of Threats to Come

/
Cybersecurity Journalist says SolarWinds Hack is a “Harbinger” of Threats to Come

Award-winning journalist, broadcaster and author Misha Glenny says that ransomware should be the top concern of European organizations — and that they’re not prepared. “Over the past year, we have seen a ramping up of the strategy among some of the top Russian ransomware groups. Instead of just locking up your data, leaving you to bang your head against a brick wall, some groups are now carrying out their threat to exfiltrate your data and post it for all your competitors to peruse,” he told the ACFE. “The darkest moment in cybersecurity over the last year was the discovery of the SolarWinds hack … This is a harbinger of the security issues in the era of the Internet of Things and machine-to-machine learning.” Glenny, who’s groundbreaking exposé, McMafia, has been adapted into a major BBC television series, will be speaking at the virtual 2021 ACFE Fraud Conference Europe, 11-12 March.

Read More

Digital Innovation Expert Asks Fraud Fighters to Plan for the Next 50 Years of Technological Advancements

/
Digital Innovation Expert Asks Fraud Fighters to Plan for the Next 50 Years of Technological Advancements

At the 2020 ACFE Fraud Conference Canada last week, Alex Benay, the Former Chief Information Officer of Canada and a Digital Innovation Expert and Partner at Digital Solutions, KMPG, had attendees engage in a thought experiment to imagine the world 50 years from now. According to Benay’s hypothesis, this kind of thinking is necessary for countries and businesses to reimagine themselves in our rapidly changing digital age.

To understand the scale of change we could witness in the future, Benay began by analyzing the past. Benay noted the dramatic shift in the economic production model that we’ve witnessed within the past 50 years. To illustrate this claim, he offered a list of firsts:

  • 50 years ago: the invention of the first 16-bit mini computer

  • 40 years ago: the first cassette player, making portable music a reality

  • 30 years ago: the first case of genetic engineering in humans

  • 20 years ago: the first Blackberry

  • 10 years ago: the first all-electric car

  • 5 years ago: the first bionic eye

Read More