Anna Brahce
Anna Brahce is assistant editor of Fraud Magazine. Contact her at ABrahce@ACFE.com.
Fraudsters fake diversity hires to win contracts and more
A Manhattan construction company fakes diversity hires to win government contracts; Jalisco drug cartel members scam elderly U.S. citizens with timeshare scam; and the U.K. government fights fraud with new investigative team.
Written By: Anna Brahce
This scheme is a load of manure and more
In California a man conducted a cow manure Ponzi scheme; a former Amazon manager is sentenced for stealing millions from the company; and fraudsters in India scam victims by posting fake business numbers online.
Written By: Anna Brahce
Under pressure
Generations that grew up with the internet aren’t immune to online fraud schemes. Trust in online platforms, heavy involvement in social media and financial pressures facing Gen Z and millennials put them at greater risk of being victimized by fraudsters than older adults. Fraud Magazine explores how younger generations become victims — and perpetrators — and what fraud examiners can do to educate them about fraud.
Written By: Crystal Zuzek, Anna Brahce
ACFE continues to grow and thrive
The ACFE, the world’s largest anti-fraud community, continues to thrive in an increasingly challenging environment, growing its membership, expanding its presence across the globe and becoming more diverse and inclusive. That’s the message from the most recent ACFE Report to Members.
Written By: Anna Brahce
A house of cards and more
In the U.K., a man is arrested for attempting to sell a house he was renting; tech workers in Southeast Asia are conned into working for cybercrime rings; a 58-year-old woman receives a prison sentence for heading one of the biggest marriage fraud conspiracies in U.S. history.
Written By: Anna Brahce
Food fraud and more
Fraudsters are using dilutions, substitution, counterfeits and mislabeling to infiltrate the global food market; a software engineer in Washington steals from his employer in a scheme inspired by the comedy movie "Office Space"; executives in South Korea are convicted in a $1.5 billion V Global scam.
Written By: Anna Brahce
ACFE Foundation awards Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship recipients $85,000 in funds for 2023–2024 term
The ACFE Foundation has awarded $85,000 in funds to the recipients of the 2023-2024 Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship. Twenty-three university students from across the U.S., Europe, Asia and Africa received scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $10,000 for demonstrating academic achievement in a fraud-related field of study and a desire to pursue a career in fraud examination or similar anti-fraud profession.
Written By: Anna Brahce
Finding ‘Fat Leonard’ and more
Authorities apprehend Leonard Francis, who recently escaped house arrest after involvement in Naval corruption case; the Federal Trade Commission sues Roomster Corp. for using false apartment listings and fake reviews; Police in China arrest criminal gang responsible for major banking scandal
Written By: Jennifer Liebman, CFE, Anna Brahce
Joseph R. Dervaes teaches fraud lessons and awards first scholarship named in his honor at PNW Chapter Annual Conference
ACFE Regent Emeritus Joseph R. Dervaes, CFE, gave his final presentation and awarded the Pacific Northwest Chapter’s scholarship, renamed in his honor, at the chapter’s first hybrid annual fraud conference and the latest edition of the Fraud Risk Management Guide helps fraud examiners keep apprised of the latest threats and the multiple ways they can tackle them.
Written By: Jennifer Liebman, CFE, Anna Brahce
Lim Huck Hai, CFE
Onetime runner and current golf enthusiast Lim Huck Hai, CFE, has considerable international executive management experience. He’s helped clients from both private and public sectors implement fraud prevention and regulatory measures and leads investigations guided by integrity and perseverance.
Written By: Anna Brahce
Judge closes 1MDB chapter with 10-year sentence and more
Former Goldman Sachs banker Roger Ng receives jail sentence for money laundering and violating anti-bribery laws; in Chicago a woman used information stolen from dozens of dead people to defraud the government of over $45,000; the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) left 3,000 Asian Americans vulnerable to identify theft by unknowingly sending multiple driver’s licenses to a New York-based Chinese crime group.
Written By: Anna Brahce
Gabriella Marshall, CFE
Gabriella Marshall, CFE, major case consultant at Nationwide Insurance, discusses the benefits of earning the Certified Fraud Examiner credential, her professional background, her greatest achievement and more.
Written By: Anna Brahce
5 most scandalous fraud cases of 2024
Fraudsters work year-round to perpetrate their schemes. Fraud Magazine also works year-round tracking the news for those schemes we believe will live in infamy and serve as cases for anti-fraud professionals to study for years to come. Here are the most scandalous frauds of 2024.
Written By: Jennifer Liebman, CFE, Crystal Zuzek, Anna Brahce
Fraud affairs of the heart and more
Elderly victims in Australia lose half a million dollars in alleged romance scam; China and Myanmar join forces to crack down on cybercriminals targeting Chinese nationals; and risk management study reveals retailers are losing money in instances of friendly fraud.
Written By: Anna Brahce
Falsely accused of fraud
Fraud investigators strive to reveal the truth, but sometimes people are falsely accused of fraud. Here, we examine cases of wrongful convictions with insights from Certified Fraud Examiners (CFEs) and other experts in the field to see why this happens and what mistakes to avoid during investigations.
Written By: Anna Brahce
Natalie Lewis, CFE, CPA/CFF
At one time an aspiring artist, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) Board of Regents Chair Natalie Lewis, CFE, CPA/CFF, now investigates alleged employee embezzlement and business fund misappropriation schemes. She works to combat fraud locally and globally in her leadership positions for the City of Atlanta and the ACFE.
Written By: Anna Brahce
Erin R. Ellebracht, PsyD, CFE
Winner of the 2024 Outstanding Achievement in Outreach and Community Service Award, Erin R. Ellebracht, PsyD, CFE, actively volunteers with the elderly in her community and strives to increase awareness about elder fraud. She values insights from varying perspectives as she works to improve fraud prevention and detection processes in the fight against fraud.
Written By: Anna Brahce
In Memoriam, Jack Sandlin, CFE
Jack Sandlin, Indiana state senator and founder of the ACFE Central Indiana Chapter, passed away on Sept. 20, 2023. He’s remembered by loved ones for his integrity and commitment to public service.
Written By: Anna Brahce
‘Cryptoqueen’ associate pleads guilty to money laundering and more
‘Cryptoqueen’ associate Irina Dilkinska pleads guilty to wire fraud and money laundering for her role in a pyramid scheme; the U.S. DOJ charges 21-year-old Matthew Bergwall with mail fraud; and British media company Virgin Media 02 launches a free beer for International Fraud Awareness Week.
Written By: Anna Brahce
Amanda Malusky Krauss, CFE, CPA/CFF
Amanda Malusky Krauss’s passion for fighting fraud began early in her career when an employee of a firm she was auditing slipped her a note detailing a fraud committed by executives. Today, the lead for Axium Consulting’s internal investigations and forensic accounting practices says she’s driven to fight injustice and strives to always respect the humanity of the people she interviews.
Written By: Anna Brahce
Ukraine alleges $40 million defense procurement fraud and more
Ukraine accuses Ministry of Defense and arms supplier of $40 million fraud; hundreds of sub-postmasters in the U.K. falsely convicted by the U.K. Post Office; and ESPN staff members illicitly secure Emmys for "College GameDay" on-air personnel.
Written By: Anna Brahce
Michael McCall, CFE
Retired FBI agent Michael McCall has years of experience investigating white-collar crime in both the federal and private sectors. Throughout his career he’s learned that following the money is key to tracking criminals and continues to fight fraud as owner of an investigative company.
Written By: Anna Brahce
Fraud scheme targets families of missing migrants and more
The Spanish Civil Guard arrest 14 people led by a man in Morocco for conducting a scheme targeting families of missing migrants; the FTC refunds millions to victims of student debt forgiveness scams; and a woman uses TikTok to get her money back after scammers impersonate her bank and steal thousands of dollars.
Written By: Anna Brahce
Deconstructing academic fraud
In 2011, Diederik Stapel was a psychologist at Tilburg University in the Netherlands at the pinnacle of his academic career. He was dean of the university’s School of Social and Behavioral Sciences and had a prestigious reputation in academic circles. But that same year, Stapel came under suspicion for fraud, unleashing a chain of events that led to his dismissal after an investigation concluded he’d falsified 55 of his publications and 10 Ph.D. dissertations written by his students.
Written By: Emily Homer, Ph.D., CFE, Anna Brahce
Natalie Lewis, CFE, CPA/CFF
At one time an aspiring artist, Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) Board of Regents Chair Natalie Lewis, CFE, CPA/CFF, now investigates alleged employee embezzlement and business fund misappropriation schemes. She works to combat fraud locally and globally in her leadership positions for the City of Atlanta and the ACFE.
Written By: Anna Brahce
Chief operating officer Jeanette LeVie, CFE, celebrates retirement after 32 years with the ACFE
Jeanette LeVie, CFE, is retiring after a 32-year career with the global anti-fraud company, and the ACFE Foundation awarded 23 Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarships for the 2024-2025 term.
Written By: Anna Brahce
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