Colin May, CFE
‘A wink and a nod’ can’t rename high-tech government bribes
Raushi Conrad was a longtime, well-liked U.S. federal government high-tech specialist. He bucked the stereotype of the aloof, arrogant IT worker. But an anonymous email led to an investigation that showed he’d committed a one-man $1 million internal fraud scheme that involved chicken restaurants, computer viruses and “wink-and-a-nod” briberies. Here’s how to fend off similar high-tech crimes.
Written By: Colin May, CFE
End of the trail
Between 1998 and February 2009, accountant James T. Hammes embezzled more than $8.7 million from his employer, G&J Pepsi-Cola Bottlers Inc. He was indicted shortly thereafter on 75 counts — including 38 for wire fraud and 36 for money laundering — but wasn’t arrested until May 16, 2015. Why did it take so long to arrest Hammes? After the FBI had questioned him in 2009 about the theft, he left his family and life, and began hiking the Appalachian Trail (AT).
Written By: Colin May, CFE, Scott Morantz, CPA
Gifts of mentoring
Most of us know it’s more “blessed to give than receive,” but hectic work and family schedules (and pesky pandemic problems) can keep us from imparting our knowledge. But don’t let lofty assumptions of mentorship keep you from the joy of giving newish fraud examiners the career boosts they need. Here are practical ways to get started.
Written By: Colin May, CFE
Brought down by upcoding
For years William King ran a successful medical practice, but when his patients left his office, the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, doctor had a practice of a different sort — a medical billing scheme known as upcoding. Fraud Magazine examines how King perpetrated a years’ long upcoding scheme that defrauded an insurance company of hundreds of thousands of dollars and details how fraud examiners can detect similar schemes.
Written By: Colin May, CFE
How to write 'right'
Writing skills are essential in this profession. The most successful fraud examiners, investigators, attorneys and business people are those who can write clearly, articulately and persuasively using facts they’ve uncovered in the course of the fraud examination.
Written By: Colin May, CFE
Should you start an ACFE student chapter?
As a former student member of the ACFE, I can’t think of a better way for budding fraud examiners to explore the profession than as members of university ACFE student chapters. They not only learn valuable anti-fraud skills, but they meet professionals and make contacts that can lead to internships and jobs.
Written By: A. Blair Staley, Colin May, CFE
The chief was a thief
What tears at the fabric of a small town? Theft, betrayal and a loss of confidence in the very institutions that make the town a great place to live. This is the story of how a small gap became a gaping hole in oversight, management and internal controls, which resulted in a theft of more than $250,000.
Written By: Colin May, CFE
Career opportunities in gaming enforcement and investigation
Gambling is an attractive entertainment option for some, but it can also be a hotbed for money laundering, organized crime and other illicit activity. That means, of course, job opportunities for CFEs in a growing field. Can CFEs help deter bad actors from defrauding gaming operations?
Written By: Colin May, CFE
The big four
In this column, we hear from a seasoned fraud fighter and educator who has some excellent advice on skill building for new CFEs and students. You can discover how to develop these essential core traits through a mentor relationship or by observing those professionals you admire.
Written By: L. Christopher Knight, CFE, CPA, Colin May, CFE
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