Mason Wilder, CFE
Quantum ready
Fraud examiners working in financial services are familiar with cutting-edge innovations to fight fraud. But quantum computing may be a game changer. Here we explore how this groundbreaking technology could help CFEs and some of the dangers it might entail.
Written By: Mason Wilder, CFE, Stefano Siggia
Fooling the senses for profit
Deepfakes are no longer just amusing YouTube videos. Fraudsters are beginning to use them for business email compromises. Cyber experts say phone scams, sham celebrity endorsements, biometric fakes and bogus evidence could quickly follow. Now’s the time to advise your organizations.
Written By: Mason Wilder, CFE
Severe water issues in Australia worsened by fraud
Traditional corruption frauds — bribery, kickbacks and conflicts of interest — are affecting water management and availability in Australia. Droughts, fires, and floods are raising the stakes.
Written By: Mason Wilder, CFE
All that glitters
If resources are valuable, fraudsters will use them to commit crimes. And they love to misuse gold, diamonds and other glittery materials from the depths of the earth. Here’s how countries are battling the schemes and what it all means for fraud examiners.
Written By: Mason Wilder, CFE
Archeological frauds threaten Peruvian cultural heritage
Peruvian fraudsters take advantage of victims’ gullibility and interest in pre-Columbian Andean history plus the vulnerability of powerless indigenous peoples and rampant corruption to commit archeological frauds that exploit and denigrate cultures.
Written By: Mason Wilder, CFE
Middle East fraud and corruption enigma
Fabulous wealth, staggering poverty, political imbalances and ancient tribal cultures can worsen fraud and corruption. But some organizations and governments in the Middle East are beginning to take tougher stances.
Written By: Mason Wilder, CFE
U.K.'s 'Unexplained Wealth Orders' puts teeth into money-laundering fight
The United Kingdom is a haven for dirty money. Some estimate that money launderers might be hiding 90 billion pounds per year — primarily through high-end real estate. The “Unexplained Wealth Orders,” introduced in 2018, might be stanching the flow.
Written By: Mason Wilder, CFE
Romance fraud, cryptocurrency risks and money laundering in Asia Pacific
The Asia Pacific region has become a hotbed for cyber romance scams. Hong Kong cybercrime alone has risen 565% since 2012. The region’s global financial centers also face increasing concerns about cryptocurrency and blockchain money laundering fueled by North Korean cybercrime.
Written By: Mason Wilder, CFE
Illegal wildlife trade in southern Africa facilitated via fraud
Poachers and hunters are committing fraud to enable slaughter of big game in southern Africa and shipping their trophies — or horns and tusks — over borders. One CFE is valiantly working to reverse the accelerating carnage and corruption.
Written By: Mason Wilder, CFE
Global review and update
Fraud moves like waves globally — disrespecting borders and nationalities. However, regions often have common crimes and recurring problems. Here’s a review of some of what we’ve covered since the column’s inception in 2018 plus recent developments.
Written By: Mason Wilder, CFE
Canadian casino money laundering exposes greater fraud problems
A report on money laundering in Canadian casinos by drug-trafficking gangs exposes more than just gamblers showing up with bundles of $20 bills. Here’s a lesson for fraud examiners whose blinders might force them to focus on just one type of fraud.
Written By: Mason Wilder, CFE
In Memoriam
Janet O. Hicks, a member of the ACFE since 2016, died August 13, 2018. “She was a wonderful colleague with a warm and friendly personality,” said Professor Ned Benton, her mentor, in the August/September 2018 issue of the John Jay News.
Written By: Mason Wilder, CFE
Global deforestation facilitated via fraud
Illegal logging companies in the Amazon regions, which are driving deforestation, are using multiple fraud schemes. They include fake or forged permits based on fraudulent information; corruption and collusion of and with officials who are supposed to enforce timber regulations; and front companies to avoid taxes.
Written By: Mason Wilder, CFE
Hot-ticket tokens
Non-fungible tokens are all the rage in the crypto world, potentially revolutionizing the sale of everything from art to real estate. But their complexity and the public’s poor understanding of the new technology make NFTs perfect vehicles for fraudsters.
Written By: Mason Wilder, CFE
5 most scandalous frauds of 2020
We were all glad to discard our 2020 calendars. Fraudsters took advantage of COVID-19 conditions, but not all of them needed an pandemic to pull off some big frauds. We've distilled a long list of cases to give you a few shockers.
Written By: Mason Wilder, CFE, Hallie Ayres
2021 outlook for fighting fraud in Europe
The pandemic is leading to increased fraud and criminals’ evolving tactics. Fraud examiners are facing budgetary and logistical constraints, and operational limitations. Here’s how these conditions could affect European anti-fraud efforts this year.
Written By: Mason Wilder, CFE
Nordic nations' corruption fight remains strong
A recurring theme of scandals bringing down Iceland prime ministers illustrates citizens’ intolerance toward corruption. Yet are attitudes, protests and political repercussions enough to reverse the trend of worsening corruption in Iceland and other Nordic nations?
Written By: Mason Wilder, CFE
South Asia follows parallel roads of burgeoning economy and escalating fraud
It’s a familiar story. A country or region finally is prosperous, but inevitably fraud and corruption increase. Here are some infamous South Asian cases and ways the region has battled what affluence wrought.
Written By: Mason Wilder, CFE
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