John Fisher Weber, CFE, CPP

One of the reasons I do the work is for the victims. It's not necessarily the best way to meet people, but I feel sometimes I am their voice after they have been victimized. They have been some fine folks, too.

I was born and raised in upstate New York and received my B.A. in communications from St. John Fisher College, where my father had been registrar and a physics/chemistry professor for 25 years. I then obtained my master's degree from California State University Fullerton — my thesis project was "A Systems Analysis to the Prevention of Embezzlement."

I gravitated towards classes in criminal justice during my college career because I found them fascinating! I also was working retail loss prevention at the time. I eventually became a vice president of loss prevention for a multi-billion dollar company. Then I went to work for a district attorney and then to the Texas State Auditor's Office, where I was in charge of the special investigations unit (SIU) for seven years. Also during this time I went through the police academy; I wanted to work in law enforcement and eventually obtained my "Master Peace Officer" license.

During the time at the SIU, my wife was operating Deaf Interpreter Services Inc. I told her she needed to hire someone to handle risk management issues like insurance, policies, etc. A few days later she told me she found the person! I said, "Great. Who?" She said, "You!!" Once we came to the determination that she could afford me, the one caveat was I would continue to do my police work, so I kept working for two different district attorneys as a commissioned investigator part time.

While I have worked a lot of six- and seven-figure cases over the years, one that stands out was a case where the net result of the investigation, which originally looked like a kickback scheme, was the subject that was thought to be taking the kickbacks had actually been set up, framed. It was a great example of doing an ethical, complete investigation and letting the truth come out!

Another investigation that stands out was a case where the victim — the owner — asked if the company would ever get restitution from the embezzler. As the embezzler had some suspected drug abuse issues, I said probably not. Well, I was proven wrong, and the embezzler "cleaned up," and made restitution.

The CFE credential is applicable to my work in the private sector, government and law enforcement; it "works" so well in all three fields.

I would recommend CFEs set the highest standards and maintain their ethics and professionalism at all times. At the University of Texas' Governor's Senior Management Program, I learned a great management principle I quote to this day: "People support what they help create." Be open minded, be a teammate, accept there are folks who know more!

Don't take yourself too seriously, as the ability to laugh at yourself can make a tough day better!

One of my favorite quotes is, "An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest," from Ben Franklin. I have been blessed with a lot of knowledge from the ACFE.

My relationship with the ACFE has been, without a doubt, the best professional decision I have ever made. As member "315," I was certified in 1989. I have traveled to the Philippines with [ACFE President and CEO] Jim Ratley to do training, was voted to the ACFE Board of Regents in 1992, selected as "Outstanding CFE in Government" in 2003 and taught sections for [ACFE founder and Chairman] Dr. Joe Wells and Jack Robertson's "Fraud Examination" class for the Master's of Professional Accounting program at the University of Texas. I even had an article published in Fraud Magazine many years ago!

I met my wife Marilyn (my best personal decision) due to fraud! Let me explain. I was a regional investigator on the West Coast many years ago. I got a call that a front-end supervisor — Marilyn — had taken from a customer a credit card that had been reported stolen, and the customer had threatened her. Well, being the gentleman I am, I escorted her to her car. Next thing I know … many happy decades of marriage and three incredible children!

Keep abreast of technology. You don't have to be a Certified Forensic Computer Examiner, but you do need to know what these professionals can do to support your investigation.

Be open to opportunities; you don't always know what is "behind the next door."

Give back through career days, speak at industry groups, classes, etc. It is amazing whenever I prepare for one of these talks I learn something new or get some input at the talk that is truly beneficial.

Cora Bullock is assistant editor of Fraud Magazine.

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