• November/December 2016 | Vol. 31 | No. 6

Featured Articles

  • To snare a menace

    Identity theft attracts fraudsters because they can steal significant amounts with extreme anonymity, and victims and law enforcement can seldom pursue them. However, the authors describe an investigation that yielded the arrest and prosecution of a fraudster who used “synthetic identity theft” and other crimes to steal millions. Learn about their practical methods and a stunning twist.

    Do numbers lie? Cooking the books or keeping them on simmer

    Corporate management has significant latitude in choosing what numbers to report and when. But business pressures can cloud their judgment. This article examines how using accounting gimmicks and manipulating financial statements might satisfy investors but can cross into fraudulent territory.

    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.

    An auto insurance fraud primer and more: Using social network analysis to catch fraudsters

    Auto insurance fraud is a global fraud phenomenon with billions in losses. This primer will cover the basics plus an innovative way to combat it: social network analysis (SNA). SNA tracks claims patterns among individuals, vehicles, and locations involved in accidents, as well as supports entities such as repair shops, law firms and medical clinics. The result? Evidence discovery.

    Misplaced trust: Church leaders drain at least $673,000 from accounts

    The financial problems of church council members John Osborn and Mary Meyers motivated them to steal the church’s endowment funds. Here’s how the couple exploited their position of trust within the congregation to commit this devastating fraud.

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