The Criminal Investigation Division of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS CI) recently recognized the Certified Fraud Examiner credential for hiring and promotional purposes as it becomes the newest member of the ACFE Law Enforcement Partnership.
“Criminal Investigation is proud to join the ACFE Law Enforcement Partnership by recognizing the CFE credential,” said Eileen Mayer, chief, IRS Criminal Investigation. “Earning this credential is recognition that the individual has proven expertise in investigating, detecting, and deterring financial fraud.”
Within the CI, the CFE credential will join other recognized credentials such as Certified Public Accountant and law licenses and be another training factor for consideration in the selection process, according to Mayer. Beginning in fiscal year 2010, CI will develop an online training study program to enable CI employees to study for the CFE credential.
“CI special agents are acknowledged leaders in the world of global financial investigations,” said Mayer. “The CFE credential will further enhance the credibility an agent brings to an investigation and prosecution and be one more tool in our recruitment of new agents.”
Participants in the ACFE Law Enforcement Partnership are granted free employment ads in the ACFE Web site Career Center; complimentary booth space at the ACFE’s Annual Fraud Conference and Exhibition; coverage of the agency’s mission in Fraud Magazine; recognition on the ACFE’s Web site as a participant in the program; discounts on ACFE conferences, seminars, and other learning methods; peer networking with other anti-fraud specialists; and discounts on certification.
According to Mayer, mission of the IRS CI is to serve the American public by investigating potential criminal violations of the Internal Revenue Code and related financial crimes in a manner that fosters confidence in the tax system and compliance with the law.
CI is comprised of approximately 4,400 employees worldwide – of whom approximately 2,800 are special agents whose investigative jurisdiction includes tax, money laundering, and Bank Secrecy Act laws. While other federal agencies also have investigative jurisdiction for money laundering and some bank secrecy act violations, IRS is the only federal agency that can investigate potential criminal violations of the Internal Revenue Code.
“As financial investigators, CI special agents fill a unique niche in the federal law enforcement community,” Mayer said. Today’s sophisticated schemes to defraud the government demand the analytical ability of financial investigators to wade through complex paper and computerized financial records. Due to the increased use of automation for financial records, CI special agents are trained to recover computer evidence.
Along with their financial investigative skills, special agents use specialized forensic technology to recover financial data that might have been encrypted, password protected, or hidden by other electronic means. CI’s conviction rate is one of the highest in federal law enforcement, according to Mayer. Not only do the courts hand down substantial prison sentences, but those convicted must also pay fines, civil taxes, and penalties.
Some of the members in the ACFE Law Enforcement Partnership include: the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the U.S. Postal Inspection Service; the U.S. Government Accountability Office; the Department of Defense; the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, U.S. Department of the Navy; the Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of the Interior; the Office of the Inspector General, National Reconnaissance Office; and numerous international and domestic federal, state, and local investigative agencies.
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