From Fighting in the Cage to Fighting Fraud

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Josh Eckmann, CFCI
Registration Compliance Analyst, Allstate
Lincoln, Nebraska 

Many CFEs pride themselves on being fraud fighters, but it’s rare for a fraud fighter to also be an actual professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter; Josh Eckmann is one of those few crossover talents. While not yet a CFE, Eckmann is currently participating in the ACFE 90-Day Challenge — a sprint to prepare for, and pass, his CFE Exam. Eckmann has worked in the insurance anti-fraud field for years and finds that pinning down fraudsters in an investigation is more similar to facing down opponents in the cage than one might think.

What steps led you to your current position?  
I started off in the company’s national catastrophe claims team and during that time discovered I had a knack for investigation. I was fortunate enough to find, and be mentored by, a retired Marine Corps counter-intelligence expert who taught me most of what I know. I was promoted to my company’s life insurance division where I found a home for my investigative skillsets. I discovered a large, and vastly unrecognized, problem with the use of life insurance policies to commit multi-lien fraud for mortgages and SBA loans.

It was during that time that I decided to go back to school and earn certification for my investigation skill sets and completed the CFCI program at Utica College in Utica, New York as a distance learner. Eventually I felt a stagnation in my growth as an investigator and worked hard to find a position within my company that would allow me to test my abilities, learn another facet of the business and expand my skillsets and knowledge base. That brought me to my current position that required that I secure the FINRA Series 6 license. Preparing for, and passing, the exam opened my eyes to a whole new world of applications and knowledge for my investigative skill set.

Are there any comparisons between MMA and fighting fraud? Or, has one profession affected the way you see the other? 
There are very few sports or professions in the world that are more taxing on body and mind than MMA. It requires passion, perseverance, and an undying obsession to continuous learning, improvement and results. When the price for giving up or being ill-prepared quite literally could mean your life, you must be tenaciously vigilant. That mindset translates into fighting fraud. When failure and giving up are not options, you seek out additional expertise, angles, insights and details that will get you closer to your goal. MMA is so different from other combat sports in that there are so many options, so many techniques, so many ways to win and so many different styles. Mentally treating a fraudster like my opponent in the cage drives me to study, experiment, trust my instincts, be willing to accept when I am wrong, try a different approach and persist until I am victorious. (Chances are pretty good that said fraudster is not actually going to try to punch me in the face … but even if so, I’ve spent my life preparing for those moments).

What activities or hobbies do you like to do outside of work? 
Outside of work, I spend much of my time training. I have gyms that I frequent and I have made a habit seeking out and training at new gyms that practice different styles of the same martial arts. If I am not in fight camp (eight weeks of extensive training for a specific fight or tournament), then I train three to four days a week. I take one day to focus on getting stronger and all the other days are MMA-specific. During fight camp I train six days a week: four of which are MMA-specific; one day is focused on strength training and one day is focused on endurance training. I specialize in submission wrestling and I spend a considerable amount of my time training in that style. I do like to travel as well, which I get as a two-for-one deal with MMA. Last October I was in Minsk, Belarus at the United World Wrestling Grappling World Championships representing Team USA, where I won the Bronze Medal at 92kg.

I also enjoy reading, mainly nonfiction. I love reading investigative case studies, the different sciences (physics is my favorite) and business journals. Latin dance is a fantastic way to bring body and mind together as well!

Read Josh's full interview in the Career Center on ACFE.com.

Mentoring Young Professionals Gives CFE Purpose and Passion

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Chelsea Binns, Ph.D., CFE
Assistant Professor
St. John’s University 

Chelsea Binns, Ph.D., CFE, knew from a young age that she had the skills and perception to be a successful investigator, but her life as a CFE has allowed her to take on more roles than she ever expected. Out of all the roles she’s filled — investigator, fraud hotline operator, professor — her favorite has been mentoring young fraud fighters. Currently, she serves as the Vice President and Training Director for the ACFE’s New York Chapter, where she’s driven to help student members forge their own paths in exciting anti-fraud careers.

How long have you been involved in the anti-fraud profession and how did you become passionate about fighting fraud?
I was interested in the investigative field since I was a child. As a young person, I conducted many unofficial “investigations,” where I learned I had the qualities it took to be successful. But I started my official career as an investigator for the City of New York in 2003. There, I observed the realities of fraud and the harm it can cause its victims. I perceived the vast number of victims of fraud to include the city, its businesses and its private citizens. I recognized the tireless work and perseverance of city employees to prevent and detect fraud. This experience inspired me to continue the fight against fraud throughout my career.

What is your current role and what does it entail?
Currently, I’m an assistant professor at St. John’s University. I teach primarily in the Criminal Justice and Homeland Security undergraduate programs. As a licensed private investigator in the State of New York, I often teach investigative courses in the curriculum. I also teach courses related to fraud, leadership and the corporate security function. In those courses, I draw upon my experience working in an investigative capacity for the City and State of New York, Morgan Stanley and Citibank.

I also advise and serve as a mentor to many students. In this capacity, I have leveraged my relationship with the ACFE to benefit my students. For instance, I often extend opportunities for students to volunteer at ACFE training events, NYC Chapter training meetings and annual conferences. Several of my students have received employment opportunities from members as a result of their exposure to ACFE events.

What steps led you to your current position?
As I advanced in my career, I loved the idea of becoming a college professor. I always enjoyed and valued the training and mentorship aspects of my career. Thus, I gravitated toward a career opportunity that involved sharing my knowledge and experience to benefit like-minded students. I was equally interested in advancing research endeavors based on observations I made over the years.

To this end, I embarked on a doctorate program in Criminal Justice at the CUNY Graduate Center/John Jay College. It was a long road. I attended school at night while working full time during the day. It took me seven years to complete.

I’m very grateful for the opportunity that John Jay College provided me. They rarely accept part-time students. But my ability to have an investigative career in the private sector, while simultaneously attending school, greatly enhanced my educational experiences.

What is a memorable case or project that you have worked on, one that made you feel especially proud? 
When I worked for the city, I spent one day a week receiving telephone calls from citizens who wanted to report fraud, waste and abuse. I learned a lot from that experience. One key thing I took away is that tipsters can make a difference. We acted on all information that was received. If it pertained to something under our purview, we investigated it. If not, we referred the matter or the caller to the appropriate agency. I was proud to assist those callers. That experience made me appreciate the value of fraud hotlines.

Said experience inspired my first book, Fraud Hotlines: Design, Performance and Assessment, published by Taylor & Francis/CRC Press, which is due out this year.

What activities or hobbies do you like to do outside of work? 

Investigations are my passion, and I will often use my “spare time” to perform special research projects for select clients. I also enjoy international travel and outdoor activities, especially running, swimming, biking and tennis.

Read Chelsea's full profile in the Career Center on ACFE.com.

Detective Spreads Fraud Awareness in His Community

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Rick Belik, CFE
Detective, Omaha Police Department

For Rick Belik, CFE, Omaha Police Department Detective and part-time Task Force Officer for the FBI's White Collar Crime Task Force, fraud is often very personal. Belik, who was awarded the ACFE Outstanding Achievement in Community Service Award in 2015, has dealt with numerous cases of elder fraud. In addition to tackling cases that come across his desk, he is proactive about fraud education in his community. He has held numerous talks and seminars for senior citizens and caregivers to discuss common scams that target the elderly and how they can protect themselves from fraud.

How did you become passionate about fighting fraud?
I became passionate about fighting fraud by talking to the victims. These are true victims and fraud crimes affect much more than just a financial loss. There is a true, real or perceived, loss of security, safety and trust in the world around them, especially with senior victims.

What steps led you to your current position?
I started out in a cruiser like every other cop and then I joined our Mounted Patrol and did that for six years. When my 1,200-pound partner (horse) retired, I moved into investigations. Always being a bit of a "numbers nerd," the “Fraud Squad” was a perfect fit for me — I expressed an interest in the unit two years before I was assigned to it and I have been in that position for seven years. This year I have also become a part-time Task Force Officer (TFO) for the FBI's White Collar Crime Task Force.

The part-time TFO job was the idea of the local FBI supervisor, who is also an ACFE member. We got to know each other through Heartland Chapter events. We discussed cases that we’d both worked and discovered that we were definitely chewing some of the same dirt. There are jurisdictional issues that come up with being a cop in a municipality. Having a federal deputation can certainly broaden my approach. It has also helped find cases that might have otherwise "fallen through the cracks" in the system where both sides, federal and local, might think that the other is working on a particular case.

What is a memorable case or project that you have worked on; one that made you feel especially proud?
I work all of the financial exploitation cases involving vulnerable adults in Omaha. When paid caregivers steal from the people whom they are charged with helping, it really gets my dander up. I've worked several of these cases and, along with the partnership of Adult Protective Services (APS) and the County Attorney's Office, we have been able to bring suspects to justice, stop the financial bleeding and get the victims proper care and protection. This has been very satisfying. 

I had one case where an elderly widow, living alone, was targeted by a man who knocked on her door and claimed to be a friend of her late husband's. This guy got into her head over a period of time, telling her that she was in danger from gang members and that she had to "pay them off" for protection through him. Over a short period of time, several thousands of dollars were depleted from her account. Bank employees became suspicious and alerted both APS and Law Enforcement. We were able to put a case together and get this guy convicted for robbery/extortion for the threats that he made to the victim. I drove her to the courthouse for the sentencing because she wanted to show the suspect that, in the end, he didn't get the best of her. It was an exhausting trip for her because she didn't move around too well, but it was important for her. I was humbled by her strength and proud to help her through it.  

How do you think CFEs can help their communities better understand fraud risks and prevention?
In 2015, I was honored to receive the ACFE Outstanding Achievement in Community Service Award at the 26th Annual ACFE Global Fraud Conference in Baltimore. I've given dozens of talks about fraud to thousands of seniors and caregivers, informing them of what fraud and scam trends are out there. I’ve advised them of what warning signs they can look for, and what steps they can take, to make themselves and their loved ones less of a target. The ACFE has a broad range of fraud fighters with a vast range of knowledge. Getting that knowledge and experience out to the community does real and measurable good.  

What activities or hobbies do you like to do outside of work?
My wife and I love to travel. If we can go somewhere different and experience something new, we're in!

Read more about Detective Belik in his full profile on ACFE.com.

Forensic Accountant Relies on Skills Learned Outside of the Classroom

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Ryan Collins, CFE
Manager, Fraud and Investigation Dispute Services
EY 

According to Ryan Collins, CFE, Manager of Fraud and Investigation Dispute Services at EY, the most valuable career lessons he has learned were not taught in school. “Today’s market requires a forensic accountant to possess a different skillset from the traditional accountant, which means most of what you learn in your career isn’t taught inside of a classroom,” Collins said. “Analytical thinking, problem solving, and the ability to think outside the box are some of the most important skills I’ve learned over my career, and continue to employ on a daily basis.”

How did you become passionate about fighting fraud? 
I attended Bentley University where I earned my undergraduate degree in accounting and my MBA. I always figured when I graduated I would take a job in tax or audit. At Bentley, I took a forensic accounting course where I learned about the Enrons, WorldComs and Madoffs of the world. I was immediately hooked. I’m lucky enough to have a career where I can focus on doing well and doing a lot of good.

What is one thing you wish someone would have told you before you began your professional career? 
The one thing I wish someone would have told me before I began my career was that I was going to make mistakes and that that was okay. The first thing I tell our new staff each year is that they are going to make mistakes, probably a lot of them. The important thing when you make a mistake is that you don’t get frustrated or down on yourself. Mistakes are the most powerful learning tools there are.

What value do you see in mentorship, and what advice do you have for someone looking for a mentor? 
For me, mentorship is one of the single most important aspects of career development. I think it’s essential to find a mentor as early in your career as possible. For me, that meant finding someone who was doing the job I wanted to be doing in five years, and understanding the steps they took and the process they followed to be successful. And when I get there, it is just as important to become a mentor, and help guide others along in their careers.

What is a memorable case or project that you have worked on – one that made you feel especially proud? 
A few years ago I was able to perform a pro-bono engagement working with a charity in the Boston area. Early in my career, it was inspiring to see that EY wasn’t only focusing on their financial bottom line, but also the social impact they were having on the community.

What activities or hobbies do you like to do outside of work?  
When I am not fighting fraud, I’m fighting a hook and a slice on the golf course. I love to play the game as much as possible, even when I can’t find a course. And, as a bonus, it’s a great way to develop business relationships.

Ready Ryan's full interview in the Career Center on ACFE.com.