The Dichotomy of Modern Government Fraud Schemes and Government Oversight’s Contrasting Approach

/
The Dichotomy of Modern Government Fraud Schemes and Government Oversight’s Contrasting Approach

There appeared to be an overwhelmingly substantial number of “high loss” fraud schemes being perpetrated in 2022 (as reported by the Federal Trade Commission). This was shocking as it appeared to show more high loss cases than low loss cases. This would signal a marked departure from decades of historical statistics. Statistics we, in program oversight, rely upon to strategize our anti-fraud endeavors.

Read More

Fraud Talk: Operation Trojan Shield — A Global Takedown

/
Fraud Talk: Operation Trojan Shield — A Global Takedown

Mason Wilder, CFE, ACFE Sr. Research Specialist, and Mandy Moody, CFE, ACFE Communications Manager, discuss the "sting of the century." Operation Trojan Shield was a collaboration between the U.S. FBI and DEA, the Swedish and Australian police, and other global agencies to infiltrate an encrypted chat platform. The operation led to 800 arrests, seizures of drugs and firearms, and an ongoing list of money laundering revelations.

Read More

“Collective”: An Exposé of Vast Heath Care Fraud in Romania

/
“Collective”: An Exposé of Vast Heath Care Fraud in Romania

Alexander Nanau’s 2019 Academy Award winning documentary “Collective” tells the story of a tragic 2015 nightclub fire that led to the discovery of Romania’s vast health care fraud. Even though the fire was the deadliest in the country’s history, it wasn’t until several victims started dying of non-life-threatening wounds that residents began investigating the links between the nightclub fire deaths and the country’s corrupted hospital industry. The incident sparked outrage over the government’s health care system and inspired a whistleblower to disclose the internal secrets to the media. Nanau’s heartbreaking depiction serves as a rallying cry for whistleblowers to act, especially in cases of life or death.

Read More

Why We Should Charge for Access to Ultimate Beneficial Ownership Registers

/
Why We Should Charge for Access to Ultimate Beneficial Ownership Registers

I do not agree with the concept of open (or public) company registers. This is not for any ideological reason. Rather, they are a flawed tool in combating corruption and recovering assets from money launderers and fraudsters.

But if we are to have them, and if they are heading our way, then we should consider making them accessible via the payment of a realistic fee. This will help bolster their robustness and the verification process. At present, that’s often woefully lacking in some of the world’s best-known register systems.

Read More

The Power of One

/
The Power of One

Daphne Caruana Galizia had the same dogged pursuit of fraudsters and the desire to bring them to justice that you do. She was an investigative journalist in Malta who was unwavering in her pursuit of allegations of corruption by government officials and businesspeople in her country. Tragically, she lost her life because of that pursuit. Her son, Matthew, will accept, on her behalf, the posthumous 2020 ACFE Guardian Award.

Read More