The Countdown to Fraud Week 2012

GUEST BLOGGER

Scott Patterson
ACFE Senior Public Relations Specialist

International Fraud Awareness Week, Nov. 11-17, is just a month away, and we’ve hit another milestone. There are now more than 700 organizations signed up as Official Supporters for this important grassroots effort. I’ve been hearing a lot of exciting things about what people are planning for Fraud Week this year.

The ACFE Utah Chapter is teaming up with Exactech Forensics LLC to host a workshop luncheon for members and local companies to share ideas on how to increase fraud awareness.

In Nebraska, the ACFE Heartland Chapter and Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) of Nebraska are supporting the movement – and Susan Rainey Biler, CFE, AHFI, special investigations administrator for BCBS of Nebraska informed me that Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman is declaring Nov. 11-17 International Fraud Awareness Week in the state.

In Ohio, Franklin University, the National White Collar Crime Center, the Ohio Ethics Commission, the Ohio Inspector General’s Office and the Ohio Investigators Association will present a two-day training conference:  “Targeting Fraud – Safeguarding Integrity.”

We have added some new resources to FraudWeek.com to help you make the most of this year’s campaign. "Designing an Effective Anti-Fraud Training Program" is a new PDF guide that provides tips and special considerations for developing an anti-fraud training program for your employees.

A few weeks ago, I received a call from Larry Benson at LexisNexis regarding their new “Fraud of the Day” forum.  It is a can't-miss resource dedicated to educating government about how fraud is perpetrated and solutions to stop it. I encourage those dealing with government fraud to visit the site and sign up for their daily email; you will also find commentary, links to upcoming events, resources pertaining to government fraud and expert video commentary.

On FraudWeek.com we have the latest customizable press release and Fraud Week logo to help you publicize your support. Find the full list of resources at FraudWeek.com/Resources.

Remember, there are different ways to get involved. Consider the following:

• Hold a free fraud prevention seminar in your community, or for your employees and/or clients. Or offer to speak to a local business group, or to university students enrolled in business, management and accounting courses about the importance of being trained in the detection and prevention of fraud.
• Send an email to clients outlining the risks and cost of fraud. Encourage them to reduce their fraud risk. Include fraud awareness articles and information in employee newsletters and other communications.
• Engage in social media before and during Fraud Week. Promote the importance of fraud awareness, and use our Twitter hashtag, #FraudWeek. Stay tuned to ACFE Insights and other ACFE social media channels for updates.

To share your events and materials, please feel free to email me at spatterson@acfe.com. It is just a month away – the countdown to Fraud Week begins.

International Fraud Awareness Week Less Than One Month Away

GUEST BLOGGER

Scott Patterson
ACFE Media Relations Specialist

This year, International Fraud Awareness Week, Nov. 6-12, couldn’t come at a better time. With the largest identity fraud case in U.S. history busted last week and companies like Solyndra committing alleged financial statement fraud, the need for fraud awareness is stronger than ever. I encourage you to take the initiative to make an impact during the week, whether by hosting fraud awareness training for your employees, posting articles on your website and social media, or teaming with local media to highlight the problem of fraud.

Any organization can get involved – it doesn’t cost anything to sign up, and the ACFE shares resources with all of the official supporters to help them in their anti-fraud activities. Every year on FraudWeek.com we post downloadable resources, including the Fraud Prevention Check-up, Fraud IQ Quiz and educational presentations focused on fraud prevention and detection.

Here is a sneak peek at a few of the free resources you can use this year:

• Fraud Prevention Check-up (PDF): How vulnerable is your company to fraud? Find out by using the ACFE's Fraud Prevention Check-Up, a simple yet powerful test of your company's fraud health.
• Managing the Business Risk of Fraud: A Practical Guide (PDF): This guidance paper, developed jointly by the ACFE, IIA and AICPA, provides key principles for proactively establishing an environment to effectively manage an organization’s fraud risks.
• Profile of a Fraudster (PowerPoint): ACFE research helps identify common traits and behavioral red flags among those who perpetrate fraud.

Stay tuned for more resources!