Part II of II In the previous article, we posed a series of questions to consider when purchasing cyber insurance. In Part II, the authors identify not only how to answer some of the questions posed initially, but also, what value those answers bring. Moreover, the authors identify some of the common gaps and how to address them. Introduction In the previous article, we posed a series of questions to consider when purchasing cyber insurance. Our approach was deliberate: the right questions help get you the right insurance to address cyber risks facing your organization. Remember, seek the right coverage…
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Part I of II When companies suffer a cyber incident, they often look to their insurance policy for coverage to help mitigate financial exposure. Additional external resources also help the insured get back to normal operations. Part I of this series poses several questions to assist insureds or policyholders in thinking through the common issues. Part II will present some strategies to help organizations further reduce their risk posture. Introduction Cyber risk is now a normal part of our personal and professional lives. When companies suffer a cyber incident, they often look to their insurance policy for coverage to help…
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A Forensic Investigation Opens IRS-Floodgate! In this article, the author critiques the IRS Participant Guide for Marijuana Companies. This 200-page guide provides general instructions to the service on the valuation of cannabis farms. The author argues that the compliance guide is completely inaccurate concerning the audit of cannabis cultivation. The author proposes that forensic and valuation professionals employ a series of tests in lieu of the IRS guidance. William Fowler, a former IRS Large Case Exam Officer, agrees with renowned attorney, Nick Richards of Greenspoon Marder, that the general suggestions of the IRS pertaining to its Cannabis Compliance Initiative is…
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From a Forensic Accountant’s Viewpoint Forensic accountants are frequently retained to evaluate economic damages arising from a multitude of circumstances. These engagements require a set of specialized knowledge unique to the facts of the case. In many cases, a forensic accountant will be retained to evaluate lost income arising from a business interruption loss. This article compares a forensic accountant’s involvement in a lost income analysis to that of a lost wage analysis. Introduction Forensic accountants are frequently retained to evaluate economic damages arising from a multitude of circumstances. These engagements require a set of specialized knowledge unique to the…
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A Meandering in the Mind(s) of ChatGPT (Part III of III) In the first two articles of this three part series, the author introduced a brief history of her own word processing software use and preferences, then used several models within an AI tool, ChatGPT, to generate an article with a single prompt. There are some issues with prompts. For instance, the author found that the tools sometimes interpreted them as an instruction to avoid the use of subtitles, other times as an instruction to exclude subtitles from the word count. The author concludes with her findings regarding the current…
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A Meandering in the Mind(s) of ChatGPT (Part II of III) This is the second article of a three-part series. In the first article, the author introduced a brief history of her own word processing software use and preferences then used several models within an AI Tool, ChatGPT, to generate an article with a single prompt, “The article must be between 4750 and 5250 words, not including subtitles. The article must … Read Part I here. What You Missed in Part I I introduced a brief history of my own word processing software use and preferences then used several models…
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A Meandering in the Mind(s) of ChatGPT (Part I of III) This series chronicles the use of an AI generation tool to generate content. Most of the uses the author has heard of from colleagues rely on an AI tool to generate content in response to various questions. Through the series the author shares iterations of an article that relied on AI and provides examples to show how a story can change using AI. Some Perspective I do not use AI assistance in anything. In fact, I do not use autofill, autocorrect, grammar suggestions, or even spellcheck. I do not…
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A Comprehensive Guide to Successful Claims Outcomes (Part II of II) In this second of a two-part article, the authors discuss areas where outside expertise may be needed and policy exclusions. Read Part I here. Introduction: Navigating Claims Challenges and How Experts Can Help Throughout the fidelity claims handling process, issues or challenges may arise for which parties involved must reconcile. Here are some common issues that may be encountered: Proof of Loss: One of the primary challenges in fidelity claims is establishing the proof of loss. The insured party must provide evidence of the fraudulent or dishonest acts committed…
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A Comprehensive Guide to Successful Claims Outcomes (Part I of II) Fidelity/crime/financial institution bonds, in a general sense, cover an insured from the willful theft of property, money, and securities by one of their employees or an outside third-party carried out through a variety of means. Such fraud can impact myriad industries. In this two-part article, the authors provide fundamental aspects of a fidelity investigation, from inception to recovery of stolen funds. Introduction: Understanding Fidelity Investigations Fidelity/crime/financial institution bonds, in a general sense, cover an insured from the willful theft of property, money, and securities by one of their employees…
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How AI is Transforming the Industry Artificial Intelligence (AI) represents a paradigm shift in the realm of computational capabilities, transcending traditional boundaries of machine functionality to emulate human-like intelligence. AI has made remarkable advances in recent years due to the availability of massive amounts of data, powerful computing resources, and innovations in methods and architectures. This article will explore the role and impact of AI in valuation and forensic accounting, addressing the challenges and issues with AI, and ensuring quality control in using AI. Introduction to AI in Business Valuation and Forensic Accounting Artificial Intelligence (AI) represents a paradigm shift…
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And How the IRS Unravels Contract Law in its Newest Cryptocurrency Proposals This article details the issues with the proposal put forth by the IRS related to cryptocurrency transaction reporting and identifies the actionable bits of information that may be useful to practitioners. This article also covers proposed rules expanded definition of a broker and whom the new regulation will cover along with the what and whys; a second article will cover the how. This article details the issues with the proposal put forth by the IRS related to cryptocurrency transaction reporting and identifies the actionable bits of information that…
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Part IV in a Series Addressing Advances in Forensic Accounting and Financial Forensics The increasing amount of data is daunting. Managing and making sense of the vast amount of information is paramount to professionals. In this article, the author shares how he has managed those first impressions and found value using AI and software to understand the information deluge. In the 1990s, the Rubik’s cube craze had died down, but a new one had emerged: The Magic Eye books. People would flip through these books, which seemed to be pages upon pages of nothing but colorful dots, and perhaps see…
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Part III in a Series Addressing Advances in Forensic Accounting and Financial Forensics Those working to manage valuations and investigate fraud are seeing the impact of two trends that emerged in 2023: an increasingly tight labor market and the advancement and adoption of new technologies. The reality is as we enter 2024 and the workforce continues to shrink, the implications of these new technology innovations will only continue to grow. The author shares his views on how the innovation will impact the valuation and forensic professions. Those working to manage valuations and investigate fraud are seeing the impact of two…
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Do Not Be Afraid to Innovate This article focuses on how advances in AI and machine learning can aid forensic investigations procedures and further bring the detection of fraud and other financial crimes into the digital age. Introduction In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, fraud and financial crime have become an increasingly complex and pervasive issue for organizations, big and small, global, and domestic. Fortunately, advanced technology and artificial intelligence (AI) have emerged as invaluable tools in the fight against malfeasance. By leveraging sophisticated algorithms, data analytics, and machine learning capabilities, combined with traditional forensic accounting principles, these technological advancements…
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Embrace a Systematic Approach Fraud is a pervasive issue that affects businesses, organizations, and individuals across various industries. Often, an organization is surprised to find itself a victim of fraud, especially when the perpetrator is a trusted employee. This article details the first steps a company should take when initiating a fraud investigation, what experts will be necessary to uncover illicit behavior, and what parties need to be notified. Introduction Fraud is a pervasive issue that affects businesses, organizations, and individuals across various industries. Often, an organization is surprised to find itself a victim of fraud, especially when the perpetrator…
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NACVA Evaluates Impact of ChatGPT on the Membership Imagine having a quirky little virtual assistant that can draft professional articles, generate narratives, and assist with academic writing. With the recent buzz around ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence chatbot developed by OpenAI, the possibilities of utilizing this technology in the forensics and valuation services world has created mixed viewpoints. While some may fear that ChatGPT could replace humans, others are excited about the potential it holds to, well, replace humans. Either way, ChatGPT has the potential to change the way professionals in these industries work. In this article, the authors explore how…
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First Steps in the Fraud Investigation The first steps in a fraud investigation are crucial to setting the tone and can set the stage for a successful, or lack thereof, investigation. This article details the first steps a company should take when initiating a fraud investigation, what experts will be necessary to uncover illicit behavior, and what parties need to be notified. Introduction Fraud is a pervasive issue that affects businesses, organizations, and individuals across various industries. Often, an organization is surprised to find itself a victim of fraud, especially when the perpetrator is a trusted employee. According to the…
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Part Two in a Series Addressing Advances in Forensic Accounting and Financial Forensics The author of this series of articles is co-founder of Valid8 Financial Forensics Software, a Seattle, WA and Boulder, CO-based professional service provider. This second article, and those in the forthcoming series, set forth techniques used to investigate financial fraud allegations and the reliance and value of artificial intelligence in these investigations. My first article in this series made the case that changing financial markets were setting the stage for an increase in financial fraud cases in the years ahead. As investigations increase, so will the need…
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Currency Investment Scams Step aside e-mail compromises and romance scams. Make way for the crypto investment scam, the newest in an ever-changing sea of schemes and scams available on the World Wide Web to minimize your life savings in as little as a few weeks. This article is a refresher for traditional indicators beyond the “too good to be true” mantra and will detail the slight modifications occurring within this new iteration of attempts to separate folks and their money. There are 12 common investment fraud scheme indicators to recall. These may occur prior to a potential victim engaging in…
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A Primer for Business Valuation, Forensic, and Litigation Support Professionals This is the first article in a series related to the cryptocurrency valuation and litigation. This is an emerging area of practice. In this first article, the author explains what is a blockchain and the purposes blockchains serve. Cryptocurrency litigation in the past decade has appeared in various dispute types: Matrimonial disputes where property characterization, asset concealment, and valuation are key components of the forensic practitioner’s work product; In civil disputes where a lack of professional skepticism, an over-reliance on 409(A) valuations, and subversive explanations are key pitfalls of a…