The Layered Approach There is a maxim in forensic accounting that investigations take twice as long as anticipated, yet the final report appears to have taken half the time. This article provides an overview of the forensic methodology to balance client expectations with the appropriate level of service. Each progressive layer allows for the milestones reached to be evaluated before expanding the scope. This article will also assist the forensic practitioner in communicating the costs of continuing the analysis against the anticipated benefits. There is a maxim in forensic accounting that investigations take twice as long as anticipated, yet the…
-
-
Part I 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. These articles set forth techniques used to investigate financial fraud allegations and focus on the flow of funds. As 2023 comes into clearer view, it is evident that the changing economic tides will bring a greater emphasis on scrutiny. With interest rates on the rise and recessionary fears growing, the tide is, at long last, going out—and when the tide recedes, we will truly…
-
Foundations for Prevention and Mitigation This article focuses on the professional expertise, processes, and technologies that are needed to mitigate the ever-increasing risk of cyber-attacks and potential business interruptions on companies, organizations, and individuals. The modern security ecosystem is diverse and ever-changing, a place where cyber risk is top of mind for leaders at all levels, and threats to information/data security and privacy evolve at the speed of the technical innovations driving progress. Within this dynamic ecosystem, we are increasingly connected across the globe, where organizations (and individuals) equally face the ever-present threat from cyber-attack. No one is immune and…
-
Taking Another Look at Perpetrators and Their Schemes—Can a Testifying Expert Witness Rely on the Financial Statements and/or Other Financial Reports Provided? For more than a decade, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) has published its report on global occupational fraud. The term occupational fraud refers to frauds that are committed by individuals against the organizations that employ them. Occupational fraud is formally defined as the use of one’s occupation for personal enrichment through the deliberate misuse or misapplication of the employing organization’s resources or assets. The purpose of this article is to take a deeper dive into understanding…
-
Strategies for Resolving Litigation Disputes The cryptocurrency market is down approximately 57 percent for the year as of the time of this writing. For many, this news may bring a feeling of JOMO (Joy of Missing Out). For practitioners involved with crypto-litigation, however, it just further complicates a complex subject matter. This article explores the considerations and strategies to help resolve these types of cases during times of uncertainty, including financial forensics, asset divisions, income, taxes, and other topics. Each of these are discussed below. The cryptocurrency market is down approximately 57 percent for the year as of the time…
-
With Examples From Asset Misappropriation to Financial Statement Fraud (Part II of II) This two-part article (Read Part I here) focuses on the two significant, but different, roles forensic accountants play in quantifying employee losses and how—in the normal course of the analysis—they may find instances of fraud that require further investigation. The authors first provide detailed guidance for forensic accountants in how to quantify employee losses and later offer insights into behavior that may indicate fraud stemming from such claims. They also explain the factors considered by carriers when hiring external accountants. The second part of the article features…
-
With Examples From Asset Misappropriation to Financial Statement Fraud (Part I of II) This two-part article focuses on the two significant, but different, roles forensic accountants play in quantifying employee losses and how—in the normal course of the analysis—they may find instances of fraud that require further investigation. The authors first provide detailed guidance for forensic accountants in how to quantify employee losses and later offer insights into behavior that may indicate fraud stemming from such claims. They also explain the factors considered by carriers when hiring external accountants. The second part of the article features two cases studies involving…
-
Behavioral Underpinnings of Greed In this article, the authors discuss the unprecedented growth of cryptocurrency and the accompanying risks and fraud. They ask, Why does a person choose the characteristics of cryptocurrency to be not only a secure medium of exchange, but also one with upward price potential? The recent price drop in the spring of 2022 shows the magnitude of loss of value Bitcoin has suffered in a very short period. Is there an element of gambling that seeps into the mindset of the crypto investor? Or could it be that the primary allure is the relative anonymity of…
-
in Detecting Fraud in Business Interruption Claims (Part II of II) Business interruption claims are generally closely scrutinized by insurance carriers and can range from thousands of dollars, to claims exceeding $100 million. Insurance carriers often seek the assistance of either internal or external forensic accountants to analyze such claims. During their analysis, forensic accountants often detect the possibility of fraud in a claim, prompting further investigation by the carrier. This second part presents a business interruption case example that illustrates how to analyze business interruption fraud claims and explains the considerations by insurance carriers when hiring external accountants. Read…
-
in Detecting Fraud in Business Interruption Claims (Part I of II) Business interruption claims are generally closely scrutinized by insurance carriers and can range from thousands of dollars to claims exceeding $100 million. Insurance carriers often seek the assistance of either internal or external forensic accountants to analyze such claims. During their analysis, forensic accountants often detect the possibility of fraud in a claim, prompting further investigation by the carrier. This two-part article details the role forensic accountants play in identifying and analyzing fraud in business interruption claims and explains the considerations by insurance carriers when hiring external accountants. Introduction…
-
A Guide for Forensic Analysts As cryptocurrencies become more mainstream, it is vital for forensic analysts to understand and analyze digital currency data. Forensic analysts are increasingly being brought in to trace and help recover crypto assets in criminal matters, such as money laundering and other fraud prosecutions. There is also a noticeable increase in the use of forensic analysts in civil litigations, which can range from contested divorces to probate and bankruptcy cases. This article focuses on how to trace and recover crypto assets using one of the major exchanges as the example. Coinbase is an online cryptocurrency exchange…
-
Signs of Ethical Deterioration The 21st century has brought not only the worst pandemic in over 100 years, but also an alarming deterioration in ethical culture. We see examples of this in the types of fraud being perpetrated, as well as in the behavior of elected officials, athletes, business owners, and wealthy parents of students. Where is this trend headed, and can it be reversed? In this article, the authors discuss how perpetrators rationalize, how financial fraud is concealed, and ways to combat fraudulent behavior. The 21st century has brought not only the worst pandemic in over 100 years, but…
-
Following a Ransomware Attack As businesses continue to rely on computers and digital storage of important data, cyberattacks are a growing potential threat to these organizations—especially now, as businesses have transitioned their workforces to work remotely. There are many types of cyber threats, and the pandemic has driven a surge in ransomware attacks. Ransomware is malware specifically designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to a computer system. The threat actor employs encryption to hold a victim’s information at ransom. In this article, the author discusses what sets cyber BI claims apart from other BI claims. Introduction As businesses…
-
Fraud Issues in the Hospitality Industry Post-COVID-19 Pandemic The hospitality industry is already experiencing an increase in fraud, and everyone associated with the business—including operators, owners, managers, employees, and even guests—is at risk of being affected. In this article, the author identifies areas of fraud and provides recommendations to mitigate risk. As a self-proclaimed foodie, I am excited that we will once again be able to go to restaurants and hotels. However, as a forensic accountant I am concerned for the hospitality establishments that, of necessity, focused on sustaining business and staff over back-office matters such as internal financial controls.…
-
The Dark Web Criminals Both the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) have issued recent advisories concerning ransomware payments. This article provides an overview of those advisories. Both the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) have issued recent advisories concerning ransomware payments.[1] Ransomware attacks occur when a cyber actor uses malicious software (“malware”) to block access to a computer network or data, and offers to restore access in exchange for payment of ransom. Ransom is generally demanded in…
-
The Evolution of Digital Forensics and Growth of the Industry The rapid growth of technology has resulted in the computer age, which has given rise to cybercrimes. Savvy criminals today use devices such as tablets, computers, smartphones, and cloud storage in the planning and commission of cybercrimes, whether to wreak havoc in the system of an organization or in the commission of a crime of self-enrichment. According to McAfee, global losses from cybercrime in 2019 exceeded $1 trillion, which was a 50% increase over 2018. These major challenges have been met by cyber sleuths, who are trained in the collection…
-
How Does it Work? Everyone seems to be talking about cryptocurrency these days, but many are unsure how to define it and fewer still, know exactly how it works. Cryptocurrency is a digital construct without physical substance; the only evidence of its existence is the digital record or ledger indicating balances held (like a balance sheet) and transactions that have occurred (like an income statement). What follows is a basic primer on how cryptocurrency works and how it differs from physical currencies. Everyone seems to be talking about cryptocurrency these days, but many are unsure how to define it and…
-
Risks in a Post Pandemic Environment The pandemic placed many individuals into an environment where they had to rely on technology to conduct daily life and the financial transactions associated with it. This was a major change; especially for a generation that was accustomed to handling their banking and financial transactions face to face. Forcing a generation to begin to conduct banking and purchasing online while utilizing sensitive information has increased the risk of fraud as it relates to “elder” individuals. This article discusses some of the trends emerging leading to elder abuse. The pandemic placed many individuals into an…
-
Spotting Internal Fraud Schemes To identify whether an organization is vulnerable or has been a victim of fraudulent behavior, it is critical to spot common warning signs of internal fraud schemes. The first step is knowing where to look. The company’s general ledger (GL) is a good place to start. It is a book that can tell stories of fraud, manipulation, and betrayal. Unfortunately, few know how to read the signs. While investigators, attorneys, and auditors tend to analyze the reports generated from the GL and track and monitor payment and revenue information within the GL, they often overlook a…
-
in the Cryptocurrency Economy Although cryptocurrency and blockchain technology create an environment that can help combat fraud within their systems, their introduction into the global economy has opened numerous doors for nefarious activity. This article provides an overview of what is cryptocurrency, blockchain technology, and the rise of threats to digital assets. Fraud used to be much simpler for the fraudster—they exploited weakness in the internal controls of a company and executed one or more transactions leading to theft of funds or property. Sometimes they concealed the crime; other times they felt no need to do so. Today’s world is…