ACFE Public Relations Specialist
Stefanie Hallgren
Since 2000, organizations around the world have joined the fight against fraud during International Fraud Awareness Week, or Fraud Week. Every year, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) creates new educational resources for organizations to use to spread the word about fraud prevention and awareness, but groups are encouraged to create their own activities to make the yearly event their own.
Fraud Week 2022 will be held November 13-19, and several organizations have events and activities planned to show the world they won’t stand for fraud. From virtual film festivals to Twitter chats, podcasts to webinars, there’s something for everyone to participate in, even if you aren’t connected to the Supporting Organization hosting the event.
You can find a list of various Fraud Week events being held around the world at FraudWeek.com/Events, but here’s a brief rundown of what you can expect and additional details from some of the event organizers:
Whistleblower Summit and Film Festival Encore – all week
The 10th Annual Whistleblower Summit and Film Festival was held in July 2022. In honor of Fraud Week, organizers will be hosting a virtual encore presentation of the event all week at WhistleblowerSummit.com.
Organizer Michael McCray describes the event as “unique, because it lies at the intersection of law/policy, culture and entertainment.” McCray says, “Tipsters (whistleblowers) are the most effective tool for fraud detection. … We decided to hold an Encore Presentation during Fraud Week so that we can share our message about the importance of whistleblowers and whistleblower protections to a new audience of fraud professionals.”
For more details, head to WhistleblowerSummit.com.
ACFE Lebanon Chapter Podcasts – all week
The Training and Education Director of the ACFE Lebanon Chapter, Soltan Hassanieh, CFE, is putting the spotlight on the 7-episode inaugural season of his “Let’s Talk Fraud” podcast. There is a podcast for you to listen to every day of Fraud Week, covering a wide range of topics.
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Sunday, November 13, tune in to the Phishing Email Podcast. Hassanieh will “delve deep into understanding how fraudsters use the phishing email scam.”
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Monday, November 14, tune in to the Fake Charities Podcast, which will help you “arm yourself with the skills and tools to be able to tell if a charity is legitimate.”
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Tuesday, November 15, tune in to the Jobs and Employment Podcast. This podcast focuses on how scammers trick victims into “handing over your money by offering you a ‘guaranteed’ way to make fast money or a high-paying job for little effort.”
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Wednesday, November 16, tune in to the Ponzi Scheme Podcast, where the host breaks down these “illegal investment operations that promise quick, easy, and significant returns with little or no risk.”
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Thursday, November 17, tune in to the Dating & Romance Podcast, which exposes romance fraudsters.
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Friday, November 18, tune in to the Cyber Crimes Podcast, which highlights the evolution of these crimes over the years.
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Finally, on Saturday, November 19, tune in to the Online Shopping Podcast, where the host discusses “scammers pretending to be legitimate online sellers.”
To see the entire list of episodes of the “Let’s Talk Fraud” podcast, go to the Apple Podcasts page.
Liberty Fraud Webinar and Other Staff Activities
On Wednesday, November 16, Liberty financial services company in South Africa will be hosting an all-day employee event in honor of Fraud Week. Company officials say they have invited one of their external stakeholders for a fraud webinar for staff members. According to Desiree Maringa, Liberty Senior Fraud Prevention Specialist, this webinar guest will “share information on the latest fraud trends and how our staff members can protect themselves, the customer and the organisation against fraud and corruption.”
When asked about her organization’s participation in Fraud Week, Maringa said “Liberty is a proud supporter” every year, offering praise to the ACFE. She went on to say the “ACFE has done so much in this space. They have constantly ensured that forensic practitioners are on the same page in terms of global fraud trends. Initiatives such as Fraud Week are key, and much needed to further this cause.”
2nd Annual International Insurance Fraud Twitter Chat
On Thursday, November 17 at 1 p.m. EST, the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud and the New York Alliance Against Insurance Fraud are joining forces for the 2nd Annual International Insurance Fraud Twitter Chat. Head to Twitter.com/Insurance_Fraud to follow along during the conversation between several insurance fraud experts.
If you’d like to participate in the chat, email gro.duarfecnarusninull@hajile or sign up here.
ACFE Maryland Chapter #21 Training Event (in-person and online)
On Friday, November 18, the ACFE Maryland Chapter #21 is opening up its November chapter meeting/training to anyone who would like to attend. Mary Breslin, CFE, CIA, who spoke at the 33rd Annual ACFE Global Fraud Conference, will be delivering the training event titled “Root Cause Analysis: Getting to Know the Root of the Matter.” The training event will define what root cause analysis is and how it can be used in fraud investigations.
Attending the training event earns you four Continuing Professional Education credits. It costs $25 for both members and non-members and will be held in-person in Baltimore as well as virtually.
For more details, head to www.cfemd.org/md-fraud-conference.
This year’s Fraud Week may be quickly approaching, but you still have time to sign up as a Supporting Organization and plan a fraud education event. Head to FraudWeek.com and click on “Sign Up to Support” on the top-right portion of your screen. To submit an event to be listed on the Fraud Week website, click on the Events tab at FraudWeek.com, scroll down to “Submit Your Fraud Week Event,” and fill out the form.
And don’t forget to use the hashtag #FraudWeek on social media so the world can see how you and your organization are helping fight fraud in your community for the ACFE’s International Fraud Awareness Week.
SOURCE: ACFE Insights – A Publication of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners