Albrecht, Albrecht, Albrecht, Zimbelman © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website for classroom use. Fraud Examination, 4E Chapter 9: Conversion Investigation Methods

Albrecht, Albrecht, Albrecht, Zimbelman © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website for classroom use. Learning Objectives  Explain why it is important to find out how perpetrators convert and spend their stolen funds.  Understand how federal, state, and local public records can assist in following the financial “tracks” of suspected perpetrators.  Access information via the Internet to assist in the investigation of a suspected fraud perpetrator.

Albrecht, Albrecht, Albrecht, Zimbelman © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website for classroom use. Learning Objectives  Perform net worth calculations on suspected fraud perpetrators and understand how net worth calculations are effective in court and in obtaining confessions.

Albrecht, Albrecht, Albrecht, Zimbelman © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website for classroom use. Conversion Searches Performed for two reasons: (1)to determine the extent of embezzlement (2)to gather evidence that can be used in interrogations to obtain a confession  The most common technique used to investigate and resolve fraud is by interviewing.

Albrecht, Albrecht, Albrecht, Zimbelman © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website for classroom use. Conversion Searches Information can be gleaned from: (1)federal, state, and local agencies and other organizations (2)private sources of information (3)online sources of information (4)using the net worth method of analyzing spending information

Albrecht, Albrecht, Albrecht, Zimbelman © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website for classroom use. Conversion Searches

Albrecht, Albrecht, Albrecht, Zimbelman © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website for classroom use. Government Sources of Information  Federal Sources  Department of Defense  maintains records on all military personnel, both active and inactive  Department of Justice  maintains records related to the detection, prosecution, and rehabilitation of offenders  Federal Bureau of Prisons  maintains records on those who have been detained in various facilities.

Albrecht, Albrecht, Albrecht, Zimbelman © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website for classroom use. Government Sources of Information Internal Revenue Service  IRS records are not available to the public, so access to its databases normally requires the involvement of law enforcement officials. Secret Service  In addition to protecting the president of the United States and other federal dignitaries, they also investigate counterfeiting, theft of government checks, interstate credit card violations, and some computer crimes. U.S. Postal Service Postal inspectors can be very helpful in investigations of employee fraud, investment scams, or management frauds.

Albrecht, Albrecht, Albrecht, Zimbelman © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website for classroom use. Government Sources of Information Central Intelligence Agency  Provides useful information when cases involve international issues Social Security Administration  has information about individuals’ Social Security numbers

Albrecht, Albrecht, Albrecht, Zimbelman © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website for classroom use. Government Sources of Information State Sources of Information State Attorney General  Generally have investigative arms such as the State Bureau of Investigation; contains records relating to individuals who have been convicted of a breach of state civil and criminal laws. State Prisons  maintains records on all individuals who have been incarcerated in state prison systems, as well as on individuals who are on probation or parole.

Albrecht, Albrecht, Albrecht, Zimbelman © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website for classroom use. Government Sources of Information Secretary of State  maintains all types of records relating to businesses and Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) filings Department of Motor Vehicles  maintains driver’s license records Department of Vital Statistics  maintains birth records

Albrecht, Albrecht, Albrecht, Zimbelman © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website for classroom use. Government Sources of Information Department of Business Regulation  maintains licensing information about various professionals

Albrecht, Albrecht, Albrecht, Zimbelman © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website for classroom use. Government Sources of Information County and Local Sources County Clerk  maintains numerous records on local citizens, including voter registration records and marriage licenses County Land Office and Tax Assessor’s Office  contain real estate records for land located in the county County Sheriff and Other Officers  contains information about criminal charges, indictment statements, pretrial information reports, etc.

Albrecht, Albrecht, Albrecht, Zimbelman © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website for classroom use. Government Sources of Information Local Services Local Courts  maintain records on past law violators, including pretrial information like personal history, employment history, personal and physical information, prior charges, divorces and property settlement agreements, personal injury lawsuits, financial claims and litigation, fraud claims and co-conspirators, bankruptcies, wills, and probates

Albrecht, Albrecht, Albrecht, Zimbelman © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website for classroom use. Government Sources of Information  Permit Departments  supply information on fire permits (hazardous chemicals), health permits (pollutants), elevator permits, and building permits

Albrecht, Albrecht, Albrecht, Zimbelman © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website for classroom use. Private Sources of Information  Utility records (gas, electric, water, garbage, and sewer)  Previous Acquaintances  “Trashing”  Shredded documents  Original files on computers

Albrecht, Albrecht, Albrecht, Zimbelman © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website for classroom use. Private Sources of Information Credit reporting companies maintain:  Consumer information, such as addresses, ages, family members, and incomes  Account information, such as payment schedules, items purchased, and buying habits  Marketing information, such as customer breakdowns by age, sex, and income levels  Information on current and former employees

Albrecht, Albrecht, Albrecht, Zimbelman © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website for classroom use. Online Databases  Accurint  AutoTrackXP  Black Book Online  ChoicePoint  EBSCO Publishing  PublicData  Public Record Finder  SEC’s EDGAR Database  Web Detective

Albrecht, Albrecht, Albrecht, Zimbelman © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website for classroom use. Internet Search  The publicly available Internet is an increasingly valuable source of information.  Google  AltaVista  Yahoo!  These engines index a significant amount of the public Web.

Albrecht, Albrecht, Albrecht, Zimbelman © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website for classroom use. Internet Search Searching Methods:  Search by phrase  Minus search terms  Domain restrictions

Albrecht, Albrecht, Albrecht, Zimbelman © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website for classroom use. Internet Search Google Search Tools:  Google groups  Cached results  Google News  Google Images  Google Earth

Albrecht, Albrecht, Albrecht, Zimbelman © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website for classroom use. The Net Worth Method Assets – Liabilities = Net Worth Net Worth – Prior Year’s Net Worth = Net Worth Increase Net Worth Increase + Living Expenses = Income Income – Funds from Known Sources = Funds from Unknown Sources

Albrecht, Albrecht, Albrecht, Zimbelman © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website for classroom use. The Net Worth Method

Albrecht, Albrecht, Albrecht, Zimbelman © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website for classroom use. The Net Worth Method

Albrecht, Albrecht, Albrecht, Zimbelman © 2011 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part, except for use as permitted in a license distributed with a certain product or service or otherwise on a password-protected website for classroom use. The Net Worth Method