U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York’s Post

Romance fraudsters are masters of manipulation. They go to extreme lengths to create a false reality in which their victim feels that they are making reasonable and rational decisions. The challenge for loved ones of romance fraud victims is being able to disrupt the false reality created, to enable the victim to see the situation for what it really is - fraud. If you have information that could stop the criminals behind romance fraud, you can speak to our charity, 100% anonymously. Click to learn more and speak up: https://bit.ly/3WyLnr0

Don't Be Cosy, Be Awkward, Robb Montgomery MSc ACFS's awesome quote from this article by Sam Burne James "...there is a growing understanding in the sector that fraud risks come from all corners, and that includes insiders" With Fraud Advisory Panel's Charity Fraud Awareness Week (CFAW) 2024 fast approaching, Charity Finance Group spoke to experts about facing up to that risk. This is a great article capturing some really interesting perspectives from the sector (and mine 😁). https://lnkd.in/gtCekfUg #People and #culture, #Governance, #legal and #compliance #Fraud

Great to speak to charity counter fraud experts Phil Sapey, Robb Montgomery MSc ACFS and others, who generously gave their time and insights for my latest piece for Charity Finance Group, ahead of #CharityFraudAwarenessWeek. See link below in Phil's post, meanwhile here are five key takeaways... 1️⃣ Every year, circa 50% of fraud in charities is perpetrated by insiders, according to Charity Fraud Report by BDO/Fraud Advisory Panel. Don't assume you are immune. 2️⃣ 'Trust is not an internal control'... 'nuff said. 3️⃣ Network, network, network! Charities said that the more you share experiences with the sector, the better prepared you are. See links to key groups/networks in the article. 4️⃣ As ever in charity management, work to get *all* your trustees to care about the issue - the board has collective responsibility, it's not just about the person with hon treasurer role. 5️⃣ As Phil highlights below, you're better off having an awkward conversation with a colleague about something odd now, than having a series of very difficult conversations with regulators/police/trustees later on, because you let it slide. #Charity #charities #fraud #InsiderFraud #CharityFraud

Preventing Charity Fraud. Edmonds Marshall McMahon, in association with Evelyn Partners and the Fraud Advisory Panel, are pleased to invite you to an in-person event, focused on 'Preventing Charity Fraud'. Wednesday, 3rd July 2024 08.30 - 11am @ Evelyn Partners, 45 Gresham Street, London. For trustees and professionals within the charity sector, who are dedicated to enhancing their organisation's resilience against fraud, these two sessions should provide invaluable insights into fraud risk assessments and implementing effective internal controls and procedures. The Sessions Include: 1. "Preventing Charity Fraud: Requirements for Trustees and the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act" 🎙 Presented by: Ashley Fairbrother, Edmonds Marshall McMahon & Brendan Weekes, Evelyn Partners. 2. "Understanding Your Charity’s Risk of Fraud and Enhancing Its Resilience and Efficiency" 🎙 Presented by: Amanda Smith & Gail Seamark, Evelyn Partners and Phil Sapey, Cancer Research. 🔗 You can register for your attendance using the link in the comments. #CharityFraud #FraudPrevention #Charitysupport #antifraud #privateprosecutions

Staying alert to fraud is an important part of protecting your charity’s finances, but spotting the signs of a scam can prove difficult. Criminals seeking to commit fraud often use sophisticated techniques that can be tricky to detect until it’s too late. Fostering a culture of fraud awareness can go a long way to protecting your charity from scammers. This includes making sure that staff – and volunteers – are aware of the signs and are regularly reminded of what to do if they suspect the charity is being targeted. In this blog, Paul Nicoll looks at a few examples of fraud techniques often used to target businesses and organisations including charities. https://lnkd.in/etaTgQa2

Proud to be joining as an ambassador for SCAM:help, a global not-for-profit organisation at the coal face of fighting financial crimes - https://www.scamhelp.org/ Financial crime is a massive and growing global problem - with an estimated 50,000 people impacted every day 😢 Fraud can take many forms, ranging from investment scams to invoice fraud and identity theft Our goal is to build the ultimate guide for victims of scams and work towards mitigating the widespread effects of fraud Check out https://www.scamhelp.org/ to learn more about how you can get involved And remember - no one is "too smart" to be caught out by fraud, it can happen to any of us. Stay alert, keep your online security up to date, and check-in with friends, family and official sources on anything that seems suspicious. #ScamPrevention #FinancialCrimes #Fraud

Direct-mail fundraisers, what are the cutting-edge ways of receiving donations in response? Checks have been dominant, but it seems like they might not be soon, for several reasons, including fraud. But what exactly will replace checks? A few are already here: * write a card number onto the paper reply * go to a URL for the charity's online donate form * scan a QR code for the charity's online donate form What other donation methods are emerging? Will one of them become the dominant way to give? Or will our future be much more fragmented, with direct-mail-driven donations coming back to us in many different ways?

🚨 Could a charity claiming to help veterans be a front for fraud? Between 2017 and 2020, the owner of a telemarketing call center business in Las Vegas orchestrated a scheme that defrauded donors by misrepresenting political action committees (PACs) as charitable organizations. This individual had operated call centers since at least 1994. Starting in 2017, he directed his employees to mislead donors by portraying PACs—which advocate for political causes—as charities providing direct community services. He manipulated the call scripts, instructing his staff to tell potential donors their contributions would support direct-service organizations. This deception led donors to believe their money would help causes like supporting veterans, making them more likely to give. Callers falsely claimed that donations would "help disabled veterans by providing medical needs not covered by the Veterans Administration." By presenting PACs as charities, he exploited donors' goodwill. In reality, approximately 90% of the funds went to his businesses, and in some cases, none of the money reached the intended causes. A PAC treasurer confronted him after receiving complaints about misleading calls. He denied the allegations and refused to provide call recordings that could reveal the deception. In May 2022, upon learning of a federal investigation, he directed his employees to delete electronic messages related to his operations. Authorities uncovered the scheme through their investigation into these practices. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud in connection with telemarketing, which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for December 10, 2024, when the court will determine his sentence. 🔍 Red Flag Mania is dedicated to raising awareness about fraud through real stories (names and details changed to protect privacy). #CharityFraud #WireFraud #DonationScam #TelemarketingFraud #Donors #Veterans #FraudAwareness #TrustButVerify #RedFlagMania

Scams Targeting the Elderly: A Growing Concern Scammers often prey on older adults, who may be more susceptible to their tactics due to factors such as trust, loneliness, or financial vulnerability. Common scams include phone calls or emails claiming to be from government agencies, charities, or family members in need. These scammers may use high-pressure tactics or emotional manipulation to persuade victims to share personal information or send money. It's important for older adults and their loved ones to be aware of these scams and to take steps to protect themselves. https://lnkd.in/g9JWui_G

How do you protect your charity against fraud? By completing this survey, you will be contributing to a comprehensive industry report that will. ➡️ Provide valuable insights into the impact of fraud on the charity sector ➡️ Offer practical guidance on how to safeguard your charity from fraud ➡️ Inform policy and decision-making to prevent fraud in the future 🔗 https://lnkd.in/ehx_Ci39