Forensic Accounting Insights & Resources
Explore the world of forensic accounting through clear, timely, and easy-to-understand articles. From uncovering financial fraud to explaining complex investigations, this site provides resources designed to inform and build trust in the field of forensic accounting.
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Forensic Accounting Articles
The Mailbox Clue: How Stolen Business Checks Turn Into Six-Figure Fraud
July 16, 2026
Some fraud cases feel high-tech. Fake emails. Spoofed websites. AI voices. Cryptocurrency wallets. And then there are the old-school ones. A business writes a check. The check goes into the outgoing mailbox. Someone steals it, creates a fake company with a name that looks almost exactly like the real vendor, deposits the check, and drains
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The Wild West of Digital Finance: How Small Businesses Can Keep Their Money From Wandering Off
July 14, 2026
There is something a little terrifying about how easy it is to move money now. That is great when you are paying a vendor at 9:30 p.m. because you forgot earlier. Not so great when someone on your team gets a fake “urgent” email and sends money to the wrong place before anyone has time
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The “Your Software Is Expiring” Scam: How Fraudsters Use Fear to Get Businesses to Pay
July 9, 2026
There is a certain kind of email that makes even a smart business owner pause. “Your antivirus protection has expired.” “Your devices are at risk.” “Renew today and save 89%.” Sounds urgent, right? That is exactly the point. A recent Guardian article covered fake antivirus renewal scams that impersonate well-known security software brands, including McAfee.
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The 81-Year-Old Finance Director and the Case of the Quiet Payroll Leak
July 7, 2026
She was 81. That is the detail that makes people stop scrolling. An 81-year-old former finance director in Kingston, Tennessee pleaded guilty after investigators found she had overpaid herself more than $131,000 in unearned salary and benefits. And yes, that detail is surprising. But here is the part business owners should pay attention to: this
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Fraud Is Getting Smarter. Small Businesses Need to Get Nosier.
July 2, 2026
Fraud does not look like it used to. That is the part I keep coming back to. Years ago, when people talked about fraud, they usually meant a stolen check, a shady employee, a fake invoice, or maybe somebody messing with the books. And to be clear, all of that still happens. But now? Fraud
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The Accountant Had the Keys. That Was the Problem.
June 30, 2026
When most business owners picture fraud, they imagine some mysterious hacker in a hoodie, sitting in a dark room overseas, trying to break into their bank account. But sometimes the real risk is much closer. Sometimes it is the person who already has the password. A recent case out of Colorado is a painful reminder
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“I follow the money, interpret the evidence, and explain it in plain language. That’s how fraud gets found and trust gets rebuilt.”
who is brandy derrick?
Practical articles and financial investigations explained by Brandy Derrick.
Brandy Derrick has over six years of experience in financial investigations, with a proven track record of supporting more than 30 investigations through detailed financial analysis. She has authored 50+ articles and case notes, making complex accounting concepts easy to understand for professionals and the public alike.
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