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
Commercial Payments Fraud Is Rising and Businesses Are Leaving the Door Unlocked
January 29, 2026
Fraud rarely starts with a dramatic theft. It starts quietly. A fake email. A small test transaction. A vendor request that looks normal enough to approve without a second thought. That is exactly why commercial payments fraud is exploding. Nearly 8 out of 10 businesses experienced attempted or actual payments fraud last year. This is
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Case File: When the Fraudster Works Inside the Building
January 27, 2026
A former employee of the Millbrook First Nation was just sentenced to four and a half years in prison for stealing more than four million dollars. Here’s the part that matters. That money didn’t disappear in one bold move. It went out quietly. A little at a time. Through normal looking transactions. While no one
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Gift Card Fraud Is Draining Businesses. Here’s How to Stop It.
January 22, 2026
Gift Cards Are Cash. And Fraudsters Know It. Gift cards feel harmless. They are easy to sell, easy to buy, and customers love them. But here’s the uncomfortable truth most businesses learn the hard way: gift cards are basically cash with fewer protections. Fraudsters know this. And they are exploiting gift cards at an alarming
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Debit Card Fraud: Why Businesses Are Stuck With the Bill and What You Can Do About It
January 20, 2026
Let’s talk about something that quietly drains profits from businesses every single day. Debit card fraud. When fraud hits a debit card transaction, who eats the loss? More often than not, it’s the merchant. Not the bank. Not the card network. Not the fraudster. The business that did everything “right” still ends up paying for
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The $3.8 Million Blind Spot: Why “People Checking People” Is Not Optional
January 15, 2026
Every fraud case leaves clues. Some are flashy. Some are boring. This one is painfully boring, and that is exactly why it worked. A former Atlanta Hawks finance executive recently pleaded guilty to stealing $3.8 million over several years. Not through some brilliant cyber hack. Not through fake vendors overseas. Through routine payments that no
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The Psychology of Fraud
January 13, 2026
Why Smart Business Owners Still Fall for Scams If fraud only worked on careless people, it would not be a multi-billion-dollar industry. Scammers are not targeting ignorance. They are targeting human instincts. Fear. Trust. Urgency. Optimism. Authority. And in a business environment where decisions move fast, those instincts are exactly what fraudsters exploit. Think like
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Credit Card Skimming: The Crime Happening Right Under Your Nose
January 8, 2026
Every fraud investigation starts the same way. “It must have happened somewhere else.” Customers swear they only used their card at your business. Your register works fine. Deposits look normal. Nothing appears broken. That is exactly why credit card skimming works. Skimming is not loud. It does not crash systems. It quietly steals data while
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FBI Warning: Account Takeover Fraud Is Rising. Are You Sure You’re Talking to Your Bank?
January 6, 2026
FBI Warning: Account Takeover Fraud Is Rising. Are You Sure You’re Talking to Your Bank? At Detect-a-Fraud, we see the same pattern again and again. Smart business owners.Trusted employees.Established banks. And yet the money still disappears. The FBI recently issued a warning about a surge in account takeover fraud, where criminals impersonate financial institutions and
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Paying Invoices Is Easy. Verifying Them Is Where Businesses Fail.
December 25, 2025
Most businesses believe vendor fraud would be obvious. A fake company. Massive dollar amounts. A trail of red flags waving wildly in the air. That is not how it usually happens. In a recent federal case, a Florida man was sentenced to eight years in prison for embezzlement and fraud after submitting false invoices and
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When Your Voice Isn’t Really Yours
December 23, 2025
The Rise of AI Voice Fraud and Why “It Sounded Like You” Is No Defense Picture this. Your bookkeeper gets a call. It’s your voice. Same tone. Same urgency. Same phrases you always use. “I need you to wire this today. I’m in a meeting and can’t text. This is time-sensitive.” The money is sent.And
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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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