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 “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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Case File: The Fraudster Didn’t Break In. Your Team Let Them Through the Front Door.
June 25, 2026
Most business owners imagine fraud like a scene from a crime show. A hacker in a dark room.A stolen password.A bank account drained in the middle of the night. But in many real-world fraud cases, the criminal does not need to break into anything. They just need someone inside the business to open the door.
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Case File: The Trusted Bookkeeper and the Missing $500,000
June 23, 2026
Every fraud case has a moment where the business owner looks back and thinks: “How did we not see this sooner?” That is the painful question behind a recent Iowa embezzlement case involving a veteran-owned business and a trusted bookkeeper. According to federal prosecutors, the bookkeeper stole more than $500,000 over several years. She did
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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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