Security & Risk Management Seminar

Embezzlement For Investigators (Part 2): Conducting Financial Crime Investigations

Presentation Abstract

Many financial crimes are also emotional crimes -- and the investigator must be particularly careful that the investigation does not raise more negative issues with victims than it resolves. Conducting an investigation that involves people’s character, finances and relationships within a family or an employer's workplace will likely change the lives, careers and relationships among all of the participants forever. The crime of embezzlement committed against a family member or a business owner is among the most emotionally devastating crimes for the victims. And because so many financial crimes are committed by financial professionals, the investigator may have to rely upon external sources to help investigate a suspected embezzlement -- including the local law enforcement agency, the victim's accountants and legal counsels.

There are two, very simple goals for every investigator -- to find the truth and to determine the responsibility for results. Even an inexperienced embezzler will do his/her best to make this simple goal an unattainable one. After learning about and understanding the unique habits that embezzlers practice in Embezzlement (Part 1): When Everyone Lies, Cheats & Steals -- and what resources and techniques are available, any investigator may plan for and execute a successful financial crime investigation.

This presentation is designed especially for those people who are responsible for investigating and documenting events regarding financial crimes: Security Officers, private/contract security personnel, auditors and human resources investigators. Although this presentation addresses any type of financial crime investigation, the crime of embezzlement -- one of the most frequent and misunderstood offenses -- is given special attention. The seminar components focus upon the six key functions that every investigator must consider when conducting either a criminal or non-criminal investigation, including:

l         Identifying and interviewing victims, witnesses, informants and suspects

l         Gathering and cataloging appropriate evidence

l         Documenting the facts and opinions gathered during the investigation

l         Coordinating law enforcement agency and private resources to insure the speedy apprehension of offenders

l         For non-law enforcement agency personnel, working with your legal counsel to prosecute offenders -- civilly and criminally

l         Recovering funds and investigative costs

This presentation provides a logical and strategic model that's designed to help the institution's, private/contract investigative personnel -- and law enforcement agents to understand the true scope of the processes used to conduct professional, comprehensive and effective financial crime investigations. A special emphasis is placed on developing successful investigative relationships with a local law enforcement agency. By understanding the cause and effect relationships between the investigator's strategy and the investigative result, any investigator may use this model to design and implement a standardized, company or agency-wide investigative process.

Presentation Topics

l        A Brief Review

l        The Jury's Perspective

l        Examples Of The Most Common Embezzlement Schemes

ˇ       Commercial Crimes

ˇ       Personal Crimes

l        The Necessary Evidence

l        The Investigator's Allies

l        The Investigation's Components

l        The Process Components

l        Finding More Clues

l        The Embezzlement Investigation Tasks

Presentation Objectives

This presentation is designed to help you:

l        Determine each investigator's and external resources' duties and responsibilities -- legal, moral and ethical

l        Comply with current regulations and emerging practices affecting industry standards of care for financial crime investigators

l        Develop an investigation policy and procedure that makes the best use of the victim's and agency's resources

l        Locate and understand the significance of the primary sources of information that are accessible to the investigator -- including physical evidence and testimony

l        Prepare reports that will likely be examined in either civil or criminal actions

Presentation Audience

l        Security Officers

l        Private/contract investigators

l        Auditors

l        Human Resources Managers

Presentation Tools

l        Workbook text

l        Sample investigative report

l        Investigator's forms and templates

Last updated on May 26, 2009