Virtual pre-conference

October 9^th @ 8:05 a.m. to 8:55 a.m. US Central Time – Anna Rowe

TITLE: Online Dating Fraud – Catch the Catfish

DESCRIPTION:  After being Catfished by a lawyer and discovering the shortfalls in current UK legislation regarding this soul destroying behaviour, I started campaigning to get the law changed. The National Crime Agency describes sexual abuse initiated online as ‘a dangerous emerging trend’ and the new breed of catfish are clever sexual abusers when they come offline to pursue the false relationships they groom for and create online. Unlike those who will stalk on a dark night or slip a date rape drug into a drink, these catfish use the creation of their online persona to deceive and manipulate others for their own self-gratification. Sometimes this will remain online when the target is groomed to exploit them for intimate images or videos, others like mine, will come offline and use that deception to sexually exploit and abuse in person. When they are bored or a set of new targets are in place, they disappear, the target sometimes never realising they have actually been in a Catfish relationship. Many of the other women involved with the same person I was did not realise he was leading a double life with a fake identity.

Not only does the law need changing regarding the offences, so does the entire online dating industry. The police state that this industry is the only one without regulation. It is time for companies to take corporate responsibility for their users. This is my next aim. My goal is to ensure there is a much more defined and robust sign up process for creating profiles on social media and Dating Platforms.   This behaviour goes unreported due to shame and the victim bashing that comes with this from anonymous cowards.  Having received thousands of signatures on my petition also highlighted thousands of other victims’ experiences. It has been their thanks for fighting this fight for them and knowing that the younger generations will only encounter worse if nothing is done that motivates me to keep fighting and make a change.

BIO: Anna Rowe is Founder and Manager at Catch The Catfish and Co-Founder of LoveSaid

October 9^th @ 9:05 a.m. to 9:55 a.m. US Central Time – Christina Fiscella, CFE, FCLS

TITLE: 2 Shades of Grey

DESCRIPTION: We are currently faced with the world’s largest aging population in history, and with that comes more cases of elder fraud and abuse. However, we often tend to overlook that population as being the perpetrators of fraud and crime. This class will discuss both the elderly as victims and predators, and in some cases both

BIO:  

Christina Fiscella is a 30- year anti-fraud professional and former Criminal Detective with the NJ Attorney General’s Office.  She has served as a special investigator for several large P&C insurance carriers, investigating multi-faced, complex, and sometimes high-profile cases including arson, theft, loss of business income, fidelity and commercial claims.  During her time as a Criminal Detective with the NJ Attorney General’s Office, Office of the Insurance Fraud Prosecutor, Christina successfully investigated complex cases of insurance fraud, embezzlement, and corruption for criminal prosecution.

October 9^th @ 10:05 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. US Central Time – Stephen Bell, Patrick Mincey, Christina Milnor (Mincey Bell Milnor)

TITLE: Whistleblowing Opportunities for Compliance Professionals, Investigators, and Foreigners to Recover Financial Awards

DESCRIPTION:

Whistleblower bounty programs have grown in size and complexity over the past decade. Enforcement successes have led new agencies and regulators, including DOJ and FinCEN, to launch their own programs. In this presentation you will learn about various bounty programs, the details of how each work, and how practitioners and government craft investigations maximize the chance of an enforcement action and resulting bounty.

BIO: Christina Zaroulis Milnor spent over a decade as a senior attorney at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, serving there as Assistant Secretary, in its General Counsel’s office, and in its Division of Enforcement. She began working on the SEC whistleblower program soon after the program’s foundation, advising the SEC on applicants’ eligibility for whistleblower awards.  Christina Zaroulis Milnor’s years of experience at the SEC provide her with in-depth understanding of how the enforcement process works up until and through litigation and how whistleblower information becomes an asset.  Christina earned her undergraduate degree, in Government, from Harvard College, and her juris doctorate from the University of Virginia School of Law.  She has been a member of the Virginia State Bar since 2009 and of the District of Columbia Bar since 2010.

Patrick Mincey is a trial lawyer, trusted advisor in public relations crises, and counselor to any situation.  Worldwide, Patrick defends prominent clients in high-stakes investigations and disputes. He also represents whistleblowers in government referral programs that provide financial awards for exposing fraud and corruption. Patrick has extensive experience in numerous cases where criminal and civil exposure reaches billions of dollars, and he is routinely involved in prosecutions where individuals face decades of imprisonment.  His clients often rely on his guidance when facing adverse social media attention and public relations crises while simultaneously confronting legal and regulatory challenges.

Stephen Bell represents qui tam relatives and individuals in government whistleblower actions concerning issues ranging from cross-border financial crimes to national security. He has represented some of the most notable and high-profile whistleblowers in recent times under the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of the Whistleblower, False Claims Act, Anti-Money Laundering Act, and other federal programs. His work includes cross-border investigations and matters of significant international importance before numerous federal and foreign government agencies. In addition, Stephen defends individuals and entities subject to government investigations or prosecutions or accused of white collar criminal offenses.

October 9^th @ 1:00 p.m. to 1:50 p.m. US Central Time – Justin Ussery and Josh Lorencz (Envista Forensics)

TITLE: Digital Forensics for Fraud Investigators and Forensic Accountants

DESCRIPTION:   With billions of cell phones in the world and millions of phone applications, the amount of evidence created by cell phones can be daunting. This program will explain the common types of evidence that can be recovered from cell phones, including deleted data.  Evidence types to be discussed include location information, text messages, multimedia, voice mails, cloud backups, and more. Real-life case examples will be used to illustrate how evidence recovered from cell phones can be used in cases and investigations. The proper methods to forensically acquire cell phone evidence will be covered, and how evidence can be challenged in court.

BIO:   Mr. Joshua Lorencz is a Senior Digital Forensics Examiner at Envista Forensics.   He has 16 years of experience in law enforcement and over 10 years of digital forensics experience. He has completed more than 950 hours of training in the field of digital forensics and handled hundreds of matters. He also has experience testifying as an expert witness in local and federal courts. Prior to joining Envista, he built a computer forensics lab providing services to an agency of 125 employees and extended those services to other colleagues statewide. At Envista, Mr. Lorencz utilizes his experience to consult on civil trucking accidents, criminal defense matters, intellectual property theft cases, and more. Mr. Lorencz is an instructor for The International Association of Computer Investigative Specialists teaching Mobile Device Forensics to members across the world

Mr. Justin Ussery stands as a distinguished figure in the realm of digital forensics, boasting an illustrious 24-year investigations career marked by remarkable achievements and unwavering dedication. Throughout his tenure, Justin has been instrumental in shaping the landscape of investigations through his expertise in establishing and managing innovative digital forensics laboratories. His extensive repertoire includes a wide array of specialties, from Cellular Forensics and Computer Forensics which includes Chip Off, JTAG, and ISP analysis, rendering him an invaluable asset to multiple agencies.  Justin's pivotal role extends beyond laboratory management, encompassing digital crime scene processing and expert testimony in both civil and federal courts. His membership in prestigious task forces, including the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, The United States Secret Service Task Force, and the Sacramento High Tech Crime Task Force, underscores his profound impact on combating cybercrime and safeguarding digital integrity.

October 9^th @ 2:10 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. US Central Time – Denise Ashley CFE, ACA, CIFI (Nationwide Insurance)

TITLE: Safeguarding Tomorrow: Law Enforcement and Insurance in Action

DESCRIPTION: In this presentation, we delve into the successful partnership between Nationwide Insurance and law enforcement agencies.  Learn how our joint efforts impact crime prevention and proactive fraud prevention. Our proactive approach, including undercover vehicles, contributes to community safety and lowers costs. By lowering crime rates, protecting citizens, and reducing insurance claims, we create a win-win situation for law enforcement and the insurance industry.

BIO: Denise Ashley is an accomplished professional with a diverse background in law enforcement and fraud investigation. With a career spanning over two decades, she has made significant contributions to the field of anti-fraud efforts.  Denise began her career in law enforcement in Oregon.  Then, for eight years, she honed her investigative skills focused on combating fraud at Oregon's State Accident Insurance Fund, gaining valuable experience and insights into the tactics used by fraudsters.  In 2011, Denise transitioned to the east coast, joining the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) as a special agent. Her work at NICB involved investigating complex insurance fraud cases, collaborating with federal agencies, and contributing to the fight against organized crime.  Since 2013, Denise has been an integral part of Nationwide Insurance’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU). As a law enforcement liaison, she bridges the gap between insurance professionals and law enforcement agencies. She proactively provides resources, training, and support to federal, state, and local agencies, empowering them to combat crime effectively.  Denise Ashley is passionate about preventing fraud and protecting policyholders.  Her dedication to integrity, professionalism, and excellence has earned her recognition as an influential figure in the anti-fraud community.  As an active member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) since 2011, Denise brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the field.  She looks forward to sharing her insights, engaging with fellow anti-fraud professionals, and contributing to the fight against fraud.

October 9^th @ 3:10 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. US Central Time – Mike Tate, MBA, ACAMS (Edwards Life Sciences)

TITLE: The Importance of an Effective Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption Program

DESCRIPTION:  In this presentation, the importance and hallmarks of an effective anti-bribery and anti-corruption program will be discussed.  Mike will discuss how international business is affected by local bribery and corruption, and how a secure approach can mitigate risks for multi-national companies based in the United States.  Fostering an environment of cooperation and incentives to operate ethically and honestly from the ground level up is essential for any company who does business across the globe.