Chapter Website: Greater Pittsburgh Area Chapter September 2021 www.acfe-pgh.org Newsletter
September 20, 2021 – In Conjunction with the Monday, September 13th and ACFE Lehigh Valley Chapter – Virtual Meeting Tuesday, September 14th “Active Shooter Prevention and FRAUD AND CORRUPTION Active Threat Prevention” AWARENESS VIRTUAL SEMINAR Speakers: Chris Grollnek, Active Shooter Expert CO-SPONSORED WITH THE IIA AND Rick Shaw, Prevention Expert SCHNEIDER DOWNS Location: Virtual Event This year’s topics include ethical decision- 11:50 am – 2:00 pm: Presentation making and leadership, cryptocurrencies, Please register here. Registration administered by ACFE Lehigh the Internet of Things and managing Valley Chapter. emerging risks, the landscape of fraud in Registration deadline: September 13th Cost: Members & Associates of the Greater Pittsburgh Area Chapter: 2021, top 10 cybersecurity strategy $20 mistakes of 2021, and where real risk All others: $25 looms. The line-up of expert speakers will CPE: Qualifies for 2 credit hours of continuing professional share their real-world and personal education. Attendance certificates will be emailed after the experiences with fraud. event. CPE certificates administered by ACFE Lehigh Valley Chapter. Register here. See the attached flyer for Continued on page 2 further details.
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September 20, 2021 – In Conjunction with the ACFE Lehigh Valley Chapter – Virtual Meeting “Active Shooter Prevention and Active Threat Prevention” Speakers: Chris Grollnek, Active Shooter Expert & Rick Shaw, Prevention Expert
The Active Shooter Prevention presentation will discuss the timing of events including duration and first responders arrival, definitions of event types, causality event types, past events from 2000 through 2018, and motives and profiles of active shooters. In the Threat Prevention discussion, attendees will learn the definitions of event types, past events from lesser-known to nationally reported incidents, and strategies and tools to create a safer space. Chris Grollnek is internationally recognized as one of the leading experts and authorities on the phenomenon of “active shooter” events and Domestic Terrorism Prevention. In addition to appearing on numerous national television networks, Chris is consulted by high ranking federal and state government officials, corporate executives, think tanks, U.S. House and Senate committees, and the globally renowned Mackenzie Institute in Canada. Chris is a highly decorated and accomplished Marine and Marine Corps Senior Drill Instructor with 12 years of military service. In addition to several undergraduate degrees, Chris earned with high honors his Master’s Degree in Administration of Justice and Security. Rick Shaw speaks internationally and across the United States to share his expertise and thought leadership as a violence prevention expert who has conducted over twenty years of extensive research on incidents and tragedies. In 2020, Rick published his book titled The First Preventers Playbook – How to Intervene, Disrupt, and Prevent Tragedy Before It Strikes. Rick is the founder of Awareity, a privately held organization that helps organizations and communities address soaring challenges, fears, pains, costs, and consequences associated with mounting violence (shootings, workplace, school, nurse, domestic, gang, community, etc.), mounting stressors with drugs, suicides, and depression, and mounting cyber breaches (phishing, ransomware, etc.). Rick is also the founder of FirstPreventers.org, a non-profit organization founded to more effectively help schools, higher education institutions, faith-based organizations, and communities deal with mounting violence, hate crimes, sex abuse, child abuse, human trafficking, suicides, and numerous other mounting challenges threatening children, adults, and communities. Please join us for this interesting and relevant presentation. Register here! Registration and CPE certificates will be administered by the ACFE Lehigh Valley Chapter.
2020 FRAUD AND CORRUPTION AWARENESS SEMINAR – FBI FOLLOW-UP
If you attended last year’s Fraud and Corruption Awareness Seminar, you may recall FBI Special Agent Brooklynn Riordan’s presentation on health care fraud and a local case involving a former Fox Chapel cardiologist. Dr. Samirkumar Shah turned himself in a day after missing his sentencing hearing in July 2021. Shah was convicted two years ago of health care fraud following an eight-day jury trial. He was found guilty of submitting fraudulent insurance claims from 2008 to 2013 for a treatment dubbed the “fountain of youth.” Shah claimed the treatments could make patients younger and smarter and treat a number of conditions, including blood pressure, migraines and obesity. However, prosecutors said he fabricated patient files, double billed insurers and submitted more than $13 million in fraudulent claims – receiving more than $3.5 million in reimbursement. The recommended sentencing guideline range Shah faces is 6- 1/2 to nine years in prison. Restitution is $1.2 million. Read the full story here.
The Perfect Scam Podcast: Hacker Uses Skills to Take Down a Phone Scam Operation
In the UK an IT professional who goes by the alias Jim Browning is battling cyber scams. Fed up with robocalls disrupting his day, Jim decides to fight back. As con artists try to scam him, Jim uses his professional training to reverse engineer his way into their computers. With the ability to see everything on these computers, Jim works to thwart their operations and save potential victims. Click here to listen to the podcast or read the full transcript.
Morality and Securities Fraud Securities fraud features prominently in conversations Former Fox Chapel Cardiologist Convicted of Health Care Fraud Surrenders After Skipping Sentencing about financial reform, and for A former Fox Chapel cardiologist who became the subject of arrest warrant after good reason. In addition to the missing his sentencing hearing turned himself in a day later. Read More disproportionate number of State Police In Some Counties Inundated With Pandemic Unemployment Fraud securities fraud lawsuits and Claims government actions filed every Across our region, internet thieves are stealing the identities of thousands of year, securities fraud case law is working people and using their personal information file false unemployment frequently consulted as an claims. Read More analytical aid for other types of Carnegie Man, Out on Bond for False PPP Loans, Charged with Applying for corporate fraud. And yet, in Another discussing the interpretation and As businesses were closing, workers were struggling to get unemployment and application of the securities laws, families waited in long lines for food bank donations, Randy Frasinelli was living large in the pandemic. Read More scholars, judges, and lawmakers alike have largely overlooked a UPMC: Employees Being Targeted By Unemployment Fraud Scams feature of securities fraud that UPMC is warning its staff members to keep an eye out for scams as they are being targeted by unemployment fraud. Read More could offer significant assistance in many challenging areas: 4 Charged With Scheme To Smuggle Drugs Into Prison And Pandemic namely, that securities fraud, Unemployment Fraud Smugglers are always looking for creative ways to get drugs to prisoners behind bars including civil securities fraud, has and federal prosecutors say they’ve broken up a ring with a new twist. Read More a pronounced moral dimension. South Strabane Police Say They’ve Received High Number Of Unemployment A Marquette Law Review Article Fraud Reports explores the role that moral Police in South Strabane Township say they are receiving a high number of reports judgment plays in the regarding unemployment fraud. Read More development and application of Man, Whose Wife Stole Millions From Pittsburgh Firm, Gets 18 Months for False the law of civil securities fraud. Tax Returns On a broader stage, the morality A man who lived a life of luxury off of nearly $13 million his wife embezzled from her Pittsburgh employer over more than a decade will spend 18 months in federal of civil securities fraud offers new prison. Read More ideas for principled legal reform and explorations of new methods State Officials Warn Identity Theft Is Aiding Fraudsters Make False Unemployment Claims of fraud prevention. State unemployment officials and the Pennsylvania State Police warned that Read the full article here. Pennsylvanians need to be on the lookout for data leaks that lead to unemployment compensation fraud. Read More
Connect on LinkedIn and Facebook Did you know the ACFE Greater Pittsburgh Area Chapter has a LinkedIn account and Facebook page? Visit ACFE Greater Pittsburgh LinkedIn Page and ACFE Greater Pittsburgh Facebook Page
Your Officers and Directors
President Bernard Rafferty CFE, CPA Vice President Maria Huttner CPA, CIA, CFE Treasurer Kelvin Pier CPA, CFE Secretary Katie Vance CFE Training Director Wanda DiPaolo CFE President Emeritus James Fellin CPA, CFE, CFF Membership Director Brett Fulesday CFE Higher Education Director Aaryn Hogue CPA, CFE, CFF Director Antoinette Zappia
About the ACFE The ACFE is the world’s largest anti-fraud organization and premier provider of anti-fraud training and
education. Together with nearly 90,000 members, the ACFE is reducing business fraud worldwide and inspiring public confidence in the integrity and objectivity within the profession. Visit www.acfe.com for more details.
Upcoming Events
• Monday, September 13 & Tuesday, September 15 – Fraud and Corruption Awareness Virtual Seminar (Co-Sponsored with the IIA and Schneider Downs) Program: Monday, 12:15 pm – 4:20 pm & Tuesday, 8:30 am – 1:10 pm 8 CPE hours (including two hours of Ethics) – Register here. • Wednesday, October 13, 2021 – Virtual Meeting • Wednesday, November 10, 2021 – Virtual Meeting • Wednesday, December 8, 2021 – Virtual Meeting • January 2022 – Meeting TBD • February 2022 – Meeting TBD • March 2022 – Meeting TBD • April 2022 – Meeting TBD • May 2022 – Meeting TBD • May 2022 – Fraud and Corruption Awareness Seminar (Co-Sponsored with the IIA and Schneider Downs) Returns to an in-person event at the DoubleTree in Cranberry • June 2022 – Meeting TBD, Officer and Director Elections Watch for more information on upcoming events!