Attention:  This year's conference will be held at the Scott Conference Center and there will be limited seating for Virtual attendance.  We will only sell 200 Virtual Tickets so please get them early.  

Please take advantage of our member pricing by joining the ACFE Heartland Chapter today before you register! You can join or renew your membership here.

Please register online.  You may pay online or mail a check to Heartland ACFE Chapter, PO Box 460726, Papillion, NE 68046.  Group registrations can be done online by adding multiple tickets to your order.  If you would like to renew your group membership and register that same group for the seminar, please contact [email protected]. If you are paying by check, your check MUST be received by April 18, 2024.

Tickets for 2024 are either live or virtual.  We are not offering one-day registrations this year.

Early registration deadline is March 31, 2024! Register by March 31 and save $50!!

Final registration deadline is April 29, 2024!

Questions? Contact [email protected]

Thursday, May 16 - Morning Presentation 8:00 am CST - 12:00 pm CST

Michele Stuart, Owner/CEO of JAG Investigations

Michele Stuart has approximately 30 years of investigative and training experience. She formed JAG Investigations in 1997. Ms. Stuart’s area of expertise includes OSINT, counter intelligence, human trafficking, insurance fraud investigations, financial investigations, threat assessments, due diligence, organized retail crime, corporate and competitive intelligence.

Ms. Stuart consults and trains federal, state and local law enforcement agencies, the military intelligence communities, ORC, financial and insurance industries as well as numerous Fortune 500 companies and professional sports organizations in open source, social media and cellular security. She has been an Instructor at Quantico (FBI Academy) for International training programs as well as an Adjunct Professor with University of Virginia.

In 2017, Ms. Stuart partnered with Pennsylvania Office of Homeland Security creating a program "Keeping Kids Safe", training administrators, principals, teachers, SRO's and parents on the dangers of online and social media activity as well as the dangers of applications / cellular security. She was an author, for eight years, of "Internet FYI" concerning the Internet and Open Source Investigations and Profiling for PI Magazine, a widely distributed trade publication of the private investigations industry.

Title: OSINT Research in Tactical Investigations

The internet empowers investigators to efficiently gather information on subjects, emphasizing that concentrating solely on individuals may not always be the most effective approach. A crucial element in research is the identification of actionable intelligence, aiding in the discovery of details such as individual identification, movements, business associations, family ties, addresses, and telephone numbers. Furthermore, accurate searches on social media platforms can prove instrumental in pinpointing suspects and witnesses during investigations. This course is designed to equip you with the skills to employ accurate search patterns, leverage open-source resources, and effectively navigate social media platforms for investigative purposes.

Takeaways: 

1. Demonstrate the capability of utilizing AI in the creation of sock puppets.
2. How to identify if someone may have used an AI generated picture.
3. Demonstrate the correct techniques for the best search pattern results from search engines.

4.     Identify numerous surface and deep web online open sources to identify residential locations or associated telephone numbers. 

5.     Demonstrate which open sources can pull different types of information – associates, family members, addresses, phone numbers and business associations.

6.     Show the significance of hashtags and the ability to search and follow hashtag conversations over numerous platforms.

7.     Show how to correctly search for information on social media platforms to identify actionable intelligence.

Participants will earn 4.0 CPE

Field of Study: Specialized Knowledge

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this session.

Program Level: Basic

Delivery Method: Group Live Base & Group Internet Base

Thursday, May 16 - Afternoon Presentation 1:00 pm CST - 5:00 pm CST

Rick Roybal, CFE, CISA

Rick Roybal is a seasoned professional in the field of Vendor-Risk Management, recognized as an activist, consultant, author, and speaker. With nearly two decades of experience in the oil and gas industry, Rick currently serves as the Vendor Audit Manager at Matador Resources. In this role, he plays a crucial part in ensuring vendor compliance with the company's accounting and policies and procedures.

Beyond his responsibilities at Matador Resources, Rick actively contributes to his professional community. He holds the position of Vice President at the Fort Worth ACFE chapter, showcasing his dedication to combatting fraud and enhancing ethical practices. Moreover, Rick serves as the President and Chair of the Oil & Gas Vendor Roundtable, where he facilitates collaboration and knowledge sharing among industry experts.

Rick's educational journey has been impressive, as he has earned three degrees: a B.A. in Russian, an M.A. in Linguistics, and an M.B.A. in Finance & Accounting. His commitment to excellence is underscored by his certifications as a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and a Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA).

Rick is also a published author, with notable contributions in publications such as ACFE FRAUD and TheIIA Internal Auditor. His expertise and passion for vendor-risk management make him a sought-after speaker and consultant in the industry.

Title: Get rich quick: How to embezzle from a government agency! The Marzieh Abedin Embezzlement Case Study

Marzieh's organization gave her the authority to source and approve payments to third parties. But she was wise to the lax internal control environment. During the COVID epidemic, she quickly and adeptly stole identities and set up fake third parties to bilk the Oregon Health Authority of $1.5 million. She took advantage of her employer and ultimately defrauded the citizens of Oregon in order to line her own pockets.

The "Get Rich Quick" case study delves deeply into the subjects of embezzlement and vendor fraud, thoroughly examining why malevolent actors employing these schemes represent formidable perils to our organizations. The presentation underscores the significance of establishing and maintaining robust vendor management and due diligence procedures. Furthermore, it prioritizes the equipping of critical skills enabling them to discern red flags and indicators of embezzlement lurking within their organizational landscapes. Lastly, "Get Rich Quick" meticulously explores the fundamental principles and intricacies involved in interviewing individuals who are subjects of embezzlement suspicions, while also furnishing a foundational comprehension of the ethical considerations inherent to the interview process.

Takeaways:

1.      Enumerate why vendor fraud and embezzlement threaten our organizations.

2. Identify methods used to commit financial fraud.
3. Recognize the warning signs of embezzlement.
4. Implement essential controls to mitigate embezzlement and vendor fraud at all levels of an organization.
   Demonstrate an understanding of the key principles and challenges associated with interviewing individuals involved in embezzlement cases.
5. Identify common behavioral cues and red flags that may indicate potential embezzlement or deception during interviews.

Participants will earn 4.0 CPE

Field of Study: Auditing

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this session.

Program Level: Basic

Delivery Method: Group Live Base & Group Internet Base

Friday, May 17 - Morning Presentation 8:00 am CST - 12:00 pm CST

Charles Finfrock, CEO/Founder at Vigilance

Charles Finfrock is the founder and CEO of Vigilance, a private intelligence and investigations firm based in Tysons Corner Virginia.  Charles is a Subject Matter Expert on cryptocurrency and is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) and a Certified Bitcoin Professional (CBP).  He routinely provides training on cryptocurrency and money laundering issues to the U.S. Special Operations Command and U.S. Intelligence Community.  In Spring of 2023, Charles chaired a cryptocurrency focused law enforcement panel which included senior FBI, USSS, and IRS Criminal Investigations Special Agents, at an Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS) Washington DC Chapter event.  

Prior to founding his company, Charles created the Insider Threat Program and led the Global Information Security Investigations Team at Tesla (January 2019 to October 2021).  From July 2001 to January 2019, Charles was an Operations Officer in the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Directorate of Operations.  He served the majority of his career overseas in the Middle East and Europe and was focused on foreign intelligence collection, counterproliferation, and counterintelligence.  He also directed and conducted Covert Action operations at the direction of the President.  Charles is a veteran of the US Navy where he was a law enforcement specialist.  He is originally from Ohio and currently resides in Lexington, Kentucky.

Title: Essential Knowledge About Cryptocurrency for Fraud Examiners

Key Takeaways: 

1.     Introduction to Cryptocurrency and Blockchain for Fraud Examiners.  An easily accessible introduction to key concepts and terminology about Cryptocurrencies and its emerging ecosystem.

2.     A beginner’s guide to Cryptocurrency investigations including easy to use, open source blockchain forensics tools to forensically follow the money.

3.     Understanding common typologies of scams and frauds involving cryptocurrencies.

4.     Case Studies of impersonation scams, romance scams, and “pig butchering” scams involving Cryptocurrency

5.     Common investigative resources – tool and law enforcement points of contact for professionals responding to incidents involving Cryptocurrency

Participants will earn 4.0 CPE

Field of Study: Information Technology

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this session.

Program Level: Basic

Delivery Method: Group Live Base & Group Internet Base

Friday, May 19 - Afternoon Presentation 1:00 pm CST - 5:00 pm CST

Steve Lenderman, CFE

Steve Lenderman has been working in the financial crimes sector for over 25 years and is currently the Head of Fraud Solutions North America at Quantexa. At Quantexa he is the fraud subject matter expert and assists future and current clients with their fraud prevention needs using artificial intelligence to fight fraud, financial crimes, and regulatory compliance by uncovering the relationships and entities behind the activity. 

In prior roles, Steve has been the SVP of Fraud Prevention and Investigations at Bank Mobile Technology (BMTX), was the Director of Strategic Fraud Prevention at ADP, and the Fraud Operations Lead for PayPal Business Loans. Early in his career, Lenderman spent time with Barclaycard US where he oversaw major investigations, internal investigations, bust outs / credit abuse, and synthetics identities. Lenderman has been heavily involved in investigating and identifying synthetic identities and entities. He is considered an industry expert and serves as the Co-Chair of the Bust Out Synthetic Identity (BOSI) working group. Lenderman is the President of the IAFCI Delaware Valley Chapter, the ACFE Delaware Chapter and is a regular speaker at numerous fraud conferences, law enforcement trainings and community outreach programs. He is a graduate of the University of Delaware with a degree in Criminal Justice and a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE).

Title: FinTech’s & Fraud – Fact, Fiction and Folklore

Description: This session will explore the truths and mysteries that surround Fintech's & Fraud. Join us for a discussion on the evolution of Fintech's and why they have become synonymous with fraud. While this is not reality it is perception and perception is reality. We will review what, why, and how Fintech's came to be and why they have been targeted by fraud actors. A look into current and emerging fraud trends along with best practices in fraud prevention and detection. Beyond the truths will well dispel fiction and folklore in these products.

Learning Objectives:

·        Understand fintech's versus traditional banking. 

·        Why the fraud is similar but not the same. 

·        What can be done to prevent and detect.

·        What's next for Fintech's & fraud.

Participants will earn 2.0 CPE

Field of Study: Specialized Knowledge

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this session.

Program Level: Basic

Delivery Method: Group Live Base & Group Internet Base

Title: Deep Fakes & Synthetics Data Now Has a Face!!!

Description: Synthetic Identities are not new, in fact they have been around for nearly 20 years. What is new is how they evolved into new industries, the speed that it occurs and how artificial intelligence and machine learning are now being utilized to give synthetic identities a face. This session will review synthetic identities, how they are made and used to commit fraud. Additionally, we will review how deep fakes are giving synthetic identities realistic features such as a face and voice. In conclusion the session will educate those on who to detect synthetics and deepfakes.

Learning Objectives:

·        Understand what a synthetic identity is.

·        Comprehend how they are used to commit fraud.

·        Grasp elemental concept of deepfakes.

·        Recognize deepfakes and their impacts on society.

Participants will earn 2.0 CPE

Field of Study: Specialized Knowledge

Prerequisites: There are no prerequisites for this session.

Program Level: Basic

Delivery Method: Group Live Base & Group Internet Base

Heartland ACFE Chapter is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.nasbaregistry.org.

Hotel Information

While we were unable to get a block of rooms due to state conferences, the information for the hotel we normally suggest is below:

Residence Inn Omaha

Aksarben Village  

1717 S. 67th St.

Omaha, NE 68106

I understand seating is not guaranteed until payment is received in full. I also understand that in order to receive a refund, I must cancel by no later than May 2, 2024. For more information regarding administrative policies for complaints or refunds, please click here or contact us at: [email protected].

Tickets

$305.00 Live/In Person Member Ticket
$255.00 Earlybird rate before April 1

$415.00 Live/In Person Non-Member Ticket
$365.00 Earlybird rate before April 1

$200.00 Virtual Member Ticket
$150.00 Earlybird rate before April 1

$250.00 Virtual Non-Member Ticket
$200.00 Earlybird rate before April 1

$0.00 6th Member Free