IACRC’s courses are taught by experts and include numerous actual case examples and challenging practical exercises. Where appropriate the courses are tailored to local laws and circumstances in order to ensure that that they meet the needs of the participants.
Investigating Corruption and Fraud in Infrastructure Projects
This popular five-day workshop is built around a challenging, realistic simulated case in which teams of participants must plan and execute a complex investigation involving suspected bribery, bid rigging, collusive bidding, fraud and money laundering.
Topics ]include:
- Detection: Establishing effective whistle blower programs and automated detection methods
- Background checking steps, resources and methodsDocument and data collection methods and analysis
- Tracing illicit payments: direct and indirect methods
- Effective interview techniques and proceduresObtaining the cooperation of inside witnesses
- Interviewing the subject of the investigation
- Obtaining international cooperation through formal and informal MLAT requestsIdentifying the relevant statutes and elements of proof
- Anticipating and rebutting potential defenses
- Report writing
The course can be delivered onsite as an intensive one week program or online over several weeks of intermittent instruction.
Using Data Analytics to Detect and Prevent Fraud
According to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), organizations that use data analytics experience 47% lower fraud losses than those that do not.
Such programs can be usefully applied by auditors, investigators and oversight personnel in large and small organizations.
Among many other advantages, the analytics can:
- Detect irregularities much more quickly and accurately than in traditional audit or oversight methods
- Almost instantly analyze 100% of large data sets, rather than being limited to smaller sample sets
- Be programmed to run continuously to proactively identify potential fraud, waste and abuse,
- as discussed in more detail below under “Integrity Filters.”
The course will cover how to:
- Choose the most appropriate software and tools
- Select, organize, prepare and clean the relevant electronic data
- Identify and detect the most significant indicators or “red flags” of misconduct
- Limit the collection of false positives
- Effectively interpret and follow up on the results, including how to conduct online background checks on firms and individuals involved and take other steps to convert indicators to evidence
- Link data analytics to whistleblower and other anti-fraud programs
The course materials will include comprehensive lists of proven indicators of fraud, waste and abuse and corruption in the procurement, implementation and payment stages of projects, as well as practical exercises and examples from actual cases.
The training can be presented separately or combined with the Automated Fraud Detection and Artificial Intelligence programs.
Automated Fraud Detection Programs (“Integrity Filters”)
Integrity Filters are sophisticated algorithms, developed with the support of the US Government and World Bank, that can be embedded in eProcurement, ePayment and Financial Management Systems to detect and prevent fraud and other irregularities.
The Filters offer the significant advantages provided by standard data analytics programs, as well as the ability to:
- Identify and block potentially fraudulent or other non-compliant transactions, ex ante, before contracts are awarded, payments approved or losses incurred
- Permit real time, continuous remote monitoring by donors or oversight agencies
- Create detailed audit trails and digital evidence for investigators
The programs rely on simple, rule based algorithms, based on readily accessible data, creating no “Big Data” collection difficulties.
Among the many schemes that can be detected or blocked by the filters are:
Collusive bidding by contractors
- Bid rigging
- Kickbacks
- Conflicts of interest
- False, inflated and duplicate invoices
- Shell companies
- Phantom vendors
- Purchases for personal use or resale
- Product substitution
- Failure to meet contract specs
Course materials include lists of effective indicators, their data requirements, a list of relevant online background checks and other follow up steps, practical exercises and actual case examples.
The course can be presented separately or combined with the Data Analytics course and the Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning program.
Applying Artificial Intelligence to Combat Fraud
Learn how to employ powerful Artificial Intelligence programs to crunch virtually unlimited data sets to identify previously unknown indicators of fraud and other illicit financial transactions, including:
- Large scale governmental and commercial Fraud and Corruption schemes
- Currency and Trade Based Money Laundering
- Crypto and Virtual Currency Fraud
- OFAC Violations
- Hidden and Stolen Assets
- Sanctions and Tax Evasion schemes
Procurement Fraud
Learn the most common and costly schemes in Procurement, including bribes and kickbacks, conflicts of interest, bid rigging, collusive bidding and fraud, as well as their red flags, detection methods, proof and prevention. All of the materials and case examples are drawn from actual cases.
Construction Fraud
In depth instruction on how to detect, prove and prevent fraud in the construction of major infrastructure projects, including:
- Overview of construction methodology, terminology and documentation
- The most common and costly construction fraud risks and schemes, organized by project type and stage, including, among others
- Effective detection methods, including the application of non-destructive thermal infrared technology to identify subsurface flaws
- Investigative steps of proof, including the use of expert resources to identify construction failures and false claim
- Relevant statutes and their elements of proof
- Prevention strategies
- Realistic practical exercises and actual case examples.
Fraud and Corruption in Development and Humanitarian Projects
Designed for project personnel, procurement staff, auditors and investigators with little or no prior experience in combating fraud and corruption in international aid projects, this course describes at an introductory level the various types of fraud and corruption risks that occur in such projects, as well as the standard methods of detection, proof and prevention. As with all IACRC training programs, the materials will include numerous actual case examples and practical case exercises.
