DAY 1 SESSION DETAILS: September 17, 2025 (Wednesday); 0800-1700
Delivering Management Challenges
Panelists: Kristin Johnson (Commodity Futures Trading Commission), Rebecca Sharek (Securities and Exchange Commission) & James Hodge (Federal Housing Finance Agency)
Moderator: Paul Tatton (Guidehouse)
Effectively conveying audit results, especially when findings are unfavorable, is critical to achieving sustainable improvements. This panel features Deputy Inspectors General and federal executives with firsthand experience both delivering and receiving challenging audit feedback, offering perspectives from both sides of the process. Attendees will gain practical insights into communication strategies, leadership considerations, and ways to foster trust and accountability through candid and constructive dialogue.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify effective communication techniques for delivering management challenges and adverse audit findings to stakeholders.
- Recognize the importance of tone, timing, and context when communicating unfavorable results in a federal oversight environment.
- Apply strategies for fostering collaboration and continuous improvement when presenting audit feedback to auditees and agency leadership.
The Critical Intersection of Fraud, Compliance, ERM, and Internal Audit
Presenter: Gerry Zack (Risk Trek)
Several functions are critical to the management of risk in any organization, and each one impacts the others. Specifically, fraud risk management interacts and must properly align with compliance, enterprise risk management, and internal audit. This session focuses on this alignment and identifies the hallmarks of effective alignment to achieve maximum efficiency.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify & understand the relationships between Fraud, Compliance, ERM, & Internal Audit
- Assess the alignment of these functions and the impact of it on risk management overall and fraud risk management in particular
- Determine and develop a strategy for implementation of best practices in aligning these functions to maximize corporate risk management effectiveness
Strengthening Trust – Preventing and Investigating Fraud in Private Sector Operations within Multilateral Development Banks
Presenter: Tadeo Leandro Fernandez (Inter-American Development Bank), Vanessa Duran Acosta (Inter-American Development Bank), & Jorge Huerta (Inter-American Development Bank)
Fraud in private sector operations poses a significant risk to the integrity and effectiveness of multilateral development banks (MDBs). This session will explore the evolving challenges and strategies for preventing and investigating fraudulent activities in MDB-financed private sector projects. We will discuss best practices in due diligence, risk assessment, investigative techniques, and collaboration between MDBs, regulators, and private sector stakeholders. Through case studies, we will highlight how robust compliance frameworks and enforcement actions can safeguard development financing and promote ethical business practices.
Learning Objectives:
- Recognize key red flags and typologies associated with fraud in MDB-financed private sector projects.
- Apply investigative techniques and compliance tools to assess and respond to fraud risks within private sector development operations.
- Evaluate the impact of cross-institutional collaboration on the effectiveness of fraud prevention and enforcement actions in multilateral development contexts.
Fraud Prevention and Detection in Unemployment Insurance
Presenter: Irene Pasternak (Guidehouse)
Unemployment insurance programs lost an estimated $100–135 billion to fraud during the COVID-19 pandemic, driven by overwhelmed systems and staffing shortages. Criminals exploited weaknesses through identity theft, synthetic identities, and account takeovers. Strengthening identity verification, leveraging advanced analytics, and modernizing systems are critical to preventing similar large-scale fraud in the future.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify common fraud schemes impacting unemployment insurance programs, including identity theft, synthetic identities, and account takeovers.
- Recognize the systemic vulnerabilities that enabled large-scale fraud during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as capacity constraints, outdated systems, and staffing shortages.
- Apply strategies for enhancing fraud prevention and detection, including advanced data analytics, cross-agency collaboration, and modernization of legacy systems.
Detecting Fraud in Plain Sight and Preventing Fraud Schemes in the World Bank's Developmental Projects
Presenters: Danny Sanhye (World Bank), Bibson Joseph (World Bank), Peter Nkeragasani (World Bank) & Yolandi Venter (World Bank)
This presentation provides insight into the complexities of fraud, a significant concern for the World Bank (WB), given the international financing scope of its development projects. The WB's investment in innovative investigative tools, (including blockchain and AI); international coordination; and preservation of its reputation, are crucial to support the forensic methods used in detecting, evaluating and combating cross-border fraud schemes.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify methods used by the World Bank to detect and prevent cross-border fraud schemes, including the application of AI, blockchain, and data-sharing platforms in investigative practices.
- Analyze case studies of international development projects to recognize patterns of fraud, including bribery networks, bid manipulation, and concealed financial flows.
- Differentiate between the roles of internal audit and investigation teams in multi-jurisdictional fraud cases and evaluate how collaborative frameworks enhance fraud prevention.
Expert Testimony: Begin with the End in Mind
Presenter: Cheryl Hyder (Hyder Consulting Group, Paradigm Financial)
Have you ever heard an attorney say, "This case will never see the inside of a courtroom, we just need a quick & dirty opinion"? Time passes then you remind them discovery will close shortly, trial is looming and you've not started typing in earnest? Does anyone care at that point, what hiring counsel said 7 or 9 months ago?
Proper case presentation starts with preparation on Day 1 no matter the intended formality of its use. Credible testimony can't happen by reviewing a file, report, or that amazing summary your team put together for you.
Learning Objectives:
- Connect the defined scope of work to the structure and substance of expert reports and related testimony.
- Apply evidence management and discovery practices that ensure data relevance, admissibility, and integrity throughout an engagement.
- Learn how to develop trial-ready exhibits and concise report summaries that enhance clarity and credibility during expert testimony.
Analyzing Data Patterns
Presenters: Wayne Folta (Elder Research) & Jericho Mcleod (Elder Research)
To identify fraud, we often rely on discovering patterns or other relationships in data - particularly transactional data. There are always many patterns in any data, and our analysis approach determines which patterns become apparent. This session will introduce networks (e.g. social networks or transaction networks), and corresponding analysis concepts, then apply these to fraud detection. Selected examples of prosecuted cases will be shown from this perspective.
Learning Objectives:
- Gain familiarity with network analysis concepts
- Understand characteristics of fraud that are readily examined with networks
- Recognize anomalies in networks that raise concerns of fraudulent activity
DAY 2 SESSION DETAILS: September 18, 2025 (Thursday); 0800-1700
From Reaction to Prevention: PRAC's Evolving Mission
Panelist: Kenneth Dieffenbach (PRAC)
The Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) was established by the CARES Act to provide independent oversight of federal COVID-19 relief spending. Recently, its mission was extended through 2034 with new funding, allowing it to transition from post-payment fraud detection to a more proactive, pre-payment fraud prevention model using its advanced data analytics platform. This evolution demonstrates how lessons learned from the pandemic are being applied to improve program integrity and prepare for future national emergencies.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe the evolution of the PRAC's role from a reactive oversight body to a proactive fraud prevention entity.
- Explain how data analytics and cross-agency partnerships are being leveraged to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs.
- Identify key lessons learned from the oversight of pandemic relief funding that can be applied to improve internal controls for future emergency spending programs.
NIST GenAI Evaluation Program
Presenters: Dr. Seungmin Seo (NIST), Dr. George Awad (NIST), Dr. Hari Iyer (NIST) & Dr. Yooyoung Lee (NIST)
Generative AI is rapidly transforming how digital content is created and consumed. To better understand the capabilities and limitations of both content generators and detectors (discriminators), the GenAI program at NIST has launched a new platform to support an evaluation series across different modalities. This platform brings together the research community developing generative AI systems and detection tools to benchmark their performance in a controlled setting. In this talk, we focus on the text modality, where generator teams aim to produce text summaries that are indistinguishable from those written by humans, while discriminator teams attempt to detect whether a given text is AI-generated or human-authored. We will present an overview of the evaluation framework, highlight key findings from the most recent round of experiments, and discuss future directions. We will also present the ongoing Image challenge designed to evaluate the capabilities and limitations of state-of-the-art generative AI systems in producing and detecting synthetic imagery. Finally, we will discuss how the NIST GenAI benchmarks can help address real-world scenarios or issues in practice.
State of Fraud and Illicit Finance
Presenters: Laura Walker (FBI) & Michael McGillicuddy (FBI)
Criminals continually exploit a complex global financial system to commit fraud and launder illicit proceeds. This session will provide an overview of current fraud and illicit finance trends, with a focus on cyber-enabled fraud and financial schemes that target vulnerable populations like the elderly. The presentation will cover common types of scams, methods of operation, and the resources available to help identify, report, and prevent these crimes.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify current fraud trends and illicit finance schemes, including tech support scams and elder fraud.
- Recognize the tactics used by criminals in cyber-enabled fraud cases, such as "pig butchering" and other investment scams.
- Summarize the process for reporting fraud to the FBI and other relevant agencies, as well as best practices for protecting oneself and one's organization.
United States Army's University-Affiliated Research Centers and Fraud Risk Management
Presenter: Dexter Wells (Liberty University)
In 2021, the Department of Defense Inspector General issued a report highlighting a lack of robust fraud detection and prevention within the oversight of University-Affiliated Research Centers (UARCs). This issue is particularly critical as fraud, waste, and abuse can significantly undermine the U.S. Army's modernization efforts and its 2030 mission. This presentation will explore the historical context and importance of fraud risk management for these programs and identify key vulnerabilities and risks that need to be addressed.
Learning Objectives:
- Explain the historical context and importance of fraud risk management for the U.S. Army and its relationship with UARCs.
- Identify key vulnerabilities and risks within the Department of Defense's UARC program that could lead to fraud, waste, and abuse.
- Apply the principles of a fraud risk management framework to evaluate the effectiveness of fraud prevention and deterrence within a government program.
GAO Green Book
Presenters: Carrie Morrison (GAO) & Johana Ayers (GAO)
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has recently issued its 2025 revision to the "Green Book" or Standards for Internal Control in the Federal Government. This update, which is effective for fiscal year 2026, builds on the 2014 edition by providing additional requirements and guidance to help managers address modern risks related to fraud, improper payments, and information security. It also emphasizes the importance of prioritizing preventive controls and highlights management's responsibility for internal controls at all levels of an entity's organizational structure.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify the key updates in the 2025 revision of the GAO's "Green Book" and their impact on internal control systems.
- Analyze the new guidance provided for addressing emerging risks, including fraud, improper payments, and information security.
- Apply the updated principles to evaluate the effectiveness of internal control systems within a federal or non-federal entity.
How Arlington County Police Department Serves its Community
Presenter: Timothy Parsons (ACPD)
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia has recognized officers from ACPD for its excellence in safeguarding its local communities through targeted crime prevention, public engagement, and cross-agency collaboration. This session will discuss techniques on how ACPD disrupts fraud, financial crimes, and emerging threats to protect Arlington County residents. Attendees will gain insight into practical tools and case examples that demonstrate how local agencies contribute to financial crime prevention efforts.
Learning Objectives:
- Describe local law enforcement strategies used to prevent and detect fraud and financial crimes within the community.
- Identify effective methods for sharing intelligence and coordinating investigations.
- Apply community-focused and interagency practices to enhance fraud risk mitigation efforts in both public and private sector environments.
Blind Spots in Grants Programs: Addressing Gaps and Flagging Fraud
Presenter: Crystal Wolf (Akela), Scott Moore (CORE Integrity Strategies) & Ben Wallace (Allocore)
This session will analyze common blind spots within federally funded grants programs. Through the analysis of real-world case studies, we will highlight instances where mismanagement and internal control gaps went undetected, leading to increased fraud risk and improper payments. This will also examine key strategies for identifying these blind spots early and implementing proactive measures to prevent escalating fraud.
Learning Objectives:
- Beneficiary and Recipient Fraud - Misrepresentation and fraudulent claims can often evade detection in federal programs. Discover how to implement new techniques to identify and address these issues during audits.
- Subrecipient Blind Spots - There are several challenges for tracking subrecipient spending and performance. Discover insights on how to strengthen oversight to prevent fraud and noncompliance.
- Proactive Fraud and Gap Detection - Organizations can implement practical technical solutions for stronger monitoring systems to catch red flags and identify risk during audits.
A View into a Hacker’s Desktop: Infrastructure, AI, and Love
Presenter: Nguyen Nguyen (CyberArmor Tech)
“A View into a Hacker’s Desktop: Infrastructure, AI, and Love,” explores the digital and personal life of a Nigerian cybercriminal known as Toby. Through thousands of leaked screenshots, we uncover how he builds phishing infrastructure, exploits expired domains, and uses AI tools like ChatGPT and Grok to develop malware and phishing kits. At the same time, we see his personal side — balancing family, romance, and faith while running cybercrime operations. The session highlights how modern cybercriminals operate like small businesses, the growing role of AI in attacks, and why understanding the human behind the keyboard is essential for building proactive defenses.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify how cybercriminals structure and operate phishing and malware schemes using business-like infrastructure and workflows.
- Explain how generative AI tools lower barriers to entry and enhance the effectiveness of cyberattacks.
- Analyze how the personal circumstances and human factors of cybercriminals influence their behavior and risk decisions.