Fraud in the Office

Send us Fan MailWhat happens when prison doesn’t stop the fraud?In Fraud in the Office S3 E16: Behind Bars, Matthew and NOT Mark unpack the remarkable case of Jean Joseph and Janalie Bingham, a Florida couple behind a $50 million investment fraud scheme. Investors were told their money was backed by a real estate portfolio worth as much as $450 million, but prosecutors say millions instead went toward speculative stock trading, personal expenses, and payments to earlier investors.The twist? Joseph continued directing the scheme while already serving federal prison time for an unrelated wire fraud conviction.We explore how trust, false representations, weak oversight, and Ponzi-style payments kept the money flowing, and ask the obvious FITO question: If being behind bars can't stop a fraudster, what controls will?Support the showFind us on all streaming platforms! Check out our sponsor 1Trooper on LinkedIn @1TrooperAnd don’t forget to subscribe!

Send us Fan MailIn Fraud in the Office S3 E15: Busy Little Bees, Matthew is flying solo to explore how both sides are busy little bees. Fraudsters are constantly buzzing from program to program looking for weak controls to exploit, while organizations and government agencies are busy trying to respond after the damage is already done.With estimates of $500 billion to $1 trillion in fraud losses every year, Matthew examines why the real story isn't just the criminals—it's the systems that made the fraud possible. Featuring examples from healthcare and government fraud, discussions around the FBI's new Most Wanted Fraudsters list, and lessons in governance, identity management, segregation of duties, and accountability, this episode asks a difficult question:Should accountability stop with the fraudster, or should it also include those responsible for designing and maintaining systems with preventable control weaknesses?An ounce of prevention isn't just worth a pound of cure—it may be worth hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars.Support the showFind us on all streaming platforms! Check out our sponsor 1Trooper on LinkedIn @1TrooperAnd don’t forget to subscribe!

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Fraud in the Office, Matthew and Mark dive into the rapidly growing world of AI-powered fraud with special guest Robert Berry, “That Audit Guy.” From deepfakes and voice cloning to synthetic identities and AI-driven social engineering, the episode explores how fraudsters are industrializing scams at global scale. Robert shares firsthand experiences uncovering fraud, the realities auditors face during investigations, and why organizations must rethink controls, governance, and verification in the AI era. The discussion also highlights how modern audit technologies like IAStream can help organizations detect anomalies faster and strengthen fraud prevention before losses spiral out of control. And yes — on the Fraud in the Office website, you can also take the free AI Replaceable Meter (AIrm) assessment to see how likely your job could be replaced by AI. Support the showFind us on all streaming platforms! Check out our sponsor 1Trooper on LinkedIn @1TrooperAnd don’t forget to subscribe!

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Fraud in the Office, Matthew and Mark break down the allegations against the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), (Make sure you say that with a drawn out southern accent) where prosecutors claim donor funds intended to combat extremism were instead funneled to individuals connected to those very groups.They explore the fine line between intelligence gathering and financial misrepresentation, and how complex, covert operations can create significant fraud risk when transparency and controls fall short.The conversation highlights a critical theme: when mission, messaging, and money don’t align, trust erodes quickly. From nonprofit governance to real-world fraud prevention, the hosts unpack key lessons around oversight, accountability, and ethical responsibility.Plus, a lighter, but important, segment on teaching kids about money, generosity, and doing the right thing early.Support the showFind us on all streaming platforms! Check out our sponsor 1Trooper on LinkedIn @1TrooperAnd don’t forget to subscribe!

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Fraud in the Office, we break down “CashDash”—The 5-minute Fraud Loop, a $2.5 million fraud scheme that exploited DoorDash from the inside out. How many cheeseburgers would that be...probably filets?A former employee, armed with insider knowledge and stolen credentials, manipulated internal processes to trigger fraudulent payouts, turning a convenience platform into a cash machine. We unpack:How the scheme worked (and why it scaled so quickly) Where controls failed across access, processes, and monitoring Why insider threats remain one of the biggest risks in modern platformsMost importantly, we translate this real-world case into practical controls, from access governance to process configuration, to transaction monitoring that organizations can implement to prevent becoming the next headline.Because sometimes, fraud doesn’t hack the system… it uses it exactly as poorly designed.Support the showFind us on all streaming platforms! Check out our sponsor 1Trooper on LinkedIn @1TrooperAnd don’t forget to subscribe!

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Fraud in the Office, Matthew and Mark break down a headline-grabbing case tied to the world of Miss Universe, but quickly uncover a much more familiar fraud story beneath the surface.The ex-husband of former Miss Universe Australia is facing over 100 fraud charges after allegedly misappropriating nearly $500,000 from his employer while serving in a finance leadership role. The scheme? Unauthorized transfers paired with falsified ledger entries to conceal the activity.This episode dives into how access, trust, and weak controls can collide, even in a short time frame, to create the perfect conditions for fraud. From lifestyle-driven spending to breakdowns in segregation of duties and oversight, the hosts explore how this case reflects common fraud patterns seen across organizations of all sizes.Because at the end of the day, this isn’t about headlines or celebrity connections, it’s about what happens when the ledgers stop telling the truth.Support the showFind us on all streaming platforms! Check out our sponsor 1Trooper on LinkedIn @1TrooperAnd don’t forget to subscribe!

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Fraud in the Office, Matthew and Mark break down the alleged multibillion-dollar fraud involving First Brands founder Patrick James and his brother Edward James, dubbed the “Fraud Bros.” Prosecutors claim the executives used fake invoices, double- and triple-pledged collateral, off-balance-sheet financing, and manipulated financial statements to obtain billions from lenders before the company ultimately collapsed into bankruptcy.The hosts unpack how aggressive growth strategies, weak internal controls, and governance failures can turn financial engineering into outright fraud. Along the way, they explore the warning signs lenders and auditors often miss and discuss practical lessons organizations can use to strengthen controls, improve oversight, and reduce the risk of large-scale corporate fraud.Support the showFind us on all streaming platforms! Check out our sponsor 1Trooper on LinkedIn @1TrooperAnd don’t forget to subscribe!

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Fraud in the Office, Matthew and Mark unpack the bribery case involving McKinsey & Company Africa and the broader implications under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). They explore how third-party relationships, governance breakdowns, and control failures can expose even the most sophisticated organizations to corruption risk.The conversation also touches on evolving pressures within the consulting industry, including AI-driven disruption, and the critical role of ethics, compliance, and oversight. As always, the hosts highlight practical lessons on strengthening controls, managing third-party risk, and protecting organizational integrity.Support the showFind us on all streaming platforms! Check out our sponsor 1Trooper on LinkedIn @1TrooperAnd don’t forget to subscribe!

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Fraud in the Office, Matthew Rekers and Mark break down a staggering $197 million Medicare fraud scheme involving a former NFL player, a reminder that fraud can hide behind fame, familiarity, and trust.The hosts explore how vulnerable seniors and veterans were targeted through overseas call centers, telemedicine abuse, and falsified medical orders, turning Medicare into a profit machine. As Super Bowl weekend approaches, the episode draws parallels between star power, blind trust, and how weak controls allow massive fraud to scale.The conversation highlights critical gaps in government oversight, the growing risks facing the elderly, and why families play a vital role in fraud prevention. The episode closes with practical, real-world takeaways to help listeners recognize warning signs, protect loved ones, and understand how better controls could stop these schemes before they start.Support the showFind us on all streaming platforms! Check out our sponsor 1Trooper on LinkedIn @1TrooperAnd don’t forget to subscribe!

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Fraud in the Office, Matthew and Mark unpack the shocking embezzlement case involving Christopher Butler, the former CEO of The Painted Turtle—a nonprofit camp for critically ill children co-founded by Paul Newman. The hosts break down how more than $5 million was allegedly stolen over several years, examining the control failures that allowed the fraud to go undetected.They discuss why strong financial controls, proper segregation of duties, and active oversight are critical in nonprofit organizations, and how lapses in governance can have devastating consequences—especially when vulnerable populations are involved. This episode is a sobering reminder that even the most mission-driven organizations are not immune to fraud without the right safeguards in place.Support the showFind us on all streaming platforms! Check out our sponsor 1Trooper on LinkedIn @1TrooperAnd don’t forget to subscribe!