Fraud is one of the most invasive activities in the Western world today. This course will provide students with an overview of the Fraud Examination and Forensic Accounting program and the methods fraud investigators and other professionals use to prevent, detect and investigate allegations of fraud and other financial wrongdoings. The course will also focus on identifying the differing roles of various professionals who are involved with fraud prevention, detection and investigation.

All fraud investigations involve the scrutiny and analysis of financial information, usually in the context of the business environment. In this course, basic accounting concepts will be revisited, and the roles of various stakeholders in combating fraud, potential fraud and other financial wrongdoings will be examined. In addition, the course will identify "fraud rich" environments that may inherently have a greater susceptibility for wrongdoing and will look at society's demands for systemic change.

Understanding criminal behavior is an essential component of an effective fraud investigation. This course will consider theories of criminal causation and ethical dilemmas. In addition, students will evaluate situational cases involving conflicts of interest and breach of fiduciary duties. The course will also address non-technical professional issues faced by fraud investigators in the discharge of their professional responsibilities.

This course focuses on refreshing the students' understanding of financial statements and related concepts, providing a basic understanding of key concepts related to the area of business valuation, and the quantification of financial damages. These topics will give the student the analytical tools necessary to understand and apply, at a basic level, all three of these topics, generally in the context of a commercial dispute. The course will focus on a balanced mix of lectures and frequent exercises to reinforce the key learning objectives.

Money laundering is at the very heart of financial aspects of crime and is a common method of financing terrorist and other illegal activity. This course will look at all aspects of money laundering, the international scene and the increased regulatory intervention designed to suppress such illegal activities. As well, the students will focus on the concept of asset tracing.

Using case studies, this subject will provide students with the skills required to document, control and manage evidence. Students will learn how to reconstruct income, identify and use sources of information, examine procurements and bankruptcy fraud and financial institution fraud schemes. In addition, the subject will examine identify theft, internet and other "cybercrime" activities.

It is widely agreed that one of the most effective corporate anti-fraud weapons is prevention and detection through effective enterprise risk management and internal control. This course will examine the roles and responsibilities of corporate boards of directors and management in directing effective anti-fraud programs. The course material will include legislation such as the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and will study enterprise risk management, the internal control environment, ethics, professional standards, and professional responsibilities.

Fraud examiners need to understand the value of computers in conducting forensic investigations. This subject will provide a basic level of understanding by examining computer applications that will enhance the students' ability to use computers to identify unusual transactions and other irregularities. The students will also study analysis techniques and will be exposed to document management and retention systems.

The Enron, Lucent, Tyco, WorldCom scandals all evolved through financial statement fraud. This subject will examine financial statement fraud and discuss methods of identifying misstatements of revenue, concealed liabilities and expenses and similar improper disclosures. In addition, students will be exposed to asset valuation and inventory losses.