Oct.
2, 2019
DMAPS assembling
anti-fraud squad to aid investigations
CHARLESTON,
W.Va. – The West Virginia Department of Military Affairs and
Public Safety is building a team of anti-fraud specialists, with two of its members
securing their credentials.
David Dew and David Phillips have
successfully completed Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) training administered by
the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE).
The ACFE is the world's largest anti-fraud
organization and provider of anti-fraud training and education. A certified
fraud examiner is a specialist with expertise in fraud prevention, detection
and deterrence. They are trained to identify the warning signs and red flags
that indicate evidence of fraud and fraud risk. Working around the world, they
help protect the global economy by uncovering fraud and implementing processes
to prevent fraud from occurring.
These experts have a unique set of skills
that are not found in other career fields or disciplines, as they combine
knowledge of complex financial transactions with an understanding of methods,
law, and how to resolve allegations of fraud.
“Overall this was a great opportunity to
broaden my skillset and become a certified fraud examiner,” said Dew. “I hope
to help the public, companies, and organizations of West Virginia by assisting
them in detecting fraud through investigations and preventing fraud through
consulting.”
Dew is the chief financial officer and deputy
director of the Division of Administrative Services. Phillips is a 14-year
veteran of what is now the Division of Corrections and Rehabilitation,
where he currently is an internal auditor. They underwent training this summer
in Chicago and received their certification last week. The training focused on
four key topics: investigations; the law; financial transactions and fraud schemes;
and fraud prevention and deterrence.
“The instructors were very knowledgeable
and had real-life examples to help explain the material being covered,”
Phillips said. “In my opinion, the training course was beneficial because of
the diverse educational backgrounds of the attendees.”
Phillips earned a bachelor’s degree from what
is now Fairmont State University in business administration with a major in accounting
and management. Dew has a master’s degree in business administration from
Marshall University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration
with a concentration in accounting from the University of Phoenix.
DMAPS’ goal is to field eight certified
fraud examiners by the end of this fiscal year, to aid
investigations and the department’s overall mission, said Cabinet Secretary
Jeff Sandy. Dew and Phillips join Sandy and Deputy Director Steven Patterson of
the W.Va. Intelligence Fusion Center as DMAPS’ certified fraud examiners.
“We saw a need for the state to be
proactive verses reactive in many areas of risk to the state,” Sandy said. “It is
better to know the past history of an individual and business prior to them
working or conducting business with the state. Our goal is simple; to reduce
the financial risk to the state.”
DMAPS’ investigations include the recent
review of the Huntington Fire Department and the condition of a fire truck and
boat. The findings showed the maintenance issues were not the result of
criminal activity, and recommended ways for the department to run more
efficiently.
"We came upon an invaluable resource
that I was unaware of,” Mayor Steve Williams said. “Secretary Sandy assembled a
professional team that was highly credible to help us assess the reasons behind
the problems we were experiencing. The investigative team was professional,
deliberate, and resourceful. As a result, we were able to identify the problem,
fix it, and proceed forward."
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