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Summer Reading List for Fraud Investigators


Summer Reading List for Fraud Investigators

Looking for books that will entertain you and enhance your investigation career? Try our 10 fraud summer reading list suggestions.

The sun is shining, the weather is warm; we are in the peak of summer. While you may have some vacation time planned, this is also the perfect time of year to learn something new. Add some of these titles to your fraud summer reading list to both educate and entertain yourself.

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1. Billion Dollar Whale: The Man Who Fooled Wall Street, Hollywood, and the World

by Tom Wright and Bradley Hope

Billion Dollar Whale details the wild story of Jho Low, a Malaysian businessman who rose to fame and fortune using his connections to Prime Minister Najib Razak. Using government money, the pair created the 1MDB investment fund, which was then funded further by banks including Goldman Sachs. When $5 billion mysteriously disappeared from the fund and Low started throwing lavish parties, an international scandal ensued.

Low is currently being tried on charges of conspiracy, corruption, money laundering, and more by the Malaysian and U.S. governments. Catch up on his story as you watch the trial unfold. Who wouldn't want to read about fancy cars, fraudsters and celebrities jumping out of birthday cakes?

2. Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup

by John Carreyrou

In Bad Blood, you'll go on another wild ride, following the Theranos scandal. Theranos was a medical testing company that was valued at $10 billion at its peak. In October 2015, however,  The Wall Street Journal exposed the company and its founder, Elizabeth Holmes, for exaggerated and deceptive claims. The FDA then chimed in with a report saying that Theranos equipment wasn't what it claimed to be.

Less than three years later, Holmes and former Theranos president Ramesh Balwani are charged with eleven counts of fraud and conspiracy. Read the entire tale from the journalist who first exposed Theranos in this book, which won the 2018 Financial Times and McKinsey Business Book of the Year Award. John Carreyrou provides an in-depth exploration of the case that's a perfect preparation for the trial in August 2020.

RELATED: Corporate Fraud Prevention: The Ultimate Guide

3. Anatomy of a Fraud Investigation: From Detection to Prosecution

by Stephen Pedneault

If you want your fraud summer reading list to be a little more educational, start with Anatomy of a Fraud Investigation. A valuable resource for fraud investigators, this book uses in-depth analysis of an actual investigation conducted by the author, Stephen Pedneault, who is a CFE.

Each chapter outlines a phase of a fraud investigation, from the first suspicion of fraud to the trial. Not only does this book include fraud investigation tips, but also insight into why the author made certain decisions, helping you become a better investigator.

4. Investigator and Fraud Fighter Guidebook: Operation War Stories

by Charles E. Piper

Feeling overworked? Then add Investigator and Fraud Fighter Guidebook to your fraud summer reading list. Written by a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), this book provides guidance on how to conduct thorough and complete investigations regardless of your organization's resources.

You will learn how to identify fraud, spot behavior patterns and manage risk. The author also uses examples from real cases to clarify concepts, making it a helpful resource for fraud investigators at all stages of their careers.

Analyzing the data quality of your fraud investigation can render the results useless. Get tips on how to assess your data from Alexis Bell, founder and CEO of Fraud Doctor, LLC, in this webinar.

5. History of Greed: Financial Fraud from Tulip Mania to Bernie Madoff

by David E. Y. Sarna

If you love studying history, History of Greed will capture your attention from page one. This book delves into some of the most famous and interesting cases of financial fraud of all time. The author also discusses the different ways that scammers do their business and theorizes about how and why we continue to fall for fraud schemes.

6. Scandal! Amazing Tales of Scandals that Shocked the World and Shaped Modern Business

by the Editors of Fortune Magazine

Fortune magazine is already on many fraud summer reading lists. Now you can read a compilation of some of the editors' favorite scandals that impacted the business world today in Scandal!. This book combines contemporary news stories and modern analysis to explore some of history's most unbelievable fraud cases and how they have affected today's economy.

7. Expert Fraud Investigation: A Step-by-Step Guide

by Tracy Coenen

Whether you're just starting your career or you want a fresh perspective, Expert Fraud Investigation: A Step-by-Step Guide should go on every fraud summer reading list. This book, as the title suggests, outlines every stage of a fraud investigation. From launching the investigation through writing the final report, the author explains best practices for when and how to investigate fraud.

Coenen is also the author of The Fraud Files Blog. This blog, where Coenen debunks one of her favorite fraud types, MLM schemes, makes for enjoyable summer reading.

8. The Confidence Game: Why We Fall for ItEvery Time

by Maria Konnikova

Have you ever wondered about the psychology behind scams? The Confidence Game explores how and why the most successful fraudsters get away with it for so long. In this book, the author analyzes the commonalities between some of history's biggest con artists, examining the relationship between scammers and their victims. A fraud summer reading list wouldn't be complete without this fascinating perspective.

RELATED: The Ultimate Guide to Insurance Fraud Investigations

9. Fraud Analytics: Strategies and Methods for Detection and Prevention

by Delena D. Spann

Finding the time for professional development reading can be tough. That's why a deep-dive book like Fraud Analytics is perfect for your fraud summer reading list. This book uses real-life cases and examples to illustrate various data analysis methods used in fraud detection, investigation and prevention.

10. Fraud: An American History from Barnum to Madoff

by Edward J. Balleisen

Many aspects of American business (including regulations) stem from the fraud schemes of the past. Fraud: An American History from Barnum to Madoff explores some of the country's best-known con scammers. This book follows American fraud and the ever-changing efforts to prevent it from the nineteenth century to present. Bonus: this title won the 2018 Business History Conference's Ralph Gomory Prize for historical work on the effects of business enterprises on the economy.