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From billions lost to billions saved: A blueprint for beating synthetic IDs

Synthetic identity theft, in which fraudsters stitch together real and fake identification details to create a brand-new identity, is now the fastest growing fraud threat across the globe. Here, the authors present a plan for crushing synthetic identities that could help organizations prevent billions of dollars in losses.

Read Time: 34 mins BY Dustin Eaton, CFE

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Crude conduct: The long, dirty history of Elf Aquitaine

In the 1970s, France fell victim to the costly “sniffer planes” scandal when the government embraced pseudoscience and unproven technology amid economic strain, secrecy and the dismissal of expert warnings. Political pressure and institutional bias led Elf Aquitaine and government officials to abandon due diligence, ultimately enabling a $250 million fraud that entrenched deeper patterns of corruption.

Read Time: 15 mins

Written By: Donn LeVie, Jr., CFE

Authorities intensify efforts to dismantle cyber-scam centers as they spread worldwide

A 2026 UN report calls cyber-scam operations in Southeast Asia a human rights crisis as approximately 300,000 are forced into criminality in the region. The CEO of anti-human trafficking group, the Mekong Club, details the dire working conditions for people in scam centers and what governments have done — and still need to do — to shut down operations now proliferating beyond Asia.

Read Time: 17 mins

Navigating the EU’s evolving anti-money laundering regulatory landscape

The European Union is reforming its legal framework to combat money laundering and terrorist financing in 2027. Meanwhile, financial institutions and designated nonfinancial businesses and professions must consider how these changes will af-fect their current compliance programs. The author details the new framework and proposes a four-pronged approach to align existing processes to new rules.

Read Time: 12 mins

Investigative journalists built a global network to expose fraud and corruption

OCCRP founders Drew Sullivan and Paul Radu, recipients of the ACFE’s 2026 Guardian Award, have transformed international collaboration into a frontline defense against modern financial crime. They underscore why cross‑border partnerships are more vital than ever in exposing fraud worldwide.

Read Time: 16 mins

Written By: Crystal Zuzek