From Motivated Student to Professional Fraud Fighter

It was during her college undergraduate study that Ashley M. VanDenTop, CFE, became interested in fraud.

ACFE Member Profile 

It was during her college undergraduate study that Ashley M. VanDenTop, CFE, became interested in fraud. While in her last semester toward earning a degree in business economics at Utica College, VanDenTop decided that she wanted to pursue an MBA in economic crime and fraud management.

"I started some of the prerequisite fraud classes and loved it," VanDenTop said. "I became a member of the ACFE in 2006, and I started an ACFE Local Student Chapter at Utica College."

VanDenTop also started working toward becoming a Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). "I really became compelled to get my CFE while I was completing my MBA," VanDenTop said. "So many students in the program had CFEs, and a lot of professionals had recommended it to me. It was just one of those things I felt I needed to accomplish." After completing her MBA, VanDenTop studied for and earned the CFE credential in 2008.

For more than five years, VanDenTop has worked as a contract negotiator for the Air Force Research Laboratory in Utica, New York. She also has experience as an anti-fraud professional in private practice after working with local businesses, non-profit organizations and individuals through a small fraud consulting business that she founded with three partners.

For VanDenTop, her motivation to be a career fraud fighter has followed a natural progression in just a few short years. She was honored with the 2009 Martin T. Biegelman Award presented at Utica College for creating the ACFE Utica College Student Chapter. She continues to focus on growing her anti-fraud skills -– which should give white collar criminals in her path a cause to worry for years to come.