Investigator Enjoys Fascinating World of Unraveling Frauds

April 2014 ACFE Member Profile Maria Kress, CFE, serves as an investigator with the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) for the Los Angeles Unified School District. From watching crime dramas on television and becoming an undercover store detective, to her current role unraveling fraud cases using investigative skills, surveillance and other means, Kress has found a fulfilling career in the fight against fraud.

 

April 2014

ACFE Member Profile

Maria Kress, CFE, serves as an investigator with the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) for the Los Angeles Unified School District. From watching crime dramas on television and becoming an undercover store detective, to her current role unraveling fraud cases using investigative skills, surveillance and other means, Kress has found a fulfilling career in the fight against fraud.

What is the function of the OIG, and what led you to this line of work?
The OIG is an agency that promotes a culture of accountability, transparency,collaboration and integrity through the performance of audit and investigative services designed to drive continuous improvement, support effective decision making, and detect and deter waste, fraud and abuse within district operations.

I work with the Investigations Unit of the OIG. The unit conducts investigations of waste, fraud and abuse to safeguard District resources, programs and operations. These investigations are designed to detect and prevent fraud and abuse by identifying systemic weaknesses in areas of program vulnerability that can be eliminated through corrective management actions, regulation, legislation, or by pursuing criminal convictions and monetary recoveries through the judicial and administrative processes.

I have always had an inquisitive mind and enjoyed figuring out ‘whodunit’ while watching the crime drama shows growing up. The process of putting the pieces of the puzzle together and following the paper trail intrigues me and captures my interest. So, it’s no surprise that I ended up in the investigations industry. My career began 23 years ago when I was hired as an undercover store detective at a major retailer.

What are some of your day-to-day responsibilities in your role?
I manage the district’s fraud hotline. I process and track incoming allegations of fraud, waste and abuse, mismanagement and other improprieties involving district personnel, contractors and others in connection with district programs and operations. I plan and conduct confidential investigations, due diligence background investigations and special review cases, and prepare reports pertaining to these cases. I complete peer reviews on reports going before the Board of Education or to business partners. I coordinate and oversee multiple projects as directed by the Inspector General as they relate to the OIG’s strategic plan and initiatives. 

Which types of cases (or subjects) are the most interesting to you, personally? Did a certain type of investigation really draw you in?
Internal investigations have always been very interesting to me. I enjoy the process of reviewing and interpreting data from exception reports, discovering areas of vulnerability and highlighting patterns of irregularities. Then, tracking and mapping out the employees that had the opportunity to cause the defalcation, setting up surveillance, documenting the incidents, narrowing down the field of suspects and finally interviewing the suspect. That, of course, is the best-case scenario.

During your career, you have also been a loss prevention agent and a sales representative, among other roles. How does the experience you gained in these positions help you today as a fraud examiner?
As I mentioned earlier, loss prevention was my introduction into the fraud detection/prevention field. The skills I developed during my retail days – a keen sense of observation, behavior analysis, investigative techniques, discipline of the elements, report writing and knowledge of applicable laws – provided a solid foundation for me to further improve as a fraud investigator.

As a salesperson, I had to talk to the client, understand what their needs are, convince them that my product is what they needed, justify their purchase and close the sale. These listening and persuasive skills are useful when interviewing a subject.

What advice do you have for other fraud examiners who would follow in your footsteps?
This industry is fascinating; ever-changing, ever-growing. I would advise fraud examiners to expand their experience and knowledge to related areas (and sometimes, not-so-related areas) to gain a well-rounded understanding of the vastness and different types of fraud.

In general, do you think the global problem of fraud is getting better – or worse?
I think the global fraud problem is constantly changing; mutating as technology becomes more advanced. The fraud schemes are becoming more complex and sophisticated. However, fraud detection and prevention efforts have also advanced. Education, awareness and swift response to vulnerable areas are key when detecting and preventing fraud. But, it does always seem to be a game of ‘catch-up.’ 

Where are you from, originally?
I was born in Columbus, Ohio. My father was in the Army so we traveled around a lot when I was very young, even spent three years in Germany. But when he was assigned a permanent job, we settled in Allentown, Penn. I moved to Los Angeles after college.

Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of your anti-fraud work?
I REALLY enjoy traveling internationally. I love the whole process of researching and planning the trip almost as much as I like the actual vacation! I recently toured Switzerland; highlights were Wengen, Montreux and Lucerne (soooo beautiful!). Past destinations include Ireland, Scotland, England, France, Italy, Germany, Austria, Vienna and Japan. See … now you got me thinking of my next trip!