Forensic Accounting Insights & Resources
Explore the world of forensic accounting through clear, timely, and easy-to-understand articles. From uncovering financial fraud to explaining complex investigations, this site provides resources designed to inform and build trust in the field of forensic accounting.
Explore the blog
Forensic Accounting Articles
The Pitch Deck Problem: When Growth Claims Become Fraud Evidence
August 27, 2026
The Slide Looked Better Than the Bank Account The first clue was not hidden in a back alley. It was sitting in the presentation deck. A founder told investors the business was growing. The revenue looked stronger than it was. The profits looked better than the records supported. The bank balance, according to prosecutors, was
read the article
The Ghost Student Trail: When Aid Refunds Hit the Wrong Account
August 25, 2026
The Deposit That Should Not Be There The case starts with a quiet line on a bank statement. A refund lands by ACH. The descriptor looks educational. The account receiving it does not look like a student account. There is no tuition history, no ordinary school-related activity, no sensible business purpose. Then the money moves
read the article
The Receipt Said Computer Equipment. It Was a Gift Card.
August 20, 2026
The receipt looked fine. It had a vendor name. A date. An amount. A description that would not raise many eyebrows inside an IT department. Uninterruptible power supply units. Battery backups. The kind of equipment a nonprofit’s technology director might reasonably buy. Except that was not what he bought. According to federal prosecutors, the actual
read the article
When the Fraudster Does Not Need Your Password: The Risk of Unauthorized Bank Debits
August 18, 2026
The debit does not look like a crime scene. It looks like a vendor charge. Maybe a marketing fee. Maybe a software subscription someone forgot to cancel. The amount is not outrageous. The name is vague, but not alarming. So it sits there. That is the danger. On July 20, 2026, the U.S. Department of
read the article
The Ride That Never Happened
August 13, 2026
Fraud does not always start with a fake business. Sometimes the business is real. The phone number works. The vehicles exist. The customers know the name. The paperwork looks ordinary enough to pass through the system without raising its hand. That is the uncomfortable part. In a recent case out of the Eastern District of
read the article
When Check Fraud Hides in Plain Sight: Lessons from the EagleBank Case
August 11, 2026
Some fraud kicks the door in. Check fraud usually does not. It waits in the daily paperwork. It hides between deposits, transfers, overdrafts, and explanations that sound reasonable enough in the moment. One delay becomes two. One exception becomes a habit. Before long, the numbers are telling a story nobody has stopped to read. That
read the article
“I follow the money, interpret the evidence, and explain it in plain language. That’s how fraud gets found and trust gets rebuilt.”
who is brandy derrick?
Practical articles and financial investigations explained by Brandy Derrick.
Brandy Derrick has over six years of experience in financial investigations, with a proven track record of supporting more than 30 investigations through detailed financial analysis. She has authored 50+ articles and case notes, making complex accounting concepts easy to understand for professionals and the public alike.
Contact Brandy
stay informed
Subscribe to Brandy’s Newsletter
Get the latest forensic accounting articles, fraud insights, and investigation resources delivered straight to your inbox. Stay ahead with clear, timely updates you can trust.
