Online Fraud Investigation & Forensic Accounting Courses

This course will provide students with a basic understanding of white collar crime including defining white collar crime, fraud, the fraud triangle, principle types of fraud, causes of white collar crime, theoretical underpinnings of crime causation, and noted theorists in the field. 3 credits

This course will engage students in the study of: fraudulent behaviors, individual and organizational ethical processes, fraud prevention programs and tools, and fraudulent activities. Students will study theories related to the criminogenic organization and learn how fraud prevention programs and establishing ethical corporate cultures can reduce the likelihood of criminal behaviors. Assignments will challenge students to link material covered with a historic case. 3 credits

This course examines financial and cyber-crimes through the dual lenses of psychology and criminology. Students will learn how various mental health issues and personality disorders (including psychopathy) alter the motivations and behavioral manifestations of certain criminal enterprises. Students will also apply various criminology concepts to these crimes and consider the ways in which law enforcement and rehabilitation are affected by these varied theoretical considerations.

This course will engage students in the study of the history of the development of the criminal rules of evidence and describe their purpose and goals. Students will study theories related to the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights in order to understand how they are designed to protect individual rights. The student will also be exposed to select Federal Rules of Evidence and their applicability to the goal of obtaining relevant, reliable and competent evidence for use at trial. The assignments will challenge students to research, analyze and understand the criminal justice system and will advise on how to properly obtain and protect evidence to enable the prosecutor to prove guilt of the party. 3 credits

This course will provide students the opportunity to develop a solid understanding of accounting terminology and theory, accounting and business processes, types and purposes of financial statements, processes for analyzing financial statements, detecting financial statement fraud, identifying fraudulent financial transactions, exploring types of financial fraud schemes, calculating economic damages, and life style analysis. 3 credits

This course will provide students with a basic understanding of the field of auditing and its relation to the detection and investigation of fraud, procedures employed during a fraud audit, document analysis, internal controls and their impact on fraud; the risk management assessment process as it relates to fraud, and report writing for fraud. 3 credits

This course offers a theoretical and hands-on examination of the complexities of cybercrime and the difficulty of investigating and prosecuting cybercrime cases. Students will understand cybercriminals and the science of social media. Students will evaluate methods to protect organizational and personal data from cybercrime. Finally, students will develop an understanding of the national U.S. and international law regulating cyber activity, and understand the complexities of compliance. 3 credits

This course covers fraud investigations including the steps in an investigation and key considerations. Topics include: when and why to call in forensic accounting investigators; teaming with forensic investigators; anonymous communications; covert operations; gathering and documenting evidence; potential missteps when fraud is suspected; sources of information; investigation techniques; the interview and interrogation process; report writing; supporting a criminal prosecution; working with attorneys; and the fraud examination checklist. 4 credits

This course examines financial and cyber-crimes through the dual lenses of psychology and criminology. Students will learn how various mental health issues and personality disorders (including psychopathy) alter the motivations and behavioral manifestations of certain criminal enterprises. Students will also apply various criminology concepts to these crimes and consider the ways in which law enforcement and rehabilitation are affected by these varied theoretical considerations.

This graduate-level course provides an in-depth exploration of advanced criminological theories, focusing on the evolution, application, and critique of contemporary models of crime and deviance. Through critical analysis and discussion, students will evaluate the strengths and limitations of various theoretical models, assess their applicability to diverse populations, and explore how social, political, and economic factors influence crime trends and criminal behavior. The course also considers how theories of crime intersect with issues of race, class, gender, and mental health

This course will examine the development and structure of the criminal justice system, including police, courts, and corrections. Topics will include the history, present status, and possible reform solutions for the criminal justice system. Students will formulate policy solution strategies to address the issues that are identified in each branch of the criminal justice system.

This course will build upon the threats and technologies introduced in Cybercrime (MFF-730) as well as introduce more technical topics. The course provides students with a more thorough understanding of important topics such as encryption, obfuscation, virtual currency, preparing for online investigations. Students will also be introduced to the dark web and sources for discovering sites as well as security precautions they should take. Additionally, the class will introduce intelligence and analysis topics such as link analysis, clear net, and dark targeting methodologies. The class will be online with hands-on exercises.

This course builds off of topics covered in MFF-730 and MFF-741. Students will leverage the following techniques: anonymizing oneself, analytic targeting, intelligence methodologies and data analysis. Students will identify targets and safely navigate to forums and marketplaces of interest. The course will consist of a capstone event at the National Cyber-Forensics and Training Alliance located in Pittsburgh, PA. As such, students MUST attend the 2-day onsite portion to successfully complete the course.