Justice For Fraud Victims

We want to take a moment to express our sincere gratitude to several key individuals who played a crucial role in supporting our forensic efforts on the Candace Craig Case in Prince George's County. Their expertise, dedication, and collaboration made a significant impact on the case. We are especially grateful to Captain Bellino, who set us on the right path by referring the case to us when the State’s Attorney’s Office sought potential leads. His trust and insight were invaluable in getting this investigation started. A huge thank you as well to Julia K. Hall for recognizing our work and giving JFV a shoutout in the post trial press conference video (https://lnkd.in/eQY3uc9Y), helping to highlight the importance of this case. We also want to acknowledge Assistant State’s Attorney Shauna Coleman for her patience and for giving us this opportunity. Her guidance made all the difference throughout the process. Detective Taylor was a key part of our discussions, joining our Zoom meetings to review our findings. We truly appreciate his patience, cooperation, and valuable input. We also want to thank Sam Handwerger for his dedication to the case, guiding the student investigator, and serving as an expert witness at trial. Finally, a special shoutout to our case group members – Amol Ajmera, Ababakar Sow, Caris Konath, and Jessica Faby – for their dedication and hard work. Their teamwork and commitment to forensic analysis were essential in moving this case forward. We are grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with such outstanding professionals and to take on such an important role in the investigation of the Candace Craig Case.

We are hosting an Interest Meeting on Monday, February 10th, at 7 p.m. in room 1311 of Van Munching Hall! Potential new members are welcome to learn more about our non-profit organization, the types of cases we work on, and who we work with. They will also have the opportunity to meet some current members and the Executive Board. We hope to see some of you there and can't wait to meet everyone! Please direct any questions or concerns to our email ([email protected]) or our Instagram DMs (@justiceforfraudvictims).

We’re incredibly proud to share that the Justice For Fraud Victims Project (JFV) at the University of Maryland has been featured in The Diamondback on December 9th, 2024 (https://www.dbknews.com)! Earlier this year, our team of UMD students worked alongside the Prince George’s County Police Department and the State’s Attorney’s Office, providing free forensic analysis for a high-stakes investigation. Our findings played a pivotal role in the jury trial of a Prince George’s County resident, where the evidence we analyzed helped secure a conviction. From examining bank statements to preparing expert reports used in court, this experience showcases the real-world impact JFV is making—helping law enforcement and supporting victims of financial fraud. We’re grateful to our dedicated members, faculty advisor Samuel Handwerger, and our partners for making this possible. We’re excited to continue serving our community and creating meaningful change as we grow. ?? Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/eT6qFHDK #FraudPrevention #ForensicAccounting #UMD #JusticeForFraudVictims

We are excited to celebrate the successful conclusion of our Fall 2024 client projects! Over the past several months, our consultants and analysts worked with five different clients, providing innovative, data-driven solutions to help our clients achieve their goals. We would love to thank each of our incredible clients this semester–Robotics At Maryland, Heart’s Delight Wine Auction, University of Maryland Public Leadership College Park Scholars Program, Health and Education for All (HAEFA) at UMD, Justice For Fraud Victims–for trusting us with your challenges and allowing us to support your goals. Another huge thank you to Michael Gibson, Joseph Houghton, Lolita Hill, and all of our partners at EY for their endless support throughout the semester and for organizing an amazing celebration at The Greene Turtle. Congratulations to all of our teams on their hard work and success this semester!

?? When Scammers Targeted Our Campus, They Met Their Match. This fall, students in UMD’s Justice for Fraud Victims Project (JFV) uncovered a growing scam targeting job seekers—right from their own phones. As volunteer fraud investigators, we quickly recognized the red flags of “task scams,” a scheme that has cost victims $220M since 2020, according to the FTC. With guidance from Samuel Handwerger, CPA, and real-world experience at the Smith School, we turned a potential threat into an opportunity to protect others. These scams start small, building trust with simple tasks before tricking victims into investing their own funds—often in cryptocurrency—that vanish forever. ?? JFV isn’t just about learning fraud prevention—it’s about taking action to make a difference. Read more about this experience and how we’re staying one step ahead of scammers: https://lnkd.in/ejzA3ZUg #FraudPrevention #JusticeForFraudVictims #UMDSmith #TaskScams #ForensicAccounting

Explaining Court Blockage of the Corporate Transparency Act and its Implications for Smith's Justice for Fraud Victims by Sam Handwerger, CPA.

I am excited to share that I have accepted an offer for T. Rowe Price's 2025 Summer Internship Program in Fund Accounting! I would like to thank my recruiter, Mark Vidmar, for his guidance throughout this process and my interviewers for a rewarding interview experience. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity and am looking forward to learning and growing over the course of this internship!

UMD is proud to announce our highest-ever U.S. News & World Report ranking at No. 44—rising 20 spots since 2020! ?? #FearlesslyUMD | go.umd.edu/usnews2024

Join our virtual event on Monday, November 18th to learn about cyber crimes and investigations with Coinbase,?Colley Intelligence, and CyberArmor representatives!

Join us for an in-person event at VMH 1524 on Wednesday, November 20th at 7 PM to learn about Business Careers in Forensics and Investigations with representatives from BDO, FTI Consulting, KPMG, and Stout! We are so excited to be hosting this event. Pizza will be provided at the panel so please come by to listen and ask any questions!