The Role of Forensic Accounting in Terrorism
Terrorists must move money around to fund their activities. These movements are usually small amounts that are hard to detect and follow. Forensic accountants are trained in techniques to uncover and piece together the small details that, when taken together, provide evidence of criminal activity. Their special skills are needed to follow the money trail left by terrorists that help document terrorist activity.
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Forensic Accounting
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According to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, "What the use of fingerprints was to the 19th century, and DNA analysis was to the 20th century, so financial information and forensic accounting has come to be one of today's most powerful investigative and intelligence tools available in the fight against crime and terrorism." Forensic accountants are financial detectives that are increasingly being used by law enforcement and intelligence agencies to uncover, track and document terrorist activities.
Terrorist Activities
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News reports following the Sept. 11 attacks described how terrorists used the international banking system to finance their activities. Law enforcement agencies need to understand how financial information can provide clues as to future threats. Forensic accountants satisfy this need. Wherever terrorist cells are operating, they need funds, and if the use of these funds can be tracked and analyzed, law enforcement will have indications of what they are doing and planning.
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Law Enforcement
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The FBI, Justice Department, Homeland Security Department, and state and local law enforcement agencies are increasingly using forensic accounting to investigate financial and white-collar crimes as well as terrorist activities. There have been cases of phony charities acting as fronts for terrorists, collecting money and diverting it to the terrorist groups. This is an example of the type of activity that forensic accountants can uncover and stop.
Tools Of The Trade
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Forensic accountants use technology extensively for data mining and special programs such as Audit Command Language (ACL) for running Benford's Law tests on data. These techniques identify anomalies in data that can then be further investigated. Forensic accountants can find the proverbial needle in a hay stack using these techniques and piece together minute details that tell the story of what they are investigating.
Training
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As the need for forensic accountants grows and the field becomes more popular, academic programs at universities are becoming more specialized and rigorous. Also, there are many continuing education and certificate programs becoming available. As the field evolves, it will become even more technical and scientific. Forensic accounting holds great promise for law enforcement and the war on terrorism.
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