Why do so many fraud victims choose to quietly move on rather than pursue criminal charges? In this episode, I explore this frustrating reality with Natalie Lewis, CPA and Certified Fraud Examiner, as we unpack why victims often choose the path of least resistance — and what this means for fraud prevention on a larger scale.

Natalie brings her forensic accounting expertise to our conversation, sharing what it's really like to work massive fraud cases with mountains of discovery and impossibly tight deadlines. We discuss how to stay sane when you're drowning in data, why prioritization and teamwork become your lifeline, and how data analytics can save the day — especially when company turnover threatens to derail an investigation.

If you've ever wondered why we don't see more fraud cases in court or how forensic accountants piece together complex financial crimes, this episode pulls back the curtain on the messy reality of fraud investigation and victim psychology.

Links:

• Connect with Natalie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-lewis-cpa-cff-cfe-a1700514/
• A Primer on Integrating Open Source Intelligence in Fraud Investigations: https://www.jsheld.com/insights/articles/a-primer-on-integrating-open-source-intelligence-in-fraud-investigations-a-forensic-accountants-perspective
• Fidelity Investigations - A Comprehensive Guide: https://www.jsheld.com/insights/articles/fidelity-investigations-a-comprehensive-guide-to-successful-claims-outcomes