Case in Point

Each summer I have the opportunity to teach a mini-semester course titled Fraud Examination in the Master of Accountancy program within the Harbert College of Business here at AU.

Coincidentally, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners has recently released their Occupational Fraud 2026: A Report to the Nations, and the FBI has issued an advisory regarding imposter fraud. Given these developments, I thought I’d turn your attention to the topic of fraud this month.

Case in Point – Fraud & Ethics 2025 Stories
When reviewing news stories in this category from 2025, the following emerged as the top five categories

1. Financial Aid Fraud
2. Occupational Fraud
3. Academic Fraud
4. Financial Mismanagement
5. Foreign Funds Related 

1. Corruption
2. Billing
3. Expense Reimbursement
4. Payroll
5. Cash & Non-Cash  

1. Ensure your procurement professionals are aware of the vendor imposter fraud scheme and on high alert for changes to vendor files.
2. Conduct fraud awareness and internal control training at your institution.
3. Pay close attention to Case in Point’s Fraud & Ethics Category each month to monitor trends in this area.

As always, there are many risks that require ongoing attention in higher education. We encourage you to review these areas with a focus on proactive risk management and avoiding the negative headlines.

Jun 12: Colleges hit in cyberattack by group behind Canvas breach, Google says - Cyberattack: Dozens of higher education institutions may have been hit by another attack from the cybercrime group behind the May hack against Canvas, according to the Google Threat Intelligence Group and cybersecurity firm Mandiant.

Jun 07: 174,000 Impacted by Lansing Community College Data Breach - Cyberattack: Lansing Community College (LCC) is notifying over 174,000 people that their personal information was compromised in a data breach more than one year ago.

Jun 01: University of Dallas Data Breach Exposes Social Security Numbers and Health Records - Data Breach: The University of Dallas, a private Catholic university in Irving, Texas, disclosed a data breach so far affecting 7,313 residents of Texas and five residents of Vermont.

Jun 28: Professor denounces mass AI fraud on an exam at Brown University: ‘Academic integrity is at risk’ - Academic Integrity: Professor Roberto Serrano, who is the Harrison S. Kravis University Professor of Economics at Brown University, has detected a massive fraud in one of the classes he teaches, ECON 1170, an advanced undergraduate course in mathematical economics. He has conclusive evidence that at least 50 students cheated on the March midterm exam.

Jun 19: North Carolina woman booked in Omaha for allegedly stealing $560K from Metro Community College - Fraud: A North Carolina woman was booked into Douglas County Corrections on Thursday after she allegedly stole more than half a million dollars from Metro Community College using a fake construction company bank account.

Jun 17: Here’s how much financial aid ‘ghost students’ stole from Utah’s public colleges and universities, auditors found - Student Aid Fraud: So-called "ghost students" stole about $500,000 in financial aid from Utah’s public colleges and universities over the last academic year, according to a state audit released Tuesday.

Jun 15: Camera gear worth $35,000 stolen from Troy bus ahead of MCWS - Theft: Troy's first appearance in the Men's College World Series has produced lots of Kodak moments for the Alabama school. Only Troy's photographers are having to use borrowed equipment to capture them after thieves stole cameras and lenses valued at $35,000 from the team bus.

Jun 03: Education Gov & Politics Baltimore City Community College gave financial aid to ‘ghost students,’ audit finds - Financial Aid Fraud: A state audit shows Baltimore City Community College awarded $264,000 in financial aid to 145 potentially fictitious or "ghost students."

Jun 27: All-women's school Wellesley College responds to accusations of admitting biological male trans students - Title IX: A Title IX complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Education has accused Wellesley College, an all-women's college in Massachusetts, of admitting biological male transgender students.

Jun 23: A student filed a sexual misconduct complaint against Ohio University’s former football coach before his firing - Personnel: A student filed a sexual misconduct complaint against the former Ohio University head football coach shortly before he was fired late last year. This complaint is referenced in the university’s response to a lawsuit brought by the former coach alleging he was wrongfully terminated.

Jun 22: Indiana University professor charged in Newton sexual abuse case - Personnel: An Indiana University professor and doctor is facing charges in connection to a sexual abuse investigation out of Newton.

Jun 16: Shoreline college failed to investigate former Everett teacher, other applicants - Personnel: Shoreline Community College has updated its sexual misconduct disclosure form for job applicants after recent reporting revealed the college failed to implement a 2020 state law meant to prohibit teachers accused of sexual misconduct from being hired.

Jun 10: DOJ accuses UC Davis medical school of illegally using race in admissions - Title VI: The U.S. Department of Justice on Wednesday alleged that the University of California, Davis’ medical school violated civil rights law by adopting "admissions practices with the express purpose of circumventing" the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 decision banning race-conscious admissions.

Jun 09: Durham College employee accused of luring 2 young girls on Snapchat, Reddit - Employee Conduct: A 23-year-old man has been arrested following allegations that he lured two young girls through social media and solicited child sexual abuse material. In a statement to CTV News a spokesperson on behalf of Durham College said the employee who is on contract was placed on leave and is not currently working at the school.

Jun 09: CUNY being investigated for alleged racial bias: Justice Department - Title VI: The largest urban college in the nation, the City University of New York, is being investigated for alleged racial discrimination, the Justice Department announced on Tuesday. The Justice Department’s civil rights division received complaints about the university’s Black Male Initiative.

Jun 08: NCAA appeals temporary injunction allowing Brendan Sorsby to play despite gambling admissions - NCAA Compliance: Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby will be eligible to play next season despite having placed bets on his own team after a Texas state court on Monday granted a temporary injunction in his lawsuit against the NCAA.

Jun 05: Sports betting integrity violations involving 4 men’s basketball student-athletes occurred at Alabama State - NCAA Compliance: Sports betting integrity violations occurred in the Alabama State men's basketball program when former men's basketball student-athletes engaged in game manipulation for sports betting reasons, according to an agreement released by a Division I Committee on Infractions panel.

Jun 04: Trump Administration Probes 15 Medical Schools Over Admissions Policy - Title VI: The ⁠U.S. Justice ⁠Department said on Thursday ​it had opened civil rights ‌investigations into 15 medical ‌schools examining ⁠potential ⁠race discrimination over their alleged use of ​race in admissions.

Jun 04: ASU DEI investigation: University denies allegations amid federal probe - Title VI: The U.S. Justice Department has launched an investigation into Arizona State University over its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices. The probe comes in the wake of undercover videos posted by the group "Accuracy In Media."

Jun 03: Ohio State University reaches $100 million settlement in sex abuse lawsuits - Settlement: Ohio State University has agreed to pay $100 million in damages to 279 former students who said a campus doctor sexually assaulted them decades ago. Just one of the former students who were part of five active federal lawsuits against Ohio State did not sign on to the agreement, the university and the lawyers for the accusers said in a statement.

Jun 01: Parents of 2-year-old sue for $10M after alleged abuse at SUNY Cortland day care center - Lawsuit: Parents of a 2-year-old who was allegedly abused at a daycare center at SUNY Cortland are now suing the state for $10 million. The lawsuit comes after four employees of the SUNY Cortland Child Care Center were arrested in late April and early May.

Jun 01: Ousted Highlands president sues university, alleging retaliation for refusing to redirect state funds - Lawsuit: The ousted president of New Mexico Highlands University has filed a lawsuit against the school, alleging he was terminated as retaliation for refusing to comply with what he said were "illegal orders" from the Board of Regents.

Jun 01: UNL custodian charged with sexually assaulting disabled coworker on campus - Employee Conduct: A University of Nebraska-Lincoln custodian was accused of sexually abusing a disabled worker on campus. University of Nebraska-Lincoln police were called to the Selleck Quad Dining Center in relation to a sexual assault that occurred on May 8.

Jun 01: Investigation finds pattern of sexual abuse by former Notre Dame rector - Employee Conduct: The University of Notre Dame on Thursday released the findings of an external investigation that found instances of sexual abuse and a pattern of predatory behavior by former Zahm Hall Rector Rev. Thomas King during his time at the university and while teaching at Holy Cross College.

Jun 01: In $475K settlement, Oregon State University works to improve blind student experiences - ADA Compliance: Oregon State University has agreed to pay $475,000 as part of a settlement with a blind student and the National Federation of the Blind. The claim asserted that STEM course material wasn’t provided to the student in a timely or accurate manner.

Jun 26: University of Michigan Regent Jordan Acker apologizes after investigation confirms "lewd" messages were real - Leadership: An independent investigation initiated by the University of Michigan into "lewd" messages allegedly made by Regent Jordan Acker in a Slack channel has confirmed the authenticity of the comments. In April, The Guardian reported that Acker made "obscene sexual comments about a Democratic strategist" in 2020 and 2021.

Jun 23: Family of Toledo teen sues Wilberforce University after alleged hazing death - Hazing: The family of Savanna Jones, an 18-year-old from Toledo and a Scott High School graduate, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Wilberforce University after her death, which the lawsuit alleges followed a campus hazing ritual. The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in Greene County Common Pleas Court. It names Wilberforce University, its director of housing and residence life, a student and unidentified defendants.

Jun 23: San José State Professor Fired Over Campus Gaza Protests to Win Back Job - Campus Speech: San José State University must reinstate Sang Hea Kil, a professor fired for actions related to pro-Palestinian activism, with full back pay after an arbitrator on Monday decided the school went too far with its sanctions. The move ends a two-year institutional standoff and represents a significant win for Kil and her advocates.

Jun 17: UWPD arrest Madison man accused of trying to sexually assault University Hospital employee - Threat: Police arrested a 43-year-old Madison man accused of carrying around a knife and trying to sexually assault a University Hospital employee, UW-Madison Police Department said Wednesday. UWPD officers received a report about a person with a knife around 8:40 a.m. Wednesday at University Hospital.

Jun 15: NYU fraternity suspended following allegations of sexual assault, hazing - Hazing: NYU’s chapter of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity has been temporarily suspended amid an ongoing investigation into sexual harassment, hazing and antisemitism allegations.

Jun 14: Summer camp staffer arrested in alleged sexual assault of child at UC Berkeley dorm, authorities say - Minors on Campus: A 27-year-old summer camp staff member is in custody, accused of sexually assaulting a child under the age of 14 inside a UC Berkeley residence hall over the weekend. According to UC Berkeley Police, the alleged assault took place overnight Saturday during an overnight summer camp program being held on campus.

Jun 10: Feds charge 8 pro-Palestinian activists with conspiring to intimidate University of Michigan officials - Threat: Federal prosecutors unsealed an indictment Wednesday against eight pro-Palestinian activists who are accused of conspiring to run a criminal intimidation campaign against University of Michigan officials while trying to force the school to cut financial ties to Israel.

Jun 09: WWU student arrested for possession of and dealing in depictions of minors engaged in sexually explicit conduct - CSAM: A 20-year-old Western Washington University student was arrested by law enforcement in Bellingham following a CyberTip investigation into the upload of sexually explicit media involving minors. Forensic analysis and records from the internet service provider linked the uploads to wireless internet access points and a student profile at Nash Hall, a dormitory located at Western Washington University.

Jun 09: Bomb threat prompts Hayward Field evacuation ahead of NCAA meet - Threat: The University of Oregon issued an alert to evacuate Hayward Field due to a bomb threat Tuesday, June 9. The 2026 NCAA outdoor track and field championships are scheduled to begin at Hayward Field on Wednesday.

Jun 04: Alleged voyeur arrested at University of Sask. convocation - Voyeurism: A man who allegedly took inappropriate photos of women without their consent at a University of Saskatchewan convocation ceremony has been charged with voyeurism.

Jun 03: Man Charged With Hate Crimes Over Swastika Flag Flown on N.Y.U. Campus - Hate Crime: A man was arrested on Tuesday in relation to an episode during New York University’s graduation celebrations in which a flag with two swastikas and a Star of David flew above a campus building, according to court documents.

Jun 01: Recent Cornell grad banned from campus after he said university president ran over his foot - Campus Ban: The Cornell University Police Department (CUPD) issued a one-year campus ban last week to a former student who says the university’s president injured him when he backed his car into another student.

Jun 01: Officials: Southwest Texas College student dead, another injured after 'incident' at Uvalde campus - Death: Southwest Texas College officials said an incident involving two students in the Powerline Technology program and a bucket truck on the Uvalde campus "resulted in the death of one student and injuries to another," according to a statement released by the college president.

Jun 05: NC State cleared to tear down Poe Hall after toxic chemical discovery - Physical Campus: North Carolina State University says it has received approval to move forward with plans to tear down Poe Hall, a campus building that has been closed for over two years follow the discovery of toxic chemicals.