Crystal K. Kinzel Combats Fraud as a Fraud Week Ambassador

11/12/2023

Collier County – As a member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) Law Enforcement and Government Alliance Program, Collier County Clerk Crystal K. Kinzel is honored to be one of the Fraud Week Ambassadors for this year’s International Fraud Awareness Week from November 12-18, 2023. The ACFE, the world’s largest anti-fraud organization and premier provider of anti-fraud training and education, sponsors this annual effort to encourage community education and initiatives to raise awareness of fraud.

“With increasing use of technology and artificial intelligence, it is even more important for us to stay on top of new threats to protect our community.  We are proud to work closely with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, the State Attorney’s Office, and Collier County Staff to protect our residents and taxpayers from fraud and abuse,” said Clerk Crystal K. Kinzel.

Organizations and individuals lose trillions of dollars every year to various forms of fraud, primarily because they may not be educated on fraudsters’ tactics, or they don’t set the necessary measures in place to safeguard themselves against scams. With a belief that education is the most important way that our community can prevent fraud, the Clerk’s office has an extensive outreach program, providing guest speakers, educational newsletters, and a complimentary Risk Alert notification system that helps property owners monitor their records.

In conjunction with the ACFE, the Clerk’s office issued a primer on occupational fraud, entitled “How to be a Fraud Fighter.” The Office of Inspector General includes a Certified Fraud Examiner to fight occupational fraud which might target County coffers. The CFE designation is awarded by the ACFE to trained professionals who possess diverse skills in preventing, detecting and investigating fraud, such as:

  • Knowledge of complex financial transactions
  • Understanding of investigative techniques and legal issues
  • Ability to resolve allegations of fraud
  • Design of effective anti-fraud programs

For more information about increasing awareness and reducing the risk of fraud during International Fraud Awareness Week, explore resources offered by the Collier County Office of Inspector General at CollierClerk.com/inspector-general or visit FraudWeek.com.

About the Collier County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller

Crystal K. Kinzel, the current Collier County Clerk and Comptroller, is an independently elected constitutional officer responsible for safeguarding public funds and protecting public records. Her office of 200 people manages Collier County residents’ documents including marriage licenses, passports, real estate transactions, tax deed sales, and more. They are committed to improving their office and services to allow more accessibility of information and resources for the public.

For more information, visit www.collierclerk.com