Wells - Im a fraud, youre a fraud: the fables, follies, and foibles of a fraud fighter

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Additional Praise for

Fraud Fighter: My Fables and Foibles

Wells memoir is fantastic; the crime fighting is thrilling, but also the story of Dr. Wells life and careers is an entertaining read as it vacillates between slightly notorious to downright legendary. Although the book is primarily a story of the motivations and achievements of one man, it has profound lessons for allnot the least of which is that crime fighters have fun and win in the end.

Sherron Watkins, who helped uncover the Enron fraud and is one of the trio of whistleblowers named Time Magazine s 2002 Persons of the Year

Fasten your seat belt and get set for a wild ride as you take an amazing trip through the life adventures of Joseph Wells. This is a story that only he could tell. You will laugh, cry, feel immense pride, suffer through disappointment, and perhaps even engage in a bit of self-denial when you realize that the fraudster exists in each and every one of us. When all is said and done, my hunch is that you will be more than a little envious of Dr. Wells incredible life and accomplishments.

R. Frank Abel, Past President, Maryland Chapter of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners

Wow. Just wow. It took an enormous amount of personal integrity for Dr. Wells to put these words out there for us to see. And throughout it all, he kept his humor and grace. Fraud Fighter is, at turns, instructive, funny, and vulnerable. We are indebted to Wells for sharing so much of himself.

Janet M. McHard, President, McHard/Accounting/Consulting/LLC

It takes a larger-than-life character to bust characters who would be larger than life. Dr. Wells is one of the good guys, a character with character.

Mark Alimena, Partner, Financial Services, JH Cohn LLP

Will Rogers never met Ross Perot, yet Dr. Wells did. He also met Rudy Guliani and many other famous people. Funny and poignant, Fraud Fighter is classic Wells. Looking into himself, he finds a source of strengthhe knows the window provided into his life will become a mirror, reflecting into our own.

Joel T. Bartow, Director, Program Integrity, Express Scripts

What a great story of personal strife, tragedy, triumph, and love. I saw a lot of myself in Joseph Wells and both liked and disliked what I saw. To me, his story is a testament to the frailty of life and what perseverance and dedication can accomplish regardless of our beginnings. No one is perfect; we are all human and life is filled with good and bad. But Dr. Wells good won out over the bad, and his legacy will live on in one of his greatest gifts to societythe Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. A great read!

Cecil Brasher, Director of Auditing, Union Pacific Corporation

Being an educator and always looking for readings for my Principles of Fraud Examination classroom, the chance to read Dr. Wells autobiography was an opportunity I simply couldnt pass up. From the little I knew of the man, I sensed he had led a colorful life. I had no idea the poverty he overcameyet what he has accomplished! Fraud Fighter: My Fables and Foibles is at times hysterical, unsettling, gloomy, shocking, and illuminating, and makes you a part of the investigative team. It will now become one of my course requirements, as reading it is a great way to gain a historical perspective of both the ACFE organization and its founder.

Linda G. Chase, Associate Professor, Baldwin Wallace College

A terrific read! Joseph Wells takes us on his remarkable and adventurous life journey from childhood, the military, investigating fraud in the public and private sectors, to the beginnings and growth of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. Its all here, the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Ray Cosgrove, IBM Special Investigator (Retired)

After reading Joseph Wells book, I understood what a great personality he embodies. A real man and devoted husband, an FBI agent, a musician, a perceptive entrepreneur who appreciates peoplenot as employees but as human beings and friendsan anti-fraud motivator and creator, an excellent educator and writer; and more. All this is Joseph T. Wells. This book could be a great screenplay for a movie watched by millions.

Dr. Dimiter P. Dinev, Founder and Chairman, The Association for Counteraction to Economic Fraud

As with many publications written by Joseph Wells, his autobiography, Fraud Fighter , is entertaining but also a learning experience. He details many of his attributes in his story for many to recognize as necessary for their own success as fraud examiners: ambition, foresight, compassion, and dedication to the fight against fraud.

George P. Farragher, Managing Director, Forensic Financial Services, BBP Partners, LLP

Joseph Wells is known for his entertaining and enlightening writing and presentations. Now, through his autobiography, he continues to instruct us with compelling and poignant anecdotes of his own life experiences. His revelations teach us it is not where you begin lifes journey, but how you finish.

Elvis B. Foster, President, Elvis B. Foster, PC

Joseph Wells can be compared to Aldous Huxley as a leader of modern thought, an intellectual who explores visual communications and sight related theoriesbut on a different work platform: fraud fighting. As Huxley once said: Facts do not cease to exist just because they are ignored. It will be impossible for the reader to ignore the facts in Dr. Wells fascinating life.

Jerome R. Gardner, Dallas County Fraud Auditor

A magnificent journey of a great mans quest for meaning, the history of his humble beginnings and his tumultuous history. Joseph Wells exposes his childhood, human failings, and professional accomplishments, including his creation of the ACFEa gift to all who fight white-collar crime.

Grace B. Ghezzi, Vice President, Benefit Consulting Group, Inc.

Dr. Wells autobiography should be an inspiration to all of us that an individualany individualcan rise above personal adversity and make a real difference in this world. Fraud Fighter: My Fables and Foibles exposes Wells human side in a way that resonates with the reader. This book is not just for anti-fraud professionals; it is a must read for anyone!

Michael D. Hansen, Internal Audit Manager, Public Employees Retirement Association of New Mexico

I idolize Dr. Wells for his work and contribution to the anti-fraud profession. Fraud Fighter is a brave undertaking, not only full of fraud fighting adventures but filled with human mistakes and failures which make the book all the more interesting. These did not change my opinion of this man; the admiration continues to grow. I thank him for sharing his story.

Beth Jaballas, Supervising Auditor, California State Compensation Insurance Fund

When I was editor-in-chief of the Journal of Accountancy, Dr. Wells was our readers favorite author; he is a natural-born storyteller. Whether talking about himself, his FBI days, or his fraud cases, he will make you blush, sneer, smile, or even laugh out loud. You wouldnt expect less from a man whose life story could be Matt Damons next blockbuster movie.

Colleen Katz, Editor-in-Chief (retired) , Journal of Accountancy

It takes incredible bravery to put your complete life story in black and white for others to read. It takes enormous talent to write that story in your own words and make it compelling. Dr. Wells has both, as readers of his autobiography will undoubtedly agree. The tale of how he became one of the worlds foremost anti-fraud experts is full of unexpected twists and turns that you just have to read for yourself.

Melissa Klein Aguilar, business journalist

The innumerable quotes, quips, case historieseven the occasional song lyricsprovide an enjoyable read by a fantastic writer into the life and accomplishments of an expectedly complex (and unexpectedly humble) Joseph T. Wells.