Construction Fraud: From Detection to Prevention
DISCLAIMER
Before purchasing, review the rules of your licensing or certifying entity. It is your responsibility to confirm this course meets your CE requirements. See the credit tab on the course page for details.
What’s Included: Full webinar recording, written course materials, expert instruction, a mandatory quiz, and a certificate upon completion.
Deliverability Timeline: All courses are generally available within 1-2 weeks after the live presentation.
CE Credits: AIA and/or LA/CES accreditation is available by request for courses recorded prior to March 11, 2026. All courses after that date include those accreditations by default, if applicable. With these accreditations, our courses qualify for credit in nearly all states for engineers, surveyors, architects, and landscape architects.
Learn more about the on-demand format in our FAQ or contact us at (715) 835-5900 or customerservice@halfmoonseminars.org
Agenda
Webinar instructions will be emailed before the date of the webinar.
Log into Webinar
8:30 – 9:00 am CST
Morning Session
9:00 am – 12:15 pm CST
Break
12:15 – 12:45 pm CST
Afternoon Session
12:45 – 5:00 pm CST
Presented by Melissa Goddard, CFE CCA CCP CRIS CICA PI
Introduction to Fraud
Defining fraud
The fraud triangle (opportunity, pressure, rationalization)
Red flags of fraud
Construction Fraud Schemes
Fraud schemes common to the construction industry
Discussion about the different phases of construction and learn which fraud schemes are most often perpetrated during those phases
Strategies to proactively mitigate risks during each phase of the project
How fraudsters attempt to manipulate the bidding process to win work
Who Commits Fraud and Why
Types of individuals involved in construction projects
• General contractor, subcontractors, government officials, inspectors, procurement specialists
Characteristics and behaviors of fraudsters
Learn controls that can be implemented to reduce risk
Where’s the fraudster game
Construction Contracts
Contract and procurement process
Types of contracts
Change orders
Contract clauses as a first line of defense against fraud
Construction contract risks
Construction Fraud Prevention
Practical prevention tips
Fraud investigation tips and warnings
Webinar Instructions
All attendees must log-on through their own email – attendees may not watch together if they wish to earn continuing education credit. HalfMoon Education Inc. must be able to prove attendance if either the attendee or HalfMoon Education Inc. is audited.
Certificates of completion can be downloaded in PDF form upon passing a short quiz. A link to the quiz will be sent to each qualifying attendee immediately after the webinar. The certificate can be downloaded from the Results page of the quiz upon scoring 80% or higher.
Webinars are presented via GoToWebinar, an easy-to-use application that can be run on most systems and tablets. Instructions and login information will be provided in an email sent close to the date of the webinar. It is highly recommended that you download, install and test the application before the webinar begins by clicking on the link in the email.
GoToWebinar App requirements:
Windows 7 – 10 or Mac OSX Mavericks (10.9) – macOS Catalina (10.15)
Web Browser:
The two most recent version of the following browsers:
Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Microsoft Edge
Internet Explorer v11 (or later) with Flash enabled
Internet connection: Minimum of 1Mbps Hardware: 2GB RAM or more
For more information, visit the Support section at www.gotowebinar.com
Credits
Professional Engineers
7.0 PDHs
Architects
7.0 CE Hours
AIA
7.0 no HSW
International Code Council
.7 CEUs (Administration)
Continuing Education Credit Information
This webinar offers 7.0 PDHs to professional engineers in all states and 7.0 continuing education hours to architects in states that allow non-HSW coursework.
HalfMoon Education is an approved continuing education sponsor for engineers in Florida (Provider No. 0004647), Indiana (License No. CE21700059), Maryland, New Jersey (Approval No. 24GP00000700), North Carolina (S-0130), and North Dakota. HalfMoon Education is deemed an approved continuing education sponsor for New York engineers and architects via its registration with the American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System (Regulations of the Commissioner §68.14(i)(2) and §69.6(i)(2)). Other states do not preapprove continuing education providers or courses.
The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System is reviewing this course for LU|Elective approval, which is pending (Sponsor No. J885). Visit www.halfmoonseminars.org for the latest information on this credit.
The International Code Council has approved this course for .7 CEUs in the specialty area of Administration (Preferred Provider No. 1232).
Completion certificates will be awarded to participants who complete this event and earn a passing score (80%) on the quiz that follows the presentation (multiple attempts allowed).
Speakers
Melissa Goddard CFE CCA CCP CRIS CICA PI
Ms. Goddard is the founder and principal of FACT Financial Investigations, LLC, a multi-faceted firm providing financial investigation services to the construction industry. Ms. Goddard’s services include construction auditing, forensic accounting, fraud investigation, litigation support services, and expert witness services with significant expertise in the construction industry. FACT Financial Investigations also provides proactive services such as fraud risk assessments, due diligence investigations, contract review, and internal control review, design and implementation for the construction industry. It also provides specialized training to contractors in accounting and fraud.
Ms. Goddard has focused her career working in accounting and fraud fields with significant expertise in fraud prevention, detection and investigation. She has 30 years of experience in accounting and fraud, and has worked in industry accounting offices in many capacities ranging from staff accountant to CFO. Ms. Goddard has worked in public accounting as well in government accounting and internal audit offices providing accounting, auditing, construction auditing, cost control, forensic accounting, fraud investigation, fraud risk assessments and internal control design and implementation for a variety of businesses. She spends significant time in providing fraud prevention training and services to reduce fraud risk with special focus on not-for-profit, government and construction businesses.
Ms. Goddard’s experience also includes extensive work in the construction industry in a variety of roles performing construction accounting, job costing, work in progress management, cost control, analyses of contracts and auditing of construction projects that have ranged from small remodeling projects to multi-million-dollar projects, as well as performing forensic accounting and litigation support services. Ms. Goddard’s construction expertise was utilized on various types of facilities including: industrial buildings, offices, airports, transportation, sewer facilities, medical complexes, manufacturing, retail, research and development centers, master planned communities, corporate campuses, bank branches, apartments, resorts, warehousing and shipping, and restaurants. Ms. Goddard’s construction expertise has crossed both the public and private sector, including work performed internationally.
AIA Info
AIA Provider Statement:
HalfMoon Education Inc. is a registered provider of AIA-approved continuing education under Provider Number J885. All registered AIA/CES Providers must comply with the AIA Standards for Continuing Education Programs. Any questions or concerns about this provider of learning program may be sent to AIA/CES (cesupport@aia.org or (800) AIA 3837, Option 3).
This learning program is registered with AIA/CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product.
AIA continuing education credit has been reviewed and approved by AIA/CES. Learners must complete the entire learning program to receive continuing education credit. AIA continuing education Learning Units earned upon completion of this course will be reported to AIA/CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for both AIA members and non-AIA members are available upon request.
Course Title: Detecting and Preventing Construction Fraud
Delivery Method: Live Online
Course Description: This course examines common construction fraud schemes, who commits them and why. Learners will be able to recognize them and alert their clients.
Learning Objectives:
Learning Objective 1:
Learners will be able to define fraud and identify the red flags of fraud, in order to detect and stop fraud in construction projects.
Learning Objective 2:
Learners will be able to describe and be on the lookout for fraud schemes that are common during different phases of construction projects.
Learning Objective 3:
Learners will be able to implement controls that will reduce the risk of fraud during design and construction.
Learning Objective 4:
Learners will e able to use well-written contract clauses as a first line of defense against construction fraud.
LUs: 7.0 LU Type: LU|Elective
Prerequisites:Familiarity with construction management
Advance Preparation: None
Program Level: Intermediate
Course Expiration Date: 10/16/2023
Complaint Resolution Policy:
Complaints regarding this course can be emailed to doug@halfmoonseminars.org or by calling (715) 835-5900. A HalfMoon Education representative will respond within 72 hours to resolve the complaint, which will include, but not limited to, access to another CE activity at no or reduced cost or a full or partial refund. Each instance will be resolved on a case-by-case situation.