Role Summary:As a Fraud Investigator, you'll play a critical role in protecting APGFCU, our members, and our communities from financial fraud and criminal activity. You'll investigate suspicious activity, identify emerging fraud trends, collaborate with internal and external partners, and take swift action to mitigate losses and protect member accounts. You'll also support APGFCU's compliance with applicable regulations by identifying and escalating suspicious activity, maintaining investigative documentation, and helping safeguard the organization from operational and financial risk. Success in this role comes from combining strong analytical skills, sound judgment, attention to detail, and a passion for helping people navigate challenging situations with professionalism and empathy.
Key Responsibilities:- Investigate Fraud and Financial Crimes (40%): Conduct investigations involving account takeover, identity theft, check fraud, ACH fraud, card fraud, wire fraud, new account fraud, loan fraud, elder financial exploitation, deceased member fraud, and other suspicious activities. Document findings, preserve evidence, and maintain accurate case records. Recognize, investigate, document, and report suspected Elder Financial Exploitation in accordance with established procedures and applicable reporting requirements.
- Detect and Prevent Fraud Losses (20%): Analyze alerts, reports, surveillance footage, call recordings, wire requests, fraud detection tools, and transactional activity to identify risks and take timely action to prevent or minimize losses.
- Member and Internal Partner Support (15%): Serve as a trusted resource for branch staff, contact center teams, and members by answering fraud-related inquiries, providing guidance, educating on fraud trends, and assisting with fraud claim investigations.
- Collaborate with Internal and External Partners (10%): Work closely with business units, law enforcement agencies, financial institutions, merchants, insurance providers, and industry partners to investigate cases, recover losses, support prosecution efforts when appropriate, and facilitate recovery opportunities.
- Maintain Documentation and Regulatory Compliance (10%): Prepare investigative reports, subpoenas, evidence packages, police reports, and other required documentation while ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, and procedures. Monitor fraud losses, support recovery efforts, coordinate funds owed to the credit union, and assist with insurance loss reporting when appropriate. Maintain the confidentiality and security of member, employee, investigative, and organizational information in accordance with APGFCU policies and legal requirements.
- Monitor Trends and Recommend Improvements (3%): Identify emerging fraud patterns and provide recommendations to leadership regarding fraud prevention strategies, operational improvements, and risk mitigation efforts.
- Perform Additional Responsibilities (2%): Participate in special projects, cross-functional initiatives, training activities, and other duties that support department and organizational objectives.
- Physical Demands: Most of your time will be spent working at a computer, reviewing transactions and investigative materials, participating in meetings, and collaborating with colleagues and external partners. Occasionally, you may travel to branch and offsite locations, review physical evidence, respond to security-related situations, and move materials weighing up to 50 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential responsibilities of the role.
A Typical Day in the Role:- Review fraud-monitoring reports, alerts, automated detection systems, and case queues to identify emerging risks and take timely action.
- Investigate member disputes, account takeover attempts, identity theft claims, and other fraud-related incidents.
- Communicate with members, branch employees, law enforcement agencies, and financial institutions regarding active investigations.
- Analyze account activity, surveillance footage, phone recordings, wire requests, and transactional records to determine appropriate action.
- Prepare Elder Financial Exploitation referrals and suspicious activity reports.
- Document investigative findings, prepare case narratives, and maintain accurate records within case management systems.
- Monitor emerging fraud trends and share education, guidance, and recommendations with internal stakeholders.
- Respond to subpoenas, requests for information, and evidence collection needs while meeting required deadlines.
- Balance planned investigative work with urgent fraud incidents that require immediate review and resolution.
Additional: Responsible for completion of applicable training and compliance on federal regulations and APGFCU policies and procedures as related to the duties of this position (Bank Secrecy Act, Information Security as examples, if applicable).
Qualifications:- Relevant Experience and Education: High school diploma or equivalent required. Associate degree in Criminal Justice, Business, Finance, Security, or a related field preferred. An equivalent combination of education, professional certifications, and directly related experience may be considered. Two to five years of experience in fraud prevention, fraud investigations, financial institution security, risk management, banking operations, or a related field.
- Fraud and Investigative Knowledge: Experience investigating financial crimes, identifying suspicious activity, and working with fraud detection systems, case management tools, financial institution processes, and applicable regulatory requirements. Knowledge of fraud trends and financial institution regulations is preferred.
- Problem-Solving Mindset: Strong analytical and critical thinking skills with the ability to evaluate information, identify risks, and make sound decisions under pressure.
- Integrity and Confidentiality: Demonstrated ability to handle highly sensitive member, employee, and organizational information with discretion while maintaining confidentiality and exercising sound judgment in accordance with APGFCU policies, regulatory requirements, and legal standards.
- Comfort with Tools and Technology: Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and the ability to learn and effectively use fraud monitoring, surveillance, core processing, and investigative systems.
- Ability to Work Independently: Able to manage multiple investigations simultaneously, prioritize workload, and meet deadlines with minimal supervision.
- Adaptability and Flexibility: Comfortable responding to changing fraud trends, evolving regulations, and time-sensitive situations in a fast-paced environment.
- Attention to Detail: Demonstrated ability to thoroughly review information, detect inconsistencies, maintain accurate documentation, and preserve evidence integrity.
- Communication and Relationship Building: Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to interact professionally and effectively with members, employees, law enforcement agencies, and external partners.
What Success Looks Like: - Protects Members and APGFCU: Consistently identifies, investigates, and mitigates fraud risks while minimizing financial losses and protecting member relationships.
- Delivers High-Quality Investigations: Completes thorough, accurate, and well-documented investigations that support sound business and legal decisions.
- Makes Timely Decisions: Balances risk, member experience, and operational priorities to take effective action when fraud concerns arise.
- Builds Strong Partnerships: Establishes trusted relationships with internal teams, law enforcement agencies, and external partners to support successful investigations and recovery efforts.
- Maintains Compliance: Ensures investigations, evidence collection, reporting, and case handling activities comply with applicable regulations and organizational standards.
- Contributes to Continuous Improvement: Identifies fraud trends, shares insights, and recommends enhancements to fraud prevention strategies and operational processes.
- Supports Team Success: Collaborates effectively, shares knowledge, and contributes to a positive, solutions-focused team environment.
- Lives Our Values: Demonstrates integrity, accountability, professionalism, and a commitment to delivering exceptional service to members and colleagues.
Compensation: $61,800 - $99,000 annually
Offers are based on experience and education.
APGFCU provides comprehensive benefits such as medical and dental (shared expense), vision, 401(k), life and disability insurance, flexible spending account, employee assistance program, referral program, educational assistance, holidays, annual leave and sick leave.
