Public Safety Director's Spotlight - Fraud Awareness Week 2015

 

Fraud Awareness Week 2015

According to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), organizations around the world lose an estimated five percent of their annual revenues to fraud.  A single instance of fraud can be devastating.  Here are some tips from ACFE that your organization can take immediately to lessen your vulnerability to fraud:

1. Be proactive.  Adopt a code of ethics for management and employees.  Evaluate your internal controls for effectiveness and identify areas of the business that are vulnerable to fraud.
2. Establish hiring procedures.  When hiring staff, conduct thorough background investigations.  Check educational, credit and employment history (as permitted by law), as well as references.
3. Train employees in fraud prevention.  Do workers know the warning signs of fraud?  Ensure that staff members know basic fraud prevention techniques.
4. Implement a fraud hotline.  Fraud is still most likely to be detected by a tip.  Providing an anonymous reporting system for your employees, contractors and clients will help uncover more fraud.
5. Increase the perception of detection.  Communicate regularly to staff about anti-fraud policies, ways to report suspicions of misconduct, and the potential consequences (including termination and prosecution) of fraudulent behavior.

For more information about protecting your business from fraud, visit FraudWeek.com.

Upcoming Events

Friday –August 7

William L. Clay Scholarship & Research Fund 30^th Anniversary Celebration, Polish Heritage Center, 1413 North 20^th Street, 6:30 p.m.

The William L. Clay Scholarship and Research Fund (WLCSRF) is celebrating its 30^th anniversary of service to St. Louis area students.  Since the first scholarships were awarded in 1985, WLCSRF has made college a reality for more than 300 students and 100 percent have graduated!  Tickets start at $50.00 per person.  For more information, visit the wlcsrf.org web site.

Every Friday, May –September –Lunchtime Live, Old Post Office Plaza, 801 Locust, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Invite your co-workers to join you at this fun way to spend your lunch hour.  For more information, visit the downtownstl.org web site.

Every Friday –STLive on Washington Avenue, participating venues on Washington Avenue in Downtown St. Louis, 5 p.m.

Great venues.  Great food.  Great music.  Every Friday night all year 'round at various Washington Avenue restaurants.  There is something for everyone to enjoy.  For more information, visit the STLiveMusic page on Facebook.

Saturday –August 8

North Side Community Day, North Side Community School, 3033 N. Euclid Avenue, Noon to 3 p.m.

North Side Community School and Kingsway East Conservation Asociation is hosting a community day for the whole family.  There will be community resource booths, storytelling, food, face painting and 2 p.m. performance of The Black Rep by their Summer Performing Arts program.  Need for info?  Visit the northsidecommunityschool.org web site.

Grub & Groove, Francis Park, Eichelberger & Donovan, 4 to 10 p.m.

Invite your friends and neighbors to join you for a fun event in Francis Park, with all proceeds benefiting the charitable organization Friends of Francis Park.  For all the details visits the stlhills.com web site.

Not Your Granny's BINGO 2015, IBEW Electrician's Union Hall, 5850 Elizabeth Avenue, 6:30 p.m.

Have a great time and help a great cause.  Giving is a Family Tradition (GiFT) is dedicated to helping families that are faced with the hospitalization of their newborn by providing family support and infant care essentials for a safe home environment.  Tickets will be $25 at the door.  Guests are welcome to bring their own food and drinks.  To learn more, visit www.GivingIsaFamilyTradition.org.

Zo! + Carmen Rodgers "Studio Campfire Stories:  Live", Kranzberg Arts Center, 501 North Grand Boulevard, 7 to 9 p.m.

Watch the songs from Zo!'s and Rodgers' albums come alive as these gifted artists tell the colorful stories behind all of the music they play.  For more information, visit http://zo3hree5ive.com.

World Cat Day Open House, Animal House Cat Rescue and AdoptionCenter, 2151 59^th Street, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Animal House Cat Rescue and Adoption Center is celebrating its Fifth Birthday and World Cat Day with an Open House this Saturday.  Stop by for some cake and visit with the many, many cute kittens that are ready for adoption.  For more information, visit the stlcats.org web site.

Sunday –August 9

Mass for Peace and Justice, Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis, 4431 Lindell, 10 a.m.

Sunday, Aug. 9, will mark the one-year anniversary of the events in Ferguson, Missouri, which have mobilized people of all faiths to pray seeking peace and justice in our city, nation, and other areas of world facing troubling situations. To learn more about this event, visit the archstl.org web site.

Diva Dash 5K, The Muny in Forest Park, 8 a.m.

Invite your friends to join you for this fun run in Forest Park.  For more details and to register, visit the divadash5k.com web site.

Free Concert, Benton Park, Arsenal and South Jefferson, 3 to 6 p.m.

Invite your family and friends to join you for the "Praise in the Park Gospel Show." For more details, visit the bentonpark.org web site.

Free Concert, Carondelet Park, 5:30 p.m.

The scheduled performance will be by "Miss Jubilee."  For details about the concerts at Carondelet Park and others that will be held in South St. Louis Square Park, Fanetti Park and Bellerive Park throughout the summer, visit www.carondeletliving.com.

Next Week

Free Concert, Bellerive Park, 5570 S. Broadway, 7 p.m.

The Gateway Ramblers are scheduled to perform on Monday, Aug. 10.  For more information, visit the CarondeletLiving.com website.

Tuesday –August 11

Free Concert, Fanetti Park, Michigan & Ivory, 7 p.m.

The group Aching Hearts is scheduled to perform.  For more information, visit the CarondeletLiving.com web site.

Wednesday –August 12

Every Wednesday –Wednesday Lunch Free Concert Series, Citygarden, 10^th & Market, 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.

Stop by and catch the performance by Joe Mancuso on Wednesday, Aug. 12.  Visit the citygardenstl.org web site for more details.

Save the Date

Aug. 14 – Rhythm and Blues in the Afternoon, 14^th Street Artist Community, 2701 N. 14^th Street, 1 to 2 p.m.

Aug. 14 – Music at the Intersection, Grand Center, 5 p.m.

Aug. 14 – Food Truck Friday, Tower Grove Park, 4 to 8 p.m.

Aug. 14 – Local Social, Central West End, 6 to 9 p.m.

Aug. 15 – Mothers Against Killing March, Grand & Natural Bridge, 7 a.m. to Noon

Aug. 15 – St. Louis African American Artifacts Festival, 14^th Street & St. Louis Avenue, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Aug. 15 – Free Concert, Lafayette Park, 6 to 9 p.m.

Aug. 15 – Barbecue, Watson Terrace Christian Church, 4205 Watson Road at Winnebago, Noon to 7 p.m.

Aug. 15 – Croatian Jr. Tamburitzans of St. Louis Annual Social, St. Joseph's Croatian Church Hall, 2112 S. 12^th Street, 5 to 9 p.m.

Promoting Your Neighborhood Activities

Is there a neighborhood event on the schedule that you would like noted in the Spotlight?  If so, you may email the information about it to me at GrayR@stlouis-mo.gov or to Cathy Smentkowski at smentkowskic@stlouis-mo.gov for consideration. You may also post it on the City's Calendar of Events on the City's web site:  http://stlouis-mo.gov.  The link to submit an event is at the very bottom of the home page.  The listing is free.  I encourage you to take advantage of this free way to promote your event.

Back-to-School Tax Free Weekend

The start of a new school year is almost upon us.  For St. Louis Public Schools, the first day is Monday, Aug. 17.  For students at charter, parochial, and private schools, first days may be different.  Being prepared for the first day can set a positive tone for the entire year.  Those shopping for back-to-school items will get a break this weekend when Missouri hosts its annual tax holiday.  The state's portion of the sales tax will be exempt Friday, Aug. 7 through Sunday, Aug. 9 on purchases such as clothing, school supplies and computers.  Some local governments will be waiving their local sales taxes as well.  So, the discount could be bigger depending on the store's location. For more information, visit http://dor.mo.gov/business/sales/taxholiday/school/ .

Col. Richard Gray

Director of Public Safety

City of St. Louis