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WHO: The College of Business at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and the Internal Revenue Service

WHAT: Financial “Who-dun-it”

WHEN: Friday, February 29, from 3-4 p.m.

WHERE: Corpus Christi Hall, Room 110, at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – The College of Business at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and the Internal Revenue Service will give students the opportunity to solve white-collar crimes during a financial “Who-dun-it” Friday, Feb. 29, from 3-4 p.m. on the University campus beginning in Corpus Christi Hall, Room 110.

Twenty-four students of various majors will participate in the mock investigation, which is similar to a dinner theater mystery, but revolves around financial crimes instead of murder. The students will be supervised by special agents from the IRS Criminal Investigation Division. They will work in groups throughout the afternoon to solve different crimes such as tax evasion, identity theft and money laundering.

“This is a groundbreaking program, especially for this region because this program is the only one currently held in the state of Texas,” said Dr. Valrie Chambers, associate professor with the University’s College of Business. “Students will not only learn about this important emerging field, but will also learn more about their own personal aptitudes and interests and if they can really do this for a living.”

The program is designed to interest capable students in the field of criminal investigation through hands-on simulations. This is the fifth year the College of Business has conducted the exercise in which the young detectives interview witnesses, tail suspects, execute search warrants, go “dumpster-diving and analyze financial records.

According to Chambers, finance majors learn that their future accounting careers are not limited to working at a desk and criminal justice majors learn that accounting knowledge can enhance their investigative skills.

“Because most crimes involve money, there is a demand for financial cops with calculators,” Chambers said. “If these students were working in the real world, the evidence they gather would be used in federal court to prosecute the individuals they are investigating on felony charges.”