From fake influencers selling junk, to get-rich quick schemes, to nonsense conspiracy theories, exaggerated claims, and lies being spread online, all kinds of B.S. continues being spread...

Pick any topic and Help Me Answer: Is (that) real/true or is it fake/lie?

People believe things simply because it ‘makes sense’ to them, or because of how ‘they feel’ while the real evidence and science are completely discarded. We are being taken advantage of and our minds are being manipulated because we simply don’t know it’s happening.

Our country is so divided right now, we simply don’t seem to agree on anything anymore, and I think that all begins with our inability to distinguish what is real from what is fake; what is evidence from what is opinion; what is true from what is manipulation.

I teach a class on the cognitive influences of how persuasion and deception affect our decision-making. My background as a military officer, as an FBI Agent, working for the CIA and the Intelligence Community, as well as starting a fraud investigations and research agency right here at USF motivates me to do something truly unique to battle this problem, and I need YOU to help me do it.

In this internship program, Dr. FraudHunter will train you, utilizing his unique expertise, experiences in both academic and real-world settings to turn you into a FraudHunter!

How it works

You Investigate and Present Your Case

We showcase our results on our online web series

Investigate the Case and Present Results

You will conduct research and investigation to collect evidence to support your group's response. You can reach out to experts, consult professors, meet people involved. When you are satisfied, you will make a presentation (of your choosing) arguing your case.

Online Videos and Podcast

From beginning to end, we will be filming ourselves and your group in how the case is progressing. In the end, the entire process culminates into our very own web series of videos and podcast filmed right here at USF and published across YouTube, Tiktok, and other social media sites.

Form Case Groups and Select Topic of Interest

Based on your interests and experiences, we will form groups that will decide what subject or topic will become the case to study. The "Blue Team" will argue for it being 'True' and the "Red Team" will argue for it being 'False'. Best team wins.

Who are we looking for?

All Majors, All Graduation Years, All Experience Levels

Smart, creative, self-driven and motivated people eager to take on a new challenge

A very diverse and broad set of interests and experiences to capture as many different points of view as possible

Examples of some needed tasks, majors, experiences:

Content Creators, Writers, Social Media Engagement

Videographers, Video Creators, Producers, Video Editors, Sound & Music

Engineers, Computer Science, Site Creators, Programmers, Software

Artists, Cartoonist, Musicians, Designers

Aspiring Lawyers, Investigators

Business, Marketing, Financial Analysis, Entrepreneurs, Startups, Accounting

Educators, Journalists, Historians, Communications

Psychology, Behavioral, Social Sciences

And MANY, MANY MORE...

What will this look like?

I want this to be a unique and creative experience.

You get to choose the subjects, decide the content and how to present it.

You can make it into whatever you want it to be.

Ideally, we want to make it as engaging as possible (and have a little fun along the way).

So here's an example of how I chose (a different way) to present an idea...

We, potential Adjunct Professors, were asked by the Department to make a presentation to describe our class to potential students. They brought PowerPoints... I showed this:

Frequently asked questions

Who can apply for this internship?

All USF students, of any major, any experience level; freshmen to graduate students. From engineers to art majors, video makers to lawyers, actors to authors, we need a broad and diverse group of many different talents, experiences and points of view.

Where do we meet? In-person, online?

Both in-person and online. I will hold an in-person "office hours" on-campus (USF Research Park) for a few hours every Wednesday, for us all to meet, learn some applicable subjects, organize, answer questions, record our progress, etc. The rest of the time will be online with your specific groups or all together. We will remain very flexible, especially around exams.

Who is the best candidate for this internship?

One who is self-driven, motivated, and ready to take on a new challenge. The success of our pursuit depends on your level of effort and enthusiasm. If you have a bad attitude, negative demeanor, are easily offended, an arrogant ideologue, or need constant direction, then this is NOT for you! No drama here.

Is this a Paid Internship?

Nope. This is an UNPAID volunteer-only internship program, that is very similar to how a student group operates. That said, this will be a unique experience that will make your resume standout from the rest - and I will help champion you in your job search.

What is the commitment expected of an intern?

This is a very flexible opportunity. You decide your level of involvement, and we can find a way to make it work for you. Some people might want to do more, others less; and plans may change based on exams, etc. It’s entirely up to you. That said, once you agree to do something, you are expected to fulfill it. We will work as a team, and need to count on each other. You will be expected to participate as agreed, and take part in our weekly in-person sessions.

Why should I join this internship?

This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I'm going to share training that I received at the FBI, CIA, the military and others, combined with my academic research into cognitive influences over decision-making, deception and persuasion. You will learn how your mind's basic operating system works, and will see how persuasion and deception work all around us. During this program, you will gain insight that will change the way you see the world from this point on. Are you ready?

Are You Ready?

If you believe this is for you, and want to know more, you need to follow these steps (exactly as described).

1. Send an email to: ApplyDrFraudHunterIntern@gmail.com

2. In that email, include:

   Your Name, Graduation Year, Major

3. Attach a Resume

4. Attach a short video describing:

   • Why do you want to join this internship?

   • What topics and subjects do you want to investigate?

   • What skills, talents, or experiences make you a good fit?

   • Anything else of interest you want to share.

If selected, you will be contacted to participate in a short interview and introductory presentation at our on-campus location (USF Research Park) that describes the program in more detail, answers questions, and ensure you truly are ready...

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please email them to:

ApplyDrFraudHunterIntern@gmail.com

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