Category: Forensic Accounting

The Many Forms of Elder Financial Abuse

American seniors, holding trillions in wealth, are increasingly targeted by fraudulent schemes to separate them from their hard earned savings.  This epidemic of elder financial abuse takes on many forms, including: Predatory Lending, often using reverse mortgage loans Pyramid or Ponzi schemes with promises of unreasonably high returns Internet/Email phishing to obtain access to bank …

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SEC Charges San Diego Duo in Alleged Ponzi Scheme

The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) charged Jonny Ngo, Donato “Mick” Baca, Jr., and NL Technology, LLC with defrauding hundreds of investors by running a Ponzi scheme. A Ponzi scheme is a type of investment fraud that sustains itself by paying claimed returns to existing investors with fresh money from new investors, while also enriching …

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Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2018/10/sec-charges-san-diego-duo-in-alleged-ponzi-scheme/

Alleged Kickback Scheme at Popular Pharmacy

A universal risk to companies that employ individuals and engage outside vendors are vendor billing schemes.  The most recent instance to hit the news is an alleged kickback scheme involving advertising services provided to Rite Aid. The Central Penn Business Journal (“CPBJ”) reports that a former Rite Aid Vice President of Advertising has tentatively agreed …

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Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2018/09/alleged-kickback-scheme-at-popular-pharmacy/

Tax Deduction Available for Ponzi Scheme Related Theft

The current tax season brings some small consolation to victims of Ponzi schemes and certain other financial fraud, with the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) allowing duped investors to obtain partial relief in the form of a theft loss tax deduction.  Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) 165(a) provides that a theft loss incurred in a transaction entered …

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Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2018/03/tax-deduction-available-for-ponzi-scheme-related-theft/

General Cable Settles with SEC and DOJ for $82.3 Million

General Cable Corporation announced that it has entered into a joint settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and Department of Justice (“DOJ”) for a total payment of $82.3 million to address investigations into violations of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”) and separate allegations regarding financial restatements. In 2014, General Cable voluntarily …

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Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2016/12/general-cable-settles-with-sec-and-doj-for-82-3-million/

Monsanto Whistleblower Obtains $22.4 Million SEC Award

The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has awarded $22.4 million to a former Monsanto financial executive, the second-largest whistleblower bounty ever provided. This amount represents the whistleblower’s share of the $80 million penalty paid. The anonymous whistleblower was a former Monsanto financial executive who reported violations of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) and misstatements of corporate earnings. …

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Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2016/08/monsanto-whistleblower-obtains-22-4-million-sec-award/

$26 Million Settlement to Hollywood Filmmakers Over Home Video Royalties

The $26 million settlement between Universal City Studios and a class of Hollywood filmmakers has been tentatively approved.  The filmmakers believed they had been underpaid based on miscalculated royalties associated with profits from home-video sales. Unfortunately underpayment of royalties is all too common and many fail to properly manage their agreements.  One critical tool against …

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Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2015/08/26-million-settlement-to-hollywood-filmmakers-over-home-video-royalties/

The IRS Wants More Of Your Gambling Winnings

The taxation of gambling winnings is widely misunderstood (or at least widely not followed).  Gambling gains are included in gross income, reported on “other income” on form 1040.  Losses from gambling are allowed to the extent of gambling gains, but only as an itemized deduction.  The amount spent to generate any win reduces the win.  …

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Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2015/06/the-irs-wants-more-of-your-gambling-winnings/

Canada Audits Dubious Senator Expenses At Great Cost

The recently released report by the Canadian Auditor General details numerous incidents of inappropriate spending by members of the Canadian Senate. The report investigated 116 current and former senators and 80,000 expense items totaling CAD $45,000,000 over a period from April 1, 2011 to March 31, 2013. 30 of the senators under investigation were found …

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The Cancer Fund of America and Its Related Charities Are Called a Fraud

An alleged fraud was recently uncovered at The Cancer Fund of America and its related entities, including The Breast Cancer Society and The Children’s Cancer Fund of America. James Reynolds and his family members are believed to have stolen $187 million from donors in these charities over five years and spent the monies on lavish …

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Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2015/05/the-cancer-fund-of-america-and-its-related-charities-are-called-a-fraud/