• Why Audits Fail to Find Fraud

    I am reading Cynthia Cooper’s book, Extraordinary Circumstances, which documents her experiences uncovering the massive fraud at WorldCom. I want to finish reading the book so I can write a proper review here and elsewhere. But I admit I’m having […]

  • Wikileaks is back

    Wikileaks wasn’t really ever gone, but a very unusual case in which a bank sued the web host of Wikileaks resulted in the U.S. version of the site being pulled offline for a couple of weeks. The controversial site’s domain […]

  • An interview with A Indústria da Decepção? (a Brazilian blog about MLMs)

    I was recently interviewed for a Brazilian blog dedicated to exposing multi-level marketing companies and pyramid schemes for the scams that they are. Here are their questions and my responses: 1. How did you became involved with MLMs? What attracted […]

  • You ask Google… I answer

    Question: why would companies overstate inventory Answer: There are a couple of reasons why a company might overstate inventory. They both relate to reducing expenses and therefore increasing the company’s profit. If inventory is overstated, it means that cost of […]

  • Here’s What “Universal Health Care” Will Get You

    The Democrats swear that “universal health care” will be fabulous for all. No one really knows “who” is going to pay for it, but if enough voters think it’s going to be “someone else,” that’s good enough for them. But […]

  • Want to understand the “subprime mortgage mess”?

    This slide show explains it nicely. Please don’t look at it if foul language offends you.

  • Defendants cheat Social Security, but claim it’s the government’s fault

    If there’s one silver lining to this case, it’s that the defendants are apparently admitting that they cheated Social Security. But now the bigger problem is that they’re saying it’s the government’s fault. Last month 83 people were charged with […]

  • Want to Get Out of Paying Taxes? Don’t Try These Excuses!

    Ever met anyone who thought he didn’t have to pay income taxes? Maybe he tried to argue taxes are unconstitutional and there are legitimate ways to avoid paying them. Don’t believe it. Wesley Snipes believed it, and found himself in […]

  • My US3 Report Insider Interview

    I recently did an interview with Sam Steele (that’s him at the right), the face of The US3 Report. He interviewed me on Corporate Fraud & Embezzlement, and of course, gave me a chance to promote my new book Essentials […]

  • Materiality at Overstock.com Inc.

    Sam Antar made this nice find in regard to materiality, one of many issues at Overstock.com (NASDAQ:OSTK). You see… materiality is an issue because, in addition to “unusual” material items at Overstock, we’ve seen several immaterial “unusual” items as well. […]