Here is the uncomfortable truth.Fraud does not always come from a random hacker in another country. Sometimes it comes from inside the building. Sometimes it comes from the CFO. In the recent Zadeh Kicks case, a CFO received prison time for bank fraud conspiracy tied to an online sneaker resale business. The company took millions … Read more
When you see headlines about a company founder being indicted by federal prosecutors, it is easy to think, “That has nothing to do with me.” Big company. Big money. Big problems. But here is the uncomfortable truth. Fraud at the top rarely starts big. It starts with pressure. It grows with rationalization. And it survives … Read more
A North Carolina bookkeeper was recently sentenced to 57 months in federal prison after stealing nearly one million dollars from three small businesses. She handled payroll, bill pay, and taxes. She also created fake vendors and unauthorized wire transfers to hide the theft. By the time it was uncovered, the damage was done. Prison time … Read more
Check fraud is no longer a “rare event.” Criminals are targeting mailed checks by stealing them from mailboxes, altering them or creating counterfeit versions, and turning them into real cash before anyone notices. This isn’t small-time theft anymore. Recent reporting shows this trend is accelerating and costing victims billions of dollars a year. The Case … Read more
Why Every Business Must Verify Deposits, Not Just Trust Receipts A recent case out of Michigan is a hard reminder of a simple truth most businesses overlook. A sales manager pleaded guilty to wire fraud after stealing nearly $900,000 from his employer. Customers paid their bills. Receipts were issued. Everything looked normal. The problem?The money … Read more
If you think phishing is just dodgy emails from “IT Support” or Nigerian princes, think again. A new analysis linked in The Hacker News shows fraudsters have upped their game by building entire fake banks…complete with websites that look legit and services that feel real. These aren’t scammy brochures or obvious knockoffs. These are polished, … Read more
What Verification Code Scams Teach Businesses About Trust Let’s be clear. This scam does not start with a request for your password or your Social Security number. It starts with something that feels harmless. A six-digit verification code sent to your phone. Recently, Omaha residents came forward after losing thousands of dollars to callers who … Read more
Most business owners assume counterfeit cash is a problem of the past. Credit cards, apps, tap-to-pay… who’s still using fake bills? Fraudsters are. And they’re getting bold about it. Recent arrests in California show just how easy it is for criminals to walk into a restaurant, hand over fake $100 bills, and walk out with … Read more
Fraud rarely starts with a dramatic theft. It starts quietly. A fake email. A small test transaction. A vendor request that looks normal enough to approve without a second thought. That is exactly why commercial payments fraud is exploding. Nearly 8 out of 10 businesses experienced attempted or actual payments fraud last year. This is … Read more
A former employee of the Millbrook First Nation was just sentenced to four and a half years in prison for stealing more than four million dollars. Here’s the part that matters. That money didn’t disappear in one bold move. It went out quietly. A little at a time. Through normal looking transactions. While no one … Read more
Uncovering financial truths through forensic accounting insights and resources.