Who would have thought that a simple internet search could help you win a case in front of a jury? Just 10 years ago that may have sounded far-fetched to many. But those immersed in the world of data mining knew it was possible, even then.
Author Archives: TRACY L COENEN
FRAUD FILES: Ways to help prevent corporate fraud
Executives have the means to commit and cover up the largest frauds.
FRAUD FILES: Behind the Numbers: Critical Financial Analysis in Litigation
The financial portion of a lawsuit is often high-stakes. This is especially true in cases of divorce, breach of contract, securities fraud, tax fraud, money laundering, and white collar criminal defense. Whether the other side is an individual, a company, or the government, you need an accurate analysis of the numbers for the benefit of your client.
FRAUD FILES: Expert witness selection: substance over form
In commercial litigation, many cases require some kind of expert.
Read More »THE FRAUD FILES: From chaos to clarity in financial investigations
Financial investigations have one common problem: Large volumes of data and documentation that need to be examined.
Read More »Expert witness rule changes significant
Starting Dec. 1, there was a significant change to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure for expert witness reports.
Read More »Independence vital in fraud investigations
I would like to think that most companies are committed to doing business honestly. They try to do the right thing, and when a problem is found, they try to correct it quickly.
Read More »Commentary: Follow the money, find the fraud
Forensic accounting has been around for decades, but only in the last ten years have people become aware of the profession on a wide scale. Many of the techniques used by forensic accountants to investigate fraud and analyze the numbers are the same today as they were decades ago. Computers have made things easier, as we can track, sort, and ...
Read More »Red flags pointed directly to Madoff
It’s hard to believe that a Ponzi scheme as massive as the one perpetrated by Bernard Madoff got by anyone. Surely he was the most clever criminal alive, and was ingenious at hiding his fraud. There couldn’t have been any signs of the scam he was running. Or were there? It turns out there were plenty of red flags pointing ...
Read More »Identifying red flags of investment fraud
There is no shortage of allegations of investment fraud since the stock market tanked last year. Last month attorney Marc Dreier was sentenced to 20 years in prison for heading a Ponzi scheme that caused investors to lose more than $400 million. Are there more investment scams occurring, or have market conditions just led to the discovery of more of ...
Read More »Bribery and corruption: Difficult frauds to find
When fraud happens within an organization’s accounting system, there is often a paper trail left behind. It’s unavoidable, as there is a record of something related to the fraud, whether it is a legitimate invoice that was later adjusted, an account balance that was changed, or a fake employee who was added to the payroll system. Frauds involving bribery and ...
Read More »Guidance for fending off real estate fraud
A brief review of news stories related to mortgage fraud and real estate fraud shows there’s no shortage of schemes being uncovered and pursued. It’s not surprising. There are likely two main reasons for fraud schemes related to real estate being discovered at a high rate. First, the crash of the real estate market made developers desperate and probably pushed ...
Read More »Collision of expert witnesses, social media
Ask a random group of attorneys what they think of social media, and you’ll get some funny looks. Several of them will turn up their noses, while an equal number will have no idea what you’re talking about. A few may have a favorable opinion of social media, and a couple may even participate in this phenomenon. What exactly is ...
Read More »Are we really getting tough on financial fraud?
Consumer outrage about “bailout madness” and the proliferation of Ponzi schemes and investment fraud is fueling a push for greater oversight and regulation. The government is talking tough, saying that there will be more prosecutions for financial fraud forthcoming. That sounds good, doesn’t it? Of course we’re all in favor for more aggressively pursuing those who swindle others out of ...
Read More »Watch for bailout fraud on the horizon
If you thought that the $50 billion Ponzi scheme allegedly perpetrated by Bernard Madoff is big, get ready. The amount of fraud that is sure to arise out of all the federal government bailout activities will dwarf that by many multiples. How do I know? The sheer magnitude of the bailout activity, coupled with the almost non-existent oversight of the ...
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