Sometimes I don’t have to look very hard to find something important to our readers. Literally upon logging into my email this morning was a discussion on LinkedIn about a new small business lending program being marketed through accountants. Is that a wonderful new tool for CPAs to help clients with cash flow problems or […]
TICs and REITS – "Accidents Waiting To Happen"
William Galvin, Massachusetts Secretary of State and chief securities regulator, is investigating 15 brokerage firms for possible misconduct in the sales of “alternative investments.” These investments include Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), Tenancy-in-Common interests (TICs), private placements and oil and gas partnerships. Massachusetts shares our growing concern that these investments are frequently peddled to senior […]
Defense Contractor Whistleblower Gets $1.8 Award
A former project manager for Science Applications International was awarded $1.8 million for exposing a massive overbilling scheme according to an AP story carried in the Ventura County Star. Prosecutors claimed the company over charged the government for homeland security training programs. Science Applications is a Virginia based defense contractor that employs over 40,000 people […]
Buy America Act – Chinese Steel – Whistleblower Post
During the height of the Great Depression, President Roosevelt and Congress passed a number of measures designed to spur the national economy. Part of Washington’s “New Deal” package was the Buy American Act; a law that required the federal government to prefer American made goods in its purchases. Later, the Buy American law was supplemented […]
One For The Record Books – Fannie Mae Settles Ponzi Scheme Case
Once upon a time, nearly a decade ago, the Federal National Mortgage Association – Fannie Mae – filed suit against a Brooklyn based mortgage company, Olympia Mortgage. When the complaint was filed in 2004, the real estate market was red hot, Fannie Mae was a privately owned company and few imagined the coming housing market […]
Inspector General Vacancies Hurt Whistleblowers
We were caught off guard this morning by a Wall Street Journal report revealing that several federal agencies had not filled Inspector General (IG) vacancies. Some agencies, like the State Department, have not had an inspector general since 2008! There are 78 inspector generals in the United States. Or at least there should be. Many […]
Stockbroker Fraud – Another Broker Dealer In Dire Straits
Stockbroker fraud is a hot topic these days. Thousands of investors make claims each year about investment scams and Ponzi schemes. In many cases, when the dust settles, the only “deep pocket” is the brokerage firm that facilitated the sale of the investment. Other times, registered reps simply don’t take the time to know their […]
Who’s Guarding The Hen House? Accounting Malpractice Post
by Brian Mahany Two of the biggest brokerage industry failures last year were Peregrine Financial Group and MF Global Holdings. In August of last year we covered the Peregrine story after the firm’s CEO attempted suicide and left a note confessing to a massive theft from customers. At that time, we questioned why the firm’s […]
The Fallacy Of Criminal Restitution
by Brian Mahany It’s only human to hang on to the hope that criminals will redeem themselves and pay restitution. While it’s okay to hope and pray for the best, waiting on cops and courts to collect restitution from criminals is not a good recovery strategy. In many instances, purchasing a lottery ticket my have […]
Pension Plan Administrator Convicted Of Fraud (Employee Benefit Plan Scam)
by Brian Mahany Tens of millions of Americans invest for the future through employer sponsored 401(k) and other employee benefit plans. These plans allow workers to lower their taxes and provide retirement income. Depending on how the money is invested, there is always a risk of loss. In the case of Matthew Hutcheson, an Idaho […]
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