These topics are developed from courses, seminars and speeches I have made to accountants, attorneys, lenders, business professional and executive groups and fraud investigators since 1991.
Genesis of Business Fraud Program
In 1991, after having developed and taught two business survival courses at the University of California, Los Angles, Extension Business School, I developed a twelve lecture business fraud course. The course discussed wide focused topics of deceptive and fraudulent activities, cover-ups, reactions to discovery, risk to the overall company, the difference between fraud in publicly held corporations and privately held ones including family owned companies, how a company could create assets from expenses and not be caught. Enron 2001.
Presentation Format
Topics discuss how deceptive and fraudulent business activities are committed
regularly and successfully and the long term effects of such acts.
Presentations are group focused for one hour, two hours, up to eight hours
(Continuing Professional Education credit).
Topics
o Untraceable Fraud - What the Accountants Don’t Find: including
“Two Sets of Books”, concealed revenue, commercial bribery.
o Manipulation of Accounting Records and the Accountant: to conceal losses or profits for concealed goals.
o How To Detect Another “Bernie” Before He Has “Madoff” With Your Money.
Bernie
Madoff was not the first and will not be the last. Investment fund
fraud has recognizable patterns of operation and behavior.
Presentations, representations and references are not enough to make a
commitment. Detect a potentially fraudulent investment fund before,
and not after, becoming a victim.
Insert Topics - 10 to 30 minute topics
- How Private Fraud Investigations Actually Turn Out.
- Explaining the Steps of a Fraud Investigation from Suspicion to Conclusion. Forensic Accounting Ranks as Step #……
- Whistle Blowing: From Suspicious Employee to New Position. Maybe They Will Apply to Work at Your Company.
- Risks of “Doing the Right Thing”. The Credibility Canyon.
-
When Someone “Gets Away With It”, What Does That Really Mean?
- B2B Fraud: When Companies Cheat Other Companies
- Executive / Owner Fraud: The Long Term of "Getting Away With It"
Features:
o Cases and situations cited – never litigated and never publicly reported.
o Privately owned companies - Main Street emphasis.
o Industries represented: Retail, manufacturing, distribution, service, specialty operations and business lending.
o All topics have been presented to accounting, legal, fraud investigators and business groups.
Format:
o One or two hour presentations including Q&A.
o Half and whole day seminars and workshops.
o Sole speaker, panel participation or forum style.
o Q&A is emphasized throughout including confidential questions.
o Presentations can be crafted to the interests of the attendees.
Continuing Education Credit:
All topics have been NASBA approved for Continuing Professional Education Credit:
CPE for CPA / CA
MCLE for Attorneys
CFE for Certified Fraud Examiners
Full Day Seminars
Gone Without a Trace - Cracking Untraceable Fraud
Several types of fraud leave no paper trail yet can destroy a financial statement. Many are committed by the senior executives or owners while avoiding the internal controls and audit scope.
This seminar uses real life situations and examples from privately owned as well as publicly held companies. It will teach how each fraud works, which types of companies can be victims, how to detect each one before becoming exposed and what can be done to protect your interests.
Classes are forum style. Participants are encouraged to discuss their own experiences during the seminar.
Fraud Types Discussed:
“Two sets of books”
Skimming: Removing revenue before it is recorded.
Income Diversion: Revenue received off the books.
Bribery in a Commercial Operation: Looking for financial behavior
Money Laundering: Commercial slight of hand.
- Learn the differences between financial statement manipulation and untraceable fraud.
- Why these types of fraud evade the normal forensic audit process
- Recognize the cover-ups.
- Understand the structures of these transactions
- Learn detection techniques to expose and stop these types of fraud
- Cases and examples come from unreported and never litigated fraud as well as public ones.
- Many of the situations taught were learned from those who were never caught.
- Questions, discussions and situations are encouraged throughout the day.
Handling Fraudulent Activities Before Exposure:
Perception Vs Reality in Business Operations
Private companies can defraud their lenders, investors, suppliers, etc. quietly and in privacy.
This silent crime uses trust and deception as the weapons. Both public and private companies are victims as well as perpetrators.
Once fraud has been discovered in the company’s business operations, the ramifications of the actions and the steps to resolve the situation become critical to the continuation of the company. What can and cannot be done must be evaluated. Learn how to handle and attempt resolution of the situation.
This seminar is about protecting the company’s interests and ongoing operations and your interests.
The seminar will be held in a forum format with open discussion.
Cases used will include private companies not reported in the news or litigated.
Participants are encouraged to discuss their own experiences.
Topics
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Looking for the signs of manipulation and deception—discovering and exposing the cover-up
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Determining the “at risk” company that can cause ethical issues and fraudulent actions
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Who may be involved or reliant on the client’s operation: Naming the potential accusers and litigants.
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Dealing with resistance and diversion tactics
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“Glass Wall” fraud. Sometimes the cure may cause more damage than the disease.
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The audit trail looks clear, until you hit a glass wall: Manipulation begins at the source, not the Financial Statements. Manipulating the auditor away from the trail and up the garden path.
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Detecting the real suspect. Diversionary tactics to deflect the blame.
Partial List - Business Speech Presentations
Certified Public Accountants - CPE approved (over 50 full day seminars)
Institute of Management Accountants - CPE approved
Institute of Internal Auditors - CPE approved
Rotary Club Chapters
Los Angeles Chapter of Association of Certified Fraud Examiners - CPE approved
Navajo Indian Tribe Government
Impact Roundtable business group
UCLA Management Program Graduation
Executives and government officials from China
Japanese executive groups
Korean business group at UCLA
