Interest in cryptocurrency, also known as digital currency, has recently exploded. Bitcoin perennially continues to be the largest cryptocurrency, followed by Ethereum. There are well over five thousand cryptocurrencies with new ones being formed and obscure names rising into prominence every day, most recently Dogecoin. One industry report estimates that approximately 20 million Americans may …
Prenuptial Agreements (prenups) are used between two people prior to marriage to address certain financial aspects of their marriage. For those entering a second or third marriage, it can help define what assets will be available to the future spouse and what will be set aside for the children. A prenuptial agreement can make the …
The National Center on Elder Abuse has identified seven different types of elder abuse. These include physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, financial/material exploitation, neglect, abandonment and self-neglect While I think we can all agree that physical, sexual, or emotional abuse of anyone, especially the elderly is horrific, any form of abuse can be devastating …
I recently read an article about fraud within the Massachusetts State Police (MSP). The author, a former MSP trooper, outlined an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office. The investigation involves a minimum of 46 troopers with the allegations including payroll fraud and conspiracy, among other federal violations. …
Crime is big business both domestically and across the globe and, as a result, money laundering activities are extensive. In fact, the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime reports that “[t]he estimated amount of money laundered globally in one year is 2% – 5% of global GDP, or $800 – $2 trillion in current …
I recently received a call from a lady identifying herself as an agent of the Internal Revenue Service. She said I owed a large sum of money to the IRS in back taxes and that if I did not pay up, I would find myself being prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law and …
Several years ago, I wrote about the Fraud Triangle. A recent case I read about shows once again how relevant it is. In 1973, Donald Cressey published the results of his research on embezzlement in Other People’s Money: A Study in the Social Psychology of Embezzlement. Mr. Cressey’s hypothesis has become known to many as …
The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that by 2030, approximately 20.3 percent of the U.S. population will be aged 65 and over[1]. Among developed countries, the United States currently has the largest number of people aged 65 and over. This trend is expected to continue into the future, with the U.S. reaching 73 million older adults …
We hear the term forensic all the time, and it holds a special place in pop culture thanks to TV shows like the fictional CSI and the “real-life” Forensic Files. The news also inundates us with stories about legal proceedings involving forensic accountants, psychiatrists, pathologists, toxicologists and others. However, when pressed, most people don’t really …
This past April, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) released the 10th edition of its global study on occupational fraud, the Report to the Nations – 2018 Global Study on Occupational Fraud and Abuse (the “ACFE Report”). The ACFE Report summarizes statistics based on 2,690 cases that resulted in over $7 billion in damages. …