As moneys become tight and budgets continue to be squeezed, financial vigilance must be increased. Anti-fraud controls must be developed. Systems must continue to be reviewed and analyzed to reduce the chance of fraud. This problem at the Santa Clara Unified School District may have been averted with proper internal oversight. The link will also [...]
At least this time is was in Las Vegas. Over 10 years apparently he pocketed $650k. Again ... no one ran into this guy in the casino? I'm just saying ... Some parishioners believed that he had a Robin Hood-type reason to steal. Remember, they're called con men because THEY GAIN YOUR CONFIDENCE AND THEY [...]
Now the Mayor of Compton alleges fraud. Who knew? It stopped the City from getting a line of credit to handle the $41mm deficit. Good luck getting an opinion from the auditors. Apparently the last audit had a "going concern clause". Here's hoping the auditor gives an opinion (rather than disclaiming). Oh ... what a [...]
ZZZ Best superstar Barry Minkow, King of the Ponzi's, became a preacher, a self-appointed fraud detector and finally a stock manipulator. Now he gets 5 years in the clink. for securities fraud. A good friend told me once ... the way someone does something, is the way they do everything. (translation ... Leopards don't often [...]
Our now well known buddy, Robert Rizzo apparently secreted away $4.5mm in a hidden pension account. What I want to know is who the heck found this slush fund? My hat is off to the forensic accountants who discovered it.
Companies and Non-Profits ... please check your auditor's license. If it is not current or is suspended, there most likely is a reason. Always log on to your state board of accountancy website and license check before giving them work. Auditors ... please do the same with the prior auditors ... and do a google [...]
A new senate bill will give California State Auditors the right to dig into the books and expenditures of cities. This in in response to the Bell scandal. Apparently 50 groups have been ratted on by whistleblowers!
State of California State Auditor John Chiang says Mayer Hoffman McCann did a bum job. Mayer Hoffman McCann says they were deceived. IMO (in my opinion) it is ridiculous that an auditee (say the City of Bell) get's to pick their own auditor. The job of the auditor in this situation is to please the [...]
Our "Den of Thieves" have been uncovered, announced and arrested. Who knows whether it will stick ... but ... it's a start. (These are certain officials at the City of Bell, CA) This NPR interview asks the prime question ... How did a 2 1/2 mile square city, of 40,000 impoverished citizens wind up with [...]
In case you didn't hear. The management team of the City of Bell California gave themselves absurd salaries. The City Manager about $800k The assistant manager and police chief about $500k each. The city only has about 40,000 residents and a significant percentage are below the poverty level. The city receives a significant amount of [...]
