Archive | Oct 2007
Google search: Should a limit be set on ceo pay
Google search: should a limit be set on ceo pay Answer: No. The market will decide if CEOs are being paid too little or too much. I discussed this issue in detail in my article for the Wisconsin Law Journal, CEO Pay: Fraud, Excessive, or None of the Above? [...]
Continue reading...Mandatory arbitration with credit card companies
16 Oct 2007
Last week, investigative journalist Gary Weiss wrote a Forbes.com article on credit card arbitration. It highlighted a process that I didn’t know a whole lot about. It seems that most (if not all) credit card agreements these days have some teeny-tiny print about mandatory arbitration. It basically means that if you have a dispute with [...]
Continue reading...Google search: Women in forensic accounting
15 Oct 2007
Google search: women in forensic accounting Answer: That’s me! There aren’t a lot of us for sure. You’ll find most of the women in forensic accounting at larger firms. I’m not sure why that is… So my competition is usually male, but that doesn’t bother me. I can honestly say that I haven’t experienced much (if any) of [...]
Continue reading...Can you really avoid an IRS audit? (Or at least reduce your chances?)
15 Oct 2007
Yes and no. Great accountant answer, huh? The truth is that the Internal Revenue Service has some special red flags in place that help flag your tax return for an audit. Those super-secret red flags are revealed to no one. Apparently the IRS system takes your tax return data, runs its super-secret algorithm, and decides [...]
Continue reading...Google search: IRS audit
12 Oct 2007
I thought it would be fun to feature some of the Google searches used to find FRAUDfiles, so hopefully the searchers can check back and find answers to their burning, burning questions. Today’s search: what if you can’t provide documentation for a irs tax audit Answer: Big trouble. The burden of proof rests upon the taxpayer. That means [...]
Continue reading...10 Reasons You Should Not Blog Everyday
12 Oct 2007
“Thou shall post every day” is the most fundamental and most well known principle of blogging…. This is so web 1.0. Tracy’s note: Interesting idea, but daily posts are helpful if you’ve got good content and you don’t overload the blog with junk. read more | digg story [...]
Continue reading...Local lawyer defending Wesley Snipes
12 Oct 2007
It’s not often that a Milwaukee lawyer is hired to represent a Hollywood actor, so I have to mention this one. Wesley Snipes has fired Billy Martin, and hired Robert Bernhoft of The Bernhoft Law Firm. Bernhoft represented Snipes previously in a paternity suit, and is now on board to help defend against tax fraud [...]
Continue reading...Atlanta home builder Beazer restating results
11 Oct 2007
Beazer Homes USA has completed an internal investigation into accounting problems and will restate its financials from 1999 through 2007. The results of the investigation: Employees in the mortgage unit violated HUD rules on downpayment assistance since at least 2000. Beazer might have to reimburse some losses on federally insured loans because of this. The [...]
Continue reading...Marion Jones caught using steroids… thanks to check fraud ring
09 Oct 2007
For years, runner Marion Jones denied ever using steroids. She even went so far as to sue Victor Conte, the founder of BALCO, after he said that he saw her use steroids. On Friday, Jones pleaded guilty to two felony counts of lying to federal investigators. She then faced the media: “I stand before you to [...]
Continue reading...Milwaukee Police Department stops asking about immigration status
08 Oct 2007
This is crazy. Using an “it’s not our job” excuse, the Milwaukee Police Department now has a policy that police officers will not ask about immigration status. “Community activists” say that people who are stopped for traffic violations or crimes shouldn’t be asked about immigration status because it’s “unrelated.” (I don’t know how often the breaking [...]
Continue reading...- Is Shop to Earn a scam or a legitimate business?
- More on why ShopToEarn sucks (and so do MyPowerMall and TeamNational)
- MonaVie: Scam or not?
- Mary Kay Cosmetics: Destroying half a million women a year
- Primerica Financial Services a scam?
- The Pyramid Scheme aspect of Primerica Financial Services
- Shop To Earn lawyer bullying bloggers
- The Sarah Palin pregnancy cover-up that wasn't (updated)
- What does Dave Ramsey think about United First Financial
- A new pyramid scheme: United First Financial
- Niles: Where can the public get specific and official documentation on the...
- Barbara: Tracy I am sure you read this already but it fits you definition of...
- JoeTaxpayer: Walt, if you actually have that amount of time in the business,...
- inspectaneck: Jessica, You’re probably right. If it is so wonderful,...
- Tracy Coenen: Oh Walt. How fun. You accuse me of not knowing how interest...
- Walt: Hello Tracy, It seems that you have tried to educate yourself in...
- claysgirl: To Nienpedo I don’t know what area you live in, nor does...
- nienpedo: So I went to a “meeting” and when I first walked in I saw...
- Lee D: Excellent point, PurpleSlog.
- PurpleSlog: I have a third alternative. Most “anchors” are pretty...
- Chicago mayor promises action against city employees stealing from taxpayers
- Consumers easier to scam during tough economic times
- Searching for Shop to Earn scam
- Debunking Sarah Palin rumors and lies
- Check out the pork in the bailout bill
- The $700 billion bailout should fail on its own merits
- Criminal charges against Amway in India
- The lure of multi-level marketing
- The UFF Money Merge Account money shuffle explained
- Mark Cuban’s idea on a private bailout of the financial sector
About the Author
Tracy Coenen is a forensic accountant and fraud examiner who investigates white collar crimes, including cases of financial statement fraud, embezzlement, tax fraud, and insurance fraud. She is the author of Essentials of Corporate Fraud and more than 100 articles on fraud featured in industry publications.
16 Oct 2007
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