Archive | May 2008
Milwaukee Mayor wants to raise property taxes 26%
Milwaukee politicians are crying “woe is me” like they do every year. This year rising fuel costs probably pay a big part in budget difficulties, but I’m immune to their crying. Every year they keep raising property taxes, and every year I’m left feeling that they’re wasting my money. Don’t read this article if you don’t [...]
Continue reading...LifeLock CEO: Our service kinda works
27 May 2008
Todd Davis, the CEO of LifeLock, is trying to get the word out that the LifeLock identity theft service works sometimes! In the below video, Davis tells Matt Lauer on the Today Show that his identity has only been stolen once, darnit! I’ve been reporting what the lawyers are saying about LifeLock, and it’s not good. They [...]
Continue reading...Misleading consumers in the marketing of United First Financial Money Merge Account
27 May 2008
Over the last few weeks, I’ve been researching and reporting on the United First Financial Money Merge Account. UFF’s “agents” are poorly trained multi-level marketing pawns who spout company propaganda about how the MMA is the greatest thing since sliced bread. I was recently directed for United First Financial’s FAQ page. I had seen this page [...]
Continue reading...Carnival of Fraud - May 26, 2008
26 May 2008
Welcome to the May 26, 2008 edition of carnival of fraud. Tracy Coenen presents Getting into even more credit card trouble with United First Financial posted at Fraud Files. Paul Wilcox presents 3 Steps To Preventing Identity Theft posted at Security Manor. Leon Gettler presents Mortgage fraud getting worse posted at Sox First, saying, “The FBI now [...]
Continue reading...Another reason to hate LinkedIn
26 May 2008
I didn’t really need another reason to hate LinkedIn. I hate it sufficiently. So much so, that LinkedIn employees are checking this blog all day long to see if I’ve posted anything else about the service or if readers have left new comments… either of which would likely warrant another comment to the effect of: [...]
Continue reading...You ask Google, I answer!
25 May 2008
Question posed to Google: proof usana won against barry minkow Answer: Usana didn’t win against Barry. Despite all the grandstanding by executives about the alleged “lies” told by Barry and the rest of us who worked with Fraud Discovery Institute on the Usana Health Sciences (NASDAQ:USNA) case, Barry actually won. Usana has not proven that anything [...]
Continue reading...Getting into even more credit card trouble with United First Financial
25 May 2008
I’ve outlined all the reasons why United First Financial’s Money Merge Account is a scam. Although it technically offers something to the buyer, it’s not worth anywhere near the $3,500 fee that’s charged for it. Consumers can pay off their mortgages faster and for free without this program. But if you need another reason why the [...]
Continue reading...Mainstream media recognizes Mary Kay Cosmetics as a product based pyramid scheme
24 May 2008
The success of multi-level marketing companies and pyramid schemes has been based partly upon favorable media coverage of the industry. The MLMs put out plenty of positive press releases, resulting in numerous fluff pieces in newspapers and magazines over the years. Mary Kay Cosmetics encourages fluff pieces, especially whenever a new Mary Kay national sales director [...]
Continue reading...This week on WalletPop @ AOL
23 May 2008
Put away the Blackberry! - No, we don’t want to see how fast you can type with your thumbs. More on LifeLock’s failure to protect identities (and its claim that it isn’t so!) - LifeLock is still a waste of money. Don’t fall for their empty promises! Tattoos and professional jobs: Do they mix? - You can [...]
Continue reading...Analyzing the details of the United First Financial program
22 May 2008
If you owed a bank money under a loan that had an interest rate of 6%… And I came along and said to you “Here, take this loan with an interest rate of 8% and use the money to pay off the loan you already have…” What would you say? Anyone with remedial math skills would [...]
Continue reading...- A new pyramid scheme: United First Financial
- Mary Kay Cosmetics: Destroying half a million women a year
- Ufirst Money Merge Account: Resistance is futile
- Vendor talks, Usana squawks
- United First Financial agent compensation plan
- The Sarah Palin pregnancy cover-up that wasn't (updated)
- Why can't I pee on my neighbor's lawn?
- $3,500 wasted with United First Financial, per Dave Ramsey
- What does Dave Ramsey think about United First Financial
- Searching for Shop to Earn scam
- Tracy Coenen: Detecting fraud is not an objective of audits. In fact, the...
- Craig Hansen: Joe beat me to it. If you really can cut your mortgage from 24...
- JoeTaxpayer: How’s that? Without even looking at a calculator, I can...
- Charles: Tracy - detecting fraud is one objective of an audit. I agree it is...
- Howard: You have no idea what u are talking about. I signed up for UFF and...
- Tracy Coenen: Charles - You may not go so far as to say that, but I will and...
- Charles: Tracy - I would not go as far as saying audits do “little to...
- Tracy Coenen: Here’s a good sample engagement letter:...
- Tracy Coenen: Thanks for your insightful comments Charles. The peer reviews...
- Tracy Coenen: No, they are not. I will post a letter or two.
- Planned Parenthood violating Indiana’s sexual abuse laws
- More public company executives with falsified credentials
- MPS spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on consultants who will tell them they suck
- Milwaukee Public Schools wasteful spending exposed
- The Overstock.com train wreck continues
- United First Financial broker numbers and earnings
- No Surprise: The “bailout bill” is falling apart
- More gifts from the government for the financially irresponsible
- Credit card company bailout next?
- Election fraud and the future of America
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.
27 May 2008
0 Comments