How the Ponzi Scheme and Fraud May Have Destroyed Charities

John Merchant, CPA, CFE

In December, Bernard Madoff was charged with securities fraud by federal authorities who allege that he ran a multi-billion dollar Ponzi scheme—paying one set of investors with money from another.  It is now reported that Madoff’s alleged scheme, which is one of the largest in history, may have caused the collapse of one the largest charitable foundations in the U.S.  According to the Boston Globe, the Picower Foundation, which has made significant contributions to medical research, […]

January 14, 2009 Accounting, Forensic Accounting Read more...

Online Resource On Identity Theft and Identity Fraud Now Available

John Merchant, CPA, CFE

Identify theft and related identity fraud have become an epidemic in the United States due to technological advances and the increasingly accessibility of information.   The Internet is one of the major contributors to this problem and even the non-tech savvy individuals are able to commit the crime.  To educate the public, the U.S. Department of Justice has established an Internet website to provide information on identity theft and related identity fraud.  The site provides information about […]

January 14, 2009 Accounting, Forensic Accounting Read more...

Bond Beebe Principal Becomes Certified Forensics Expert

Natalie Burchfiel

BETHESDA, Maryland (December 23, 2008) – Bond Beebe, a certified public accounting and advisory firm with offices in Bethesda, Maryland and Alexandria, Virginia, announced today that John A. Merchant, a Principal with the firm, has recently been awarded the Certified in Financial Forensics (CFF) Credential by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).  The CFF Credential was established in 2008 by the AICPA and is granted to qualified Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) with considerable professional experience in […]

December 23, 2008 Accounting, Forensic Accounting Read more...