Uncovering Fraud

Welcome to Uncovering Fraud: True Stories About Fraud, Fraudsters & How They Got Caught, a book that I believe is unique in the world of fraud and fraud investigation.



This book is a collection of published stories over my career. The work of a forensic accountant and fraud investigator is time sensitive. The world in which the frauds occur is always changing. Technology changes, laws change, people change … what we know about the world changes. Therefore, what you will find in this book is a series of events, stories, and columns, and I will introduce each through my understanding in 2020 and also provide a closing commentary, if relevant, if there are any new facts or information.



The stories primarily have a U.S. and Canadian focus, with some international cases included. In all cases, the information and any advice is a must for any CEO, CFO, COO, CIO, General Counsel, litigator, fraud investigator and just about anyone who is concerned about becoming a victim of fraud.



How is this book unique?



Rather than being a how-to manual on prevention, detection and investigation of various fraud matters, Uncovering Fraud explores these factors exclusively through real and reported cases and stories. In a few instances, a case has had to be disguised for reasons of client confidentiality, but the details are based on actual situations.



My aim with this book is to tell the stories of fraud in an educational but entertaining way. Whether you are a business owner, lover of great stories, CPA, fraud investigator, student or professor who teaches forensic accounting, there is something in the book for you. These stories will have you seeing the world differently and arm you with the tools and insights to not be a victim yourself.



I hope you find it not only an enjoyable read but one that offers beneficial insights into the world of con artists, greedy opportunists, and, sadly, too many victims. If I may play with a famous truism of fraud, “These cases are too bad not to be true.”



Yours truly,



David Malamed, CPA, CA, DIFA, CPA (Illinois), CFE, CFI, CFF



Head of Forensic Accounting and Chief Fraud Investigator Cooper, Green & Warren LLP