Business Fraud

by Blanco, James A.; Evans, Dave

• ISBN13: 9780966608540
• ISBN10: 0966608542
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-11-01
• Publisher: Humanomics Pub

Summary

Fraud costs U.S. businesses and individuals billions each year. After years of cleaning up the messes created by fraud, certified forensic documentsexpert & fraud investigator, James A. Blanco, wrote this book "to bring fraud prevention methods to the front line of commerce, showing businesses and individuals how to prevent fraud attacks against them."

A vital handbook for fraud prevention addressing thefollowing topics:
- Common rip-off scams
- Preventing forgery and counterfeits
- Recognizing bogus checks and US currency
- Credit and debit card fraud prevention
- Preparing "Iron-Clad" contracts
- Preventing embezzlement schemes
- Computer and internet fraud
- Investment, real estate and probate frauds
- Preventing identity thefts
- Fraud scams against the elderly
- Restaurant & tavern cashpilfering scams

"A fascinating and entertaining survey of the methods used by forgers, electronic bandits and scam artists of every kind, the expert contermoves used to detect their crimes, and a vital step-by-step survival guide for bus

Author Biography

James A. Blanco is a certified Examiner of Questioned Documents

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. vii
Introduction: Protect Yourself for Success	p. xvii
Acknowledgments	p. xxiii
General Fraud Techniques: Understanding the Methods of the Con Artists	p. 1
Forgery
Counterfeiting
Alterations
Substitutions
Additions
Interlineations
Materials for Manipulation: Analyzing a Questioned Document	p. 13
Inventory of Submitted Evidence
Examination of Printing/Machine Processes
Photocopy Process Examination
Paper Examination
Examination of Mechanical Printing
Examination of Rubber Stamp Impressions
Infrared Examination of Inks
Examination of Folds/Crease Marks, Punch Holes, Staples, and Tape
Latent Writing Tests
Handwriting Examinations
The Power of the Pen: The Strength of Signatures on Documents	p. 21
Anatomy of a Signature
Common Signature Forgery Techniques
"Forgeproofing" Your Signature
Signature Stamps
Digital/Electronic Signatures
Writing Implements
Preventing Contract Fraud: Preparing "Iron-Clad" Contracts	p. 31
Legitimate Contract Denial
Signature Denial
Substituted Pages
Bogus Contract Enforcement
Forged Signatures
Signature Epiphanies
Substituted Pages
Altered Contracts
Remedies to Contract Fraud
Accounting and General Business Practices: Everyday Protection Against Potential Fraud	p. 45
"Fraudproof" Your Accounting Practices	p. 45
Embezzlement Schemes
Bogus Invoicing Scams
Phone Solicitations
Merchandise Return Scams
Preparing Company Checks
Time Card Schemes
General Office Procedures	p. 57
Securing Your Private Office
Handling the Mail
Taking Out the Trash
Recognizing Bogus Negotiable Instruments: Accepting Checks, Money Orders, Cashier's Checks, and Traveler's Checks	p. 61
The Anatomy of an Authentic Check
Steps for Detecting Fraudulent Checks
The "Inkless" Fingerprint System
Guarantee Cards and Warrants
Cashier's Checks
Money Orders
Traveler's Checks
Using a Loupe
"Safe Hours" and Negotiable Instruments
Accepting Identifications
Recognizing Counterfeit U.S. Currency: All that Glitters is not Gold	p. 79
Security Features of New U.S. Currency
Table: Counterfeit vs. Genuine Currency
Additional Procedures for Recognizing Counterfeit Currency
Preventing Credit and Debit Card Fraud: Extending or Using Credit	p. 89
Counterfeit Credit Cards
Stolen Credit Cards
Signatures on Credit Cards
Falsified Credit Applications
Checking Account "Debit" Cards
Likely Fraud Sources
Extending Credit to Customers
Vulnerable Seasons	p. 95
Restaurant and Tavern Pilfering Scams: Don't Let Employees Eat Up Your Profits	p. 99
Food Service Scams	p. 99
Duplicate Check Scam
Coupon Scams
Discount Scams
Gift Certificate Scams
Pilfered Food
Bartender Scams	p. 103
"Memory" Scam
Open Drawer/Busy Night Scam
Substitution of Liquors
"Short drink" Scam
Medical Malpractice Exposed in Patient Charts: Investigative Methods to Reveal "Cover Ups"	p. 107
Keeping Careful Medical Records	p. 107
Overall File Consistency
Signatures, Initials, and Handwriting
Infrared Examinations
Latent Handwriting Examinations
Examination of Mechanical Impressions
Examinations of "Trace Evidence"
Sign-In Sheets
Fraud by Medical Patients
Fraud in the Insurance and Banking Industries: Safeguarding Financial Assets	p. 115
Six Types of Insurance Fraud	p. 115
Bogus Claims and the Importance of Documentation	p. 118
Fraud in the Banking Industry	p. 120
External Bank Fraud	p. 120
Loan Scams
Securities and Investment Frauds
New Account Scams
Merchant Fraud Against the Bank
"Inkless" Fingerprint Program
Loan Scams and Bogus Bankers
Internal Bank Fraud	p. 125
Fraud Against Bank Customers
Real Estate and Probate Documents: Deeds, Wills, and Forgeries	p. 129
Real Estate Documents	p. 129
Direct Real Estate Transactions	p. 132
Fraud Issues in Real Estate	p. 133
Meta-escrow Fraud
Real Estate Scam Artists
Probate Issues	p. 136
Two Types of Wills
Holographic Wills
Typewritten Wills
Preparing a Will
Where to Keep Your Will
Contesting a Will
Avoiding Personal and Investment Fraud: Hanging on to that Nest Egg	p. 145
Identity Theft	p. 146
Unauthorized Loans
Unauthorized Credit Cards
Internet Identity Fraud
Protect Yourself from Identity Fraud
Telemarketing Scams	p. 149
Investment Schemes	p. 150
Bogus Stock Transfers
West African (Nigerian) Scams
Fraud Against the Elderly	p. 154
Ponzi Schemes
Promissory Note Fraud
Bogus Invoicing to Alzheimer's Patients
Romance Scams
Computer and Internet Fraud: Outsmarting High-Tech Scammers	p. 161
"Desktop Counterfeiting"	p. 162
Cut-and-Paste Forgeries	p. 163
Digitized Authorizing Signatures	p. 164
Computer Date/Time Changes	p. 165
Saving and Deleting of Computer Files	p. 166
Data and Mirror Image Backups	p. 167
Fraud in Network Environments	p. 169
Preventing External Attacks
Using Internet Technologies to Commit Fraud	p. 172
Auction Fraud on the Internet
Credit Card Fraud on the Internet
Purchasing Software on the Internet
Prescription Drug Sales on the Internet
Espionage on the Internet
Bulletin Board Fraud on the Internet
Online Work-at-Home Offers
E-mail	p. 178
E-mail Abuses
E-Signatures	p. 180
Dealing with Anonymous Documents: Investigating Espionage, Threats, and Harassment in the Work Place	p. 183
Anonymous Notes and Letters	p. 184
Generally Harassing Notes
Sexually Harassing Notes
Death Threats or Threats of Assault
Sabotage Notes and Bomb Threats
Preserving an Anonymous Document	p. 188
Investigative Steps	p. 190
Aiding Law Enforcement Investigations
When Fraud has Already Occurred Systematic Solutions for Damage Control	p. 197
Questioned Document Examination	p. 198
Work of Questioned Document Examiners
"Forensic Document Examination"
The Scientific Method
Questioned Document Examination and Litigation
Care and Marking of Questioned Documents	p. 205
Selecting a Qualified Documents Expert	p. 207
Glossary-Index	p. 211
Handwriting Identification: Formula for Authenticity (Technical Paper)	p. 219
Documents Affected by Forgery	p. 227
Description of the Term "Forgery"	p. 228
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