Fraud SCAMS AND SHAMS FOUL PLAY TIME IS MONEY?
Attendance fraud fail THE US SECURITIES and Exchange Commission tried to have one of its former employees prosecuted for “attendance fraud” because he couldn’t account for 1,200 hours he worked, for which he was paid US$125,000. A report from the agency’s inspector general does not name the worker, but the Wall Street Journal identified him as Erozan Kurtas, a soſtware developer who created a data analytics tool that helps the SEC identify insider trading — a program subsequently publicly lauded by the SEC’s chair. Federal prosecutors declined to pursue the case “based on insufficient dollar loss and potential venue challenges.” — TS
Dennis Rodman’s ex-biz manager charged with fraud
A WOMAN WHO FALSELY CLAIMED to be a Harvard-educated financial adviser has been arrested for allegedly bilking clients, including former NBA and NFL stars Dennis Rodman and Ricky Williams, out of millions of dollars. Peggy Ann “King” Fulford, a New Orleans resident who goes by at least seven aliases, convinced her victims to let her manage their money by claiming to have made millions on Wall Street and in real estate, prosecutors say. Rodman’s lawyer, Bradford Cohen, told New York Post’s Page Six that Rodman fired Fulford in 2015 when he “discov- ered Peggy was writing checks off his account for exotic cars, homes and jewelry.” If convicted, Fulford faces up to 20 years in federal prison. — Tamar Satov
KUNG FU FIGHTING Fake film “creator”
found guilty JAYME GORDON, 51, has been convicted of fraud and perjury for falsely alleging that DreamWorks Animation stole his idea for the 2008 film Kung Fu Panda. The Massachusetts man was found guilty of back-dating drawings of the title character, Po (voiced by Jack Black in the film), which he used as evidence in his US$12-million lawsuit against DreamWorks in 2011. Gordon, who will be sentenced later this month, could be facing a maximum of 25 years in jail. — TS
54 | CPA MAGAZINE | MARCH 2017 AEROPLAN ARREST Stolen points led to bust
THREE ALBERTA RESIDENTS were arrested at a Strathmore hotel aſter Aeroplan officials notified hotel staff that the room was booked with stolen points. When the RCMP arrived, they found nearly $40,000 in fraudulently purchased merchandise in the accused’s hotel room. Andrew Bruggeman, 30, of Edmonton, and Stephani Fink, 25, and Dwayne Ireland, 36, both of Calgary, face multiple charges including fraud and identity theſt. — TS
OLD-SCHOOL SCAM Phishing via snail mail?
NOW THAT WE’RE finally catching on that fraudsters, not banks, are sending us those emails saying our accounts have been compromised, the scammers are upping the ante. Bank customers in the UK are now receiving letters by post that appear to come from Lloyds Bank — complete with logo and signature from a customer ser- vice rep — saying there have been some “unusual transactions” on their account and to call a (fake) number listed in the let- ter to confirm. Sigh. — TS
John Parra/Getty Ben Hider/Getty
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