Court papers filed by the federal government and Apple against a former manager detail a scheme that allegedly saw confidential Apple data supplied to Asian electronics companies over more than three years in return for kickbacks of more than $1 million. 

Apple says that over the course of more than three years, two individuals colluded by passing sales forecasts for unreleased iPod and iPhone models, as well as product roadmaps, sales reports and details of problems being encountered by competitors.

Questions:

1. How did Apple find out about the kickbacks?

2. Explain how data like sales forecasts, pricing information and specifications for unreleased products could contribute to this fraud.

3. Why do you think the two fraudsters intentionally kept the wired amounts at less than $10,000?  At there any laws or regulations that are tied to this amount and if so, what are they?

Source:

Williams, M. (2010). Laptop e-mail tipped Apple to kickbacks plot, Computer World, August 17 (Retrievable online at http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9180820/Laptop_e_mails_tipped_Apple_to_kickbacks_plot?taxonomyId=152&pageNumber=1)