Matt Ramsey’s joy of winning the $10,000 prize for sinking a hole in one was not dashed by his own skills, but the scamming of Kevin Kolenda. Like other hole-in-one winners around the country, Matt learned that he was the victim of a scam whereby Kolenda sold insurance without a license in several states to… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Accounting Principles
Dirty Dozen Tax Scams for 2014
In an effort to remind taxpayers to use caution during tax season and protect themselves against a wide range of schemes, the IRS compiled a variety of common scams that taxpayers can encounter at any point during the year, but which are expected to increase during peak filing season this Spring. Questions: 1. Who criminally… Read more »
Is it wise to taunt the IRS and the Tampa Police Department on Facebook?
As accounting firms frantically work during this season to prepare 2013 tax returns, this story takes a look back at the story of the “Queen of Tax Fraud.” Rashida Wilson, a 27-year-old Tampa woman, who once taunted police and bragged about her ill-gotten millions on a social media website, won’t be a free woman until… Read more »
Can you beat Nate Silver?
ESPN’s Nate Silver went on Sportscenter this morning and revealed his favorites for the Final Four. The prediction: • Louisville (#4 seed, Midwest region) • Florida (#1 seed, South region) • Arizona (#1 seed, West region) • Michigan State (#4 seed, East region) These are the favorites in each region according to Silver’s statistical model…. Read more »
Justice goes after “Rigged” rates
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation has sued 16 big banks that set a crucial global interest rate, accusing them of fraud and conspiring to keep the rate low to enrich themselves. Questions: 1. Which banks are included in the suit? 2. What was the rate and for how long are they accused of rigging it?… Read more »
Seventeen police officers to ticket Gator fans?
Only 1,260 feet of Route 301 runs through Hampton, Florida, a city with a population of under 500. Yet between 2011 and 2012, Hampton officers wrote 12,698 speeding tickets. Now Hampton, an 89-year-old city, is fighting the state legislature threatening to wipe the town off the map, after a state audit last month uncovered significant… Read more »
Chiquita’s Big Deal
Chiquita Brands International that it had agreed to acquire Fyffes, an Irish fruit and produce distributor, in an all-stock deal that valued Fyffes at about $526 million. The new firm will be called ChiquitaFyffes and will be the world’s largest producer and distributor of bananas. It is expected that the firm will have about $4.6… Read more »
Warning about Emails
Four former leaders of the law firm, Dewey & LeBoeuf, were charged by New York prosecutors with orchestrating a nearly four-year scheme to manipulate the firm’s books during the financial crisis. In emails they talked openly about “fake income,” “accounting tricks” and their ability to fool the firm’s “clueless auditor.” Questions: 1. Explain the role… Read more »
The Largest Jury Award in the History of the EOE
This article presents a “Dickensian” story about Atalissa, Iowa and the largest jury award in the history of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Questions: 1. What was the amount of the awarded damages? Why was the amount reduced? 2. If or when Henry’s Turkey Service pays the judgment for damages and back pay, how would… Read more »
Humans are Bad at Understanding Compound Interest
Maybe you haven’t even thought about your retirement, but according to Matthew O’Brien, you should. This is particularly true if you are contributing to a 401 (k). Questions: 1. What should you look at rather than the returns when picking your 401(k) funds? 2. According to O’Brien, what do 1.25 % annual fees for retirement… Read more »