Scheme: Recent Episodes
Michael McLaughlin
Scheme is a podcast about accounting fraud. Not run-of-the-mill fraud like passing $200 of bad checks, but large-scale frauds involving millions of dollars that ruined people’s lives. Each episode discusses how a fraud was carried out, and what we can learn from it. Scheme is created and produced by Michael McLaughlin, an accounting professor and creator of Edspira.
In the 1990’s, Waste Management was the largest garbage company in the world. What had begun as the dream of a Dutch immigrant had grown into a billion-dollar company over the course of a hundred years.
But Waste Management had a dirty secret. Its accounting was nastier than its landfills. Behind the scenes, auditors repeatedly tried to get Waste Management to clean up its act, even giving the company a to-do list for fixing its sketchy accounting.
But according to the SEC, the fraud only got worse. When Waste Management brought in a new CEO, he saw that the financials were a dumpster fire and ran for the hills. Things were about to get filthy.
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Jamie Petrone was in charge of purchasing computer equipment for Yale's school of business. Petrone was making a fortune, until someone noticed she was buying a lot more electronics than the school needed. What was she doing with all those iPads? The feds decided to follow her and find out.
The largest pest control company in the world, Rollins Inc., was accused of manipulating reserves to boost profits. When Rollins achieved its earnings target by just one penny not once but twice, the SEC smelled a rat.
Finding a good controller isn’t easy. You probably don't want someone who embezzled money from their last two employers. “What?!?” you’re probably thinking. "No one would hire someone as controller if they stole millions of dollars from their previous employers.” That’s what I used to think, until I heard the story of Peter Suk Lee.
Puda Coal raised over $100 million from U.S. investors. But suddenly there was a problem: did Puda actually own the subsidiary Shanxi Coal? Someone claimed Puda’s board chair had secretly transferred the subsidiary to himself. Had Puda’s subsidiary literally been stolen?
One of the most difficult things about starting a business is getting clients. You need to work hard to get customers to say “yes”. But what if you didn’t have to get customers to say “yes”? What if you just sent them a bill? “Don’t be ridiculous,” you’re probably thinking, “companies aren’t going to pay you just because you send them a bill." But hold that thought, as I’ve got a story to tell.
David Brooks had taken a small company on the verge of bankruptcy and turned it into one of the world’s largest manufacturers of bulletproof vests. Those vests were used by U.S. soldiers, so Brooks was hailed as an American hero. But, problems with the company’s accounting for inventory was just the tip of the iceberg.
Take-Two Interactive was forced to restate its financials 3 times in a span of just 5 years. Each time you thought it was over, Take-Two ended up in the news again. And the company’s founder was right in the middle of it.
The story of Cobalt involves a former associate of the Wolf of Wall Street, and a Ponzi scheme run by a convicted fraudster. Then, Donald Trump got involved.
Interpublic was forced to restate its financials back to 1997. Had the company committed ANOTHER fraud, right after the first one?
Nevin Shapiro was living the high life, and people assumed his high-roller lifestyle was funded by his business, Capitol Investments. But Shapiro’s business hadn’t conducted operations in years...
Satish Gabhawala convinced the city of Harvey to raise $14 million from bond issuances to construct a hotel and 24-hour diner. However, 5 years later the buildings were never finished. Where had the 14 million gone?
Equity Funding Corporation of America reported strong growth for nearly a decade, culminating in a record profit in 1973. But just a few weeks later the firm imploded. It seems the company wrote insurance policies for people who didn’t even exist.
Just 6 months after American Bank Note Holographics' IPO, the company said it needed to restate its financials…A company that had been created to prevent fraud had lied about its revenue.
Electronic Game Card had created an innovative new product. Sales were growing and the company was profitable. But there was something not quite right about the company…
In March of 2002, Adelphia was the 6th largest cable TV provider in the U.S. But then the company made one tiny financial disclosure…and within 3 months it was bankrupt.
In 2013, Homex was the largest real estate development company in Mexico. But just one year later Homex was bankrupt, and under investigation by the SEC.