Poor Ethics:  A Gateway to Ruin By Dorothy Riggs, CFE Recent news reports of the latest Anthony Weiner scandal , once again brings the discussion of ethics to the tips of our tongues.  When it comes to committing acts of questionable behavior Mr. Weiner is definitely not on that crooked path by himself.  Time and time again we hear of politicians, employees, businessmen, educators, husbands, wives and so on who are caught straying away from the straight and narrow. These wandering acts often lead to catastrophe.  Surely no one intentionally sets out on a path of destruction. So, what leads them to a trajectory of ruin?

The Fraud Triangle: Businesses get Burned by the Man-in-the-Middle By: Dorothy Riggs, CFE By: Dorothy Riggs, CFE The fraud triangle involves three major components; pressure, opportunity and rationalization. Mixed together, these ingredients explode causing significant losses for businesses of all classifications. Recent reports indicate that a typical organization loses 5% of annual revenues to fraud.   The Incendiary Mix of Fraud Triangle Ingredients Pressure is felt by potential fraudsters.  It may stem from financial, health, blackmail, psychological, lifestyle dependency or other issues that are of monumental importance to the affected individual.  He or she looks for some way to relieve the pressure by eliminating the immediate issue, if only temporarily, until they can find a more permanent fix. Opportunity is present when the fraudster identifies and takes advantage of circumstances in order to illegally and deceitfully obta...

What Could Bargain Products Really Cost You? By:  Dorothy Riggs, CFE Most of us want to be good stewards over our finances so we often look for ways to save money, which leads us into the world of potentially dangerous bargain temptations. However, the next time you spot what seems to be a bargain, think before you buy.  The word bargain implies that something is a ‘good deal’. You’re getting something of value for a discounted price. Don't be so quick to believe that. Sure, true bargains do exist. But, some bargains are much less than meets the eye and could cost you a lot more than you bargained for.