3 Frauds You Couldn't Make Up If You Tried

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AUTHOR'S POST

Mandy Moody, CFE
ACFE Content Manager

One technique I have heard anti-fraud team leaders discuss is brainstorming fraud scenarios with their teams. In-house investigation teams will  sit down in a room and think of ways to defraud their company and carry out the frauds from the beginning to the end. This gives teams a way to step outside what they see every day and identify any potential loopholes or gaps in controls. While this exercise may prove valuable, it still doesn't capture the truly outlandish frauds out there. As many of us who read fraud headlines lately know, sometimes there are fraud stories you just can't make up.

Here are some recent news stories sure to leave you speechless:

  • A slippery slope: This lawsuit is bananas. Kmart Corp has been sued by a New Jersey company that accused the retailer of ripping off its full-body banana costume design for its “Totally Ghoul” banana men’s Halloween costumes. Read the full story.
  • YOLO: A woman who claimed to insurers that she could barely walk but was seen bungee jumping on Channel 4's Coach Trip has admitted fraud. Read the full story.
  • A carnivorous crime: A South Texas juvenile justice department employee is accused of stealing $1.2 million worth of fajitas over nine years through county-funded purchases. Read the full story.

Do you know of any ridiculous fraud stories? Share them on Twitter and Facebook with the hashtag #cantmakethisfraudup.