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www.CAProfession.net. Financial Crimes (Scams, Frauds & White Collar Offences) - Prevention, Detection & Investigation. Chartered Accountants Services for the Police. A representation (usually of fact). u. About a material point (important enough to make a. u. difference).
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Financial Crimes (Scams, Frauds & White Collar Offences) - Prevention, Detection & Investigation Chartered Accountants Services for the Police
A representation (usually of fact) u About a material point (important enough to make a u difference) which is False as Truth or Correct u Intentionally and knowingly so (some cases recklessly) u Which is believed and u Acted upon by the victim u Caused Damage (Financially or otherwise) u DEFINITION OF FRAUD A Fraud is:
DEFINITION OF SCAM A Scam is: A scheme designed with an intent to defraud a group of individuals or an enterprise(s) or a government(s) or a mix thereof, for getting some personal benefit - financial or fame, which requires violation of some law or flouting of certain established controls and involves a team work
Definition Of White Collar Offence An offence which does not result in any physical injury but results in a financial loss
Situational Crime Pressures High Low Scale Opportunities To Commit High Low Personal Integrity High No High Low CRIME SCALE
Telemarketing Frauds Consumer Scams & Schemes Business Opportunities Criminal Operations Investment Frauds Business Scams Money Laundering Kinds of Frauds & Scams
Investment Frauds Affinity Ponzi Financial Planners Pump & Dump Forex / Currency Touting Bait & Switch Real Estate Stock Markets
Investment Frauds – Ponzi Schemes • A Ponzi Scheme is basically an investment fraud where investors are enticed with the promise of extremely high returns or dividends over a very short period of time. • Named after Carl Ponzi, who collected $9.8 million from 10550 people (including three fourth of the Boston Police Force) and then paid out $7.8 million in just 8 months in the year 1920 at Boston by offering profits of 50% every 45 days • Ponzi schemes are a simple fraud whereby initial investors are paid exceptional dividends as interest payouts from the deposits of a growing number of new investors. “Profits” to investors are not created by success of the underlying business ventures but instead are derived from capital contribution of other investors. A few people invest in the scheme, then as news of the offer spreads, more investors are drawn in.
Investment Frauds – Unethical Financial Planners • Misusing a position of trust • Civic Involvement • Attire • Offices • Notoriety • Assume control / power of attorney Few Cases • G T C Fund – Good Till Cancelled • 4ME2SPEND – For me to spend • GSC (Government Securities Fund) – Giant Service Fee
Money Laundering Placement Integration Layering Tax Heavens Flight Capital Enforcement A criminal’s objective in laundering illicit proceeds is to : Get it out; cover it up; bring it back
Techniques in Money Laundering Placement Layering Getting Currency into the financial system so as to convert illicit funds from cash straight into a financial instrument or bank account The movement of funds from institution to institution to hide the source and ownership of the funds, obscure the audit trail and sever the link with the original crime Integration The reinvestment of those funds in an ostensibly legitimate business so that no suspicion of its origins remains and to give the appearance of legitimizing the proceeds
Techniques in Money Laundering Placement Layering Integration • Smurfing • Shipping Money Abroad • Placement through Banks • Use of “Pass Through” or “Payable Through” Accounts • Electronic Wire Transfers • Insurance Products • Investment Related Transactions • NBFCs • Tax Havens & Offshore Banks • Bank Secrecy Law as a layering tool • Corporations & Shell Companies as a layering tool • Use of trusts • Use of walking accounts • Establishing self owned bank • Use of intermediaries • Use of haven bank credit cards • Receiving as consulting or directors fee • Arrangement of corporate loans • Proceeds of gambling • Real estate transactions • Stock Purchase • Use of business • International importing and exporting • Use of free trade zones
Factors which severely hamper law enforcement efforts • Acceptance of flight capital by western countries • Laws and limitations of other countries • Jurisdictional conflicts and lack of international coordination • Bankings’ role in facilitation of the activity • Bank Secrecy • Volume and complexity of international transfers of funds • Internet based banking • Tax heavens as sanctuaries • Offshore corporations • Having to prove fraudulent transfer • Shortfall of reporting requirements • Criminals influencing Government and Bank support • The widespread use and acceptance of trade mis-pricing
Business Opportunities Bulk e-mail Inventions / Patents Multi Level Marketing Vanity Press Publishing Vending Machines Franchises
Money Problem scams Credit Analysis Credit Card Offers Credit Repair Credit reports Identity Theft Loan Brokers Advance Fee
Business Scams Bank Fraud Business Loans Internet Services Cheque Fraud Counterfeiting Cramming Fake Ads & Directories Fraudulent Orders Supply Scams
Work-at-home Assembly Projects Computer Work Product Testing Reading Books Stuffing Envelops
Criminal Operations Corporate Entities Recovery Operations Reloaders
Consumer scams Chain Letters Toll free Numbers Diet / Weight Loss Internet Fraud Local Pyramid Clubs Dinner Party / Gifting Clubs Modeling School Pay-per-call Multi Level Marketing
Consumer Scams Pyramid Schemes Travel Clubs Time Shares Opportunity Seminars Sweet Heart Seminars Travel & Vacation Offers
How-to-manuals Abandoned / Lost Money Employment Inheritance Scholarships / Diplomas
Tele Marketing Frauds Lotteries Charities/Donations Magazine Subscribers Gimmie Gifts Recovery Scams Fund raising Advance Fee Sweeps
RED FLAGS – DEFINITION What Does “Red Flags” Mean “RED FLAGS” are the signals, signs or symptoms which are reflected while certain types of fraud are taking place.
Early indicators of Fraud (Red Flags) • Unreasonable returns compared to market rate of returns • Promise for free money • Magical solutions / products • Show off / Affinity • Clandestine Meetings / Maintenance of Secrecy • Anonymity / One man / small team officiating • Oral Representations / No formal approvals or documentation • Claims of Authority / Registered in a different country • Urgency in collecting finances • Flouting of Laws • Short cut formulae
Techniques in Fraud • The “Three-Call” Technique • The Infallible Forecaster • Baits to Lure in • Aspect of Risk • Show of Familiarity • Doing you a favour • An understanding of Psychology • Avoidance of Questions • High Pressure Sales Tactics • Fancy Corporate Names • Howdy Partner
Creates significant behavioural issues u Disrupts productivity u Losses have a multiplier effect making them much more u expensive than the actual amount lost. Kills Good Organisations u Responsibility of regulators for prevention and u detection of fraud has increased Fraud Should be taken SERIOUSLY g n i s a e r c Fraud is in u
Weaknesses in Regulatory System • Inspector Raj • Dual Responsibility • Undue Delay in Processes • Excessive intervention by Judiciary • Very less time in law making • Considering of problem rather than cause of the problem • More interest before investigation but no interest in concluding the cases
Role of Regulators should be • Understand the need for creation / modification of laws to curb / eliminate opportunities for scams / frauds based on the study of global scenario • Ensure appropriate powers to law enforcement agencies • Provide facility for 2/3 levels of appeal before any one approach the judiciary • Ensure time bound completion for the cases / designating case officer • Announce very severe punishment for committing the crime • Introduction of Compulsory Operations Audit on a periodical basis
Role of Police Should be • Conduct seminars for the benefit of investment community about different kinds of fraud on a periodical basis • Conduct seminars about the repercussions on the convicted & his / her family • Utilise services of professionals such as Chartered Accountants, Advocates & Company Secretaries for conducting pre-enquiries with regard to various indicators available from news media • Be independent from every business not only on paper but otherwise
Chartered Accountants Services • Identification of red flags • Conduct of pre-enquiries • Study of the methodology of scam / fraud • Assisting in documentation / verification of documentation • Investigation Report / Forensic Accounting Report • Expert Advisory Services • Witness services • Training the officers on latest trends in global scenario