The Fraud ID Handbook

Book Description

The Fraud ID Handbook is designed to teach individuals, students, and those in continuing education curriculum to identify the common fraud schemes and to learn the great breadth of fraud.

The first chapter provides invaluable background, with definitions and a unique discussion of the history of fraud.

The Handbook is ideal as a reference and as a text for basic law enforcement or for accounting-fraud classes.

Beyond covering the common frauds---confidence games, consumer fraud, contract fraud, etc. the Handbook includes fraud scenarios found in few other texts---fraud and terrorism, mining fraud, fraud in gems and meteorite sales, and, among hundreds of others, art fraud.

The final chapter summarizes the global impact of fraud, and outlines preventive measures for individuals and businesses.

Customer Reviews:

Fraud ID Handbook review.......2004-09-08

This is a review of many different types of fraud. It is perhaps most applicable for a course in school. To make it more interesting in the next edition, I recommend that the author tie the fraud to the penalties and the likely liability of perpetrators, chances of getting caught, and more anecdotes about criminal cases brought to conclusion, and details about how the prosecutors operate. The (surprising) general idea I get from the book is that fraud is rampant and seldom discovered. The collection of estimates about the society-wide costs of fraud at the end of the book is fascinating, as is the history of fraud at the beginning.

very informative.......2003-01-07

I am a investigator for the U.S. gov't. This book is very informative. The book I believe, is not meant to be read cover to cover. Instead it is more like a ref. guide to all types of fraud. Very good book. I'm glad I have this in my library.

Avoid victimization by fraud, consult this book.......2002-11-02

I hear or read about fraud everyday--it?s scary. Not wanting to become a victim, I got The Fraud Identification Handbook, one of the most reasonably priced books on fraud available. Every type of fraud--that I can think of--is covered.

Before I bought a house, I read the Read Estate Fraud section, which prompted me to check a broker?s license history. Following the Handbook?s recommendation, I avoided dealing with someone who had a history of complaints.

I am considering having work done on my home, and I am so glad I consulted the section on Home Repair Fraud first. I will not do business with a contractor who demands some up-front payment.

Clearly well researched, all of the supporting examples of fraud are referenced. Tips on prevention follow each section, lending credence to the author?s expertise on the subject. I can recommend this book to others who want to be aware of and avoid fraud.

This is NOT a 5-Star Book!.......2002-10-03

I don't understand how the other reviewers could give this book 5 stars!

The book IS definitely comprehensive.

It is poorly edited. For example the author does not know the difference between effect and affect.

It is repetitious. Many sentences/paragraphs are repeated throughout the book.

Worst of all, it is dull.

It is NOT a bad book. But it's not very good, either. Strictly mediocre.

"A great, comprehensive book on Fraud!".......1999-08-18

As a Federal Investigator, I have certainly read my fair share of Criminal Justice books, however, this book is different, unique, and down right better. It is a must read for anyone working in or wanting to become familiar with aspects of Fraud. This is one of the best practical books I have read on Criminal Justice and Fraud. As one can imagine, with a Degree in Criminal Justice I have read too many books on the subject, yet this book is definitely more practical and has a wider scope of use than most books in the Criminal Justice/Fraud realm. This book is not just for the Criminal Justice professional, but rather anyone who would like to protect themselves from being a victim of fraud.

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

The Fortune Tellers: Inside Wall Street's Game of Money, Media and Manipulation

Average customer rating:

An interesting look inside the crazy world of Wall Street and the media
fast paced, no-analysis, pure narration
excelent summary of the financial history of the early '00
Interesting but not needed for the home collection
Too much James Cramer, not enough Wall Street

The Fortune Tellers: Inside Wall Street's Game of Money, Media and Manipulation
Howard Kurtz
Manufacturer: Free Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Stocks | Investing | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Current Events | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Media Studies | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0684868806

Book Description

Just as "spin" has taken over politics in America, so too has it come to define the long bull market on Wall Street. The booming trade in stocks, which has become a national obsession, has produced an insatiable demand for financial intelligence - and plenty of new, highly paid players eager to supply it. On television and the Internet, commentators and analysts are not merely reporting the news, they are making news in ways that provide huge windfalls for some investors and crushing losses for others. And they often traffic in rumor, speculation, and misinformation that hit the market at warp speed. Howard Kurtz, widely recognized as America's best media reporter, and the man who revealed the inner workings of the Clinton administration's press operation in the national bestseller Spin Cycle, here turns his skeptical eye on the business-media revolution that has transformed the American economy. He uncovers the backstage pressures at television shows like CNBC's Squawk Box and CNN's Moneyline; at old-media bastions like The Wall Street Journal and Business Week, which are racing to keep up with the twenty-four-hour news cycle; and at Internet start-ups like TheStreet.com and JagNotes, real-time operations in the very arena where fortunes are made and lost with stunning swiftness. Bombarded by all this white noise, who among the fortune tellers can investors really trust? Kurtz provides an indispensable guide with this eye-opening account of an unseen world, based on eighteen months of shadowing the most influential, colorful, and egotistical people in business and journalism. Among the people we meet in its pages are: * Ron Insana, Maria Bartiromo, David Faber, Lou Dobbs, and the other famous faces of cable TV * The manic king-of-all-media Jim Cramer, who juggles four different identities - Wall Street trader, television commentator, columnist, and Internet entrepreneur - with wildly varying degrees of success * Shoe-leather reporters Steve Lipin, Chris Byron, and Gene Marcial, whose exclusives drive up stocks or quickly deflate them * Superstar analysts Ralph Acampora, Abby Joseph Cohen, and Henry Blodget, whose predictions make the Dow and Nasdaq gyrate * Internet CEOs Kim Polese and Kevin O'Connor, who struggle to ride the media tiger while promoting their high-flying companies No one has ever reported from inside the Wall Street media machine or laid bare the bitter feuds, cozy friendships, and whispered leaks that move the market. Kutrz exposes the disturbing conflicts of interest among the brokerage analysts and fund managers whose words can boost or bash stocks - thanks to scoop-hungry journalists who rarely question whether these gurus are right or wrong. And he chronicles the journalistic hype that helped propel Net stocks into the stratosphere until they began plummeting back to earth. In a time of head-spinning volatility, The Fortune Tellers is essential reading for all of us who gamble our savings in today's overheated stock market.

Download Description

From the bestselling author of "Spin Cycle" comes a one-of-a-kind book that takes the reader inside the Wall Street media machine and lays bare the behind-the-scenes hype and human foibles that move markets and make or break fortunes.

Customer Reviews:

An interesting look inside the crazy world of Wall Street and the media.......2006-10-02

This book is an interesting narrative that looks at the end of the internet bubble and details the events leading up to the tech crash of 2000. It is told mostly through the eyes of various media figures-from CNBC anchors to their rivals at CNNfn to Jim Cramer. For someone who isn't familiar with that time in the market this book offers a great deal of insight-for people who either experienced it firsthand or already know something about it there is probably very little new here.

This book makes for an interesting read. Despite already being familiar with the events covered in this book I was entertained, especially while reading about such colorful figures as Jim Cramer and Mark Haines. The book isn't particularly well-written-the changes in tense (which I'm not sure are always done correctly) are often annoying-but is nevertheless engaging and flows well. This is not a book I would recommend for anything other than a casual read, though as such it is probably worth a look.

fast paced, no-analysis, pure narration.......2004-09-09

In a remarkably well-narrated book, Kurtz, highlights the inordinate amount of power TV business program anchors and their guests have on stock volatility. Though the book focuses on the "bubble" era, the mechanisms of stock price manipulation, intended or coincidental, are equally applicable today as it did in the Internet craze.

Despite the well narrated story lines including many of the better known financial journalists, the book does not build on the few themes introduced in the first chapter itself. After a couple of chapters, the author's take on CNBC anchors' behavior on market movement is predictable. However, the story regarding the development of CNBC, Dobb/CNNfn, Fox, bloomberg, is entertaining, though wouldnt pass as a comprehensive history guide. The focus on Kramer for most part of the book is a bit annoying as well, though the use of thestreet.com's story reveals some interesting aspects of mergers/buy-outs, etc.

In short, a fairly good read, not a great level of details, but clearly highlights (over and over) the impact of journalists on stock prices (as if you needed this book to tell you), intertwined with good story lines on TV persona and journalists.

excelent summary of the financial history of the early '00.......2004-07-29

I read this book years ago when it was a best seller. I bought it on the strength of the reviews of the people written about in this book like Kramer, the CNBC Squakbox people, numerous high profile analysts. They had a positive review of how the book came out, and so I bought and read it. I don't read the Wall Street Journal all the time so the content of this book was educating for me. Howard Kurtz has a show in CNN, he is a media critic, so his take on the financial media and players in it has a degree of credibility. However this book is dated now, there have been many developments since this book hit the bookstores. The time I read this I thought it was wonderful that a summary of the recent financial past was available in a very well written book.

Interesting but not needed for the home collection.......2002-11-24

This book offered some interesting insight into how analyst news and forecasts effect the stock market. The main message I came away with is "don't believe the hype". If you are looking to bolster your confidence in your own ability to make stock picks in the face of contridictory market analysts then take the time to listen to this book. If you're not interested in an autobiogrophy of famous Wall Street gurus then skip it. You can get the same information and much more valuable insight from reading some of the Peter Lynch books.

Too much James Cramer, not enough Wall Street.......2002-06-18

This is mostly a minibio of James Cramer with a lot of attention paid on the side to CNBC and Maria Bartiromo specifically. If you're very interested in Cramer, you can just go get his actual memoir. As for me, I am interested in Wall Street and the system of disseminating and evaluating information and opinion about stocks -- the conflicts of interest, the conventions, the legal rules, the strengths and weaknesses. I don't know how you can analyze those issues without spending time on the role and motivations of key research analysts, the position of the SEC and the communication conventions between companies and journalists, hedge fund and other money managers and the SEC. Any book claiming to treat these issues and focusing on 1998-2000 would have to deal extensively by the phenomenon represented by Mary Meeker and Harry Blodgett, which this book does not. The book focuses disproportionately and without explanation on a few TV personalities without treating the overall issue. Too bad for me.

It would have been fine if the title had been accurate -- something about James Cramer. Or even "Crazy Days at CNBC."

Book Description

Previous editions of Robert Z. Aliber's The New International Money Game have been widely acclaimed as the best and most entertaining introduction to the arcane enigmas of international finance. Since its original publication, the book has become a classic primer for beginning students, businesspersons, and anyone interested in a clear explanation of international monetary and financial issues.

With expert knowledge and a wry sense of humor, Aliber demystifies international finance by breaking through the jargon barrier and presenting technical issues in a clear and concise manner. Aliber takes the reader on a tour of a multiplicity of international finance issues, included fixed and floating exchange rates, devaluations, money markets, monetary policy, and the concepts that lie behind the esoteric language of financial economists.

This sixth edition tracks the changes that have taken place in the world economy since the previous editions by exploring financial globalization, postcommunist transition, European integration, and the Asian economic crisis. It is an indispensable and highly readable guide to the complex and increasingly fragile system through which the world's business is financed.

Average customer rating:

The Fortune Tellers: Inside Wall Street's Game of Money, Media and Manipulation
Howard Kurtz
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Bargain Books | Stores | Books

Economics | Business & Investing | Bargain Books | Stores | Books
ASIN: B000HWYWDC

New International Money Game: Seventh Edition

Average customer rating:

New International Money Game: Seventh Edition
Robert Aliber
Manufacturer: Palgrave Macmillan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Book Description

When Robert Z. Aliber's The International Money Game first appeared in 1973, it was widely acclaimed as the best - and most entertaining - introduction to the arcane mysteries of international finance on the market. The seventh edition of this classic work has again been fully rewritten to take account of the immense changes in the world economy since the previous edition, and includes a new chapter on asset pricing and bubbles.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books