Famous Frauds
Accounting in Pop Culture
Myth Busters
Blowing the Whistle
Facts and Figures
100

This man was the mastermind behind the largest Ponzi scheme in U.S. history.

Who is Bernie Madoff?

100

What British piano playing rock star sued his top accountants to recoup millions of dollars (Estimated at $29,000,000) in touring costs he claims they mistakenly charged him?

Who is Elton John?

100

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2021 the median annual salary for accountants who are in mid-management roles is about this much.

What is $132,000?

100

Sherron Watkins blew the whistle on a massive accounting fraud that led to the downfall of this compnay.

What is Enron?

100

The accounting equation.

What is Assets = Liabilities + Owners' Equity

200

What company purposely hid their debt and losses to defraud their shareholders, auditors and government regulators bringing down a prominent Accounting firm?

What is Enron?

200

Accountant Andy Dufresne set up a prison warden for arrest in this movie starring Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins.

What is "The Shawshank Redemption"?

200

This percentage of FSB Accountancy students had jobs, were going to grad school, or were starting their own ventures, or had similar plans at the times of their graduation.

What is 97%?

200

Accountant Frank J. Wilson, sometimes called the 'Father of Forensic Accounting,' followed a trail of money that would ultimately become this gangster's undoing.

Who is Al Capone?

200

The phrase often applied to the discipline of accounting.

What is, "The language of business"?

300

The collapse of this company jump-started the 2008 financial crisis.

What is Lehman Brothers?

300

What artist sang "Got two rides, a limousine with a chauffeur. Phone bill about two G's flat. No need to worry, my accountant handles that."

Who is Notorious B.I.G.? (in "Juicy")

300

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs for accountants and auditors are expected to grow at this percentage rate from 2021-2031.

What is 7%?

300

For exposing the fraud at this company, Cynthia Cooper was named one of Time's People of the Year in 2002.

What is Worldcom?

300

What always have to be equal for a company to balance its books?

What are debits and credits?

400

This cryptocurrency exchange CEO wrote, "We sometimes find $50 million of assets lying around that we lost track of; such is life.” 

Who is Sam Bankman-Fried?

400

Title of the song with the memorable line, “I live in hotels, tear out the walls; I have accountants pay for it all.”

What is "Life's Been Good to Me So Far"? (by Joe Walsh)

400

What government agency is known for hiring "accountants who carry guns"?

 What is the FBI?

400

What large US bank was fined $3.7 billion for creating fictitious accounts to enable a money-laundering scheme that was brought to light by their own customers?

What is Wells Fargo Bank?

400

Best known as the "fraud triangle," the presence of these three factors suggests a high risk of fraud.

What are opportunity, incentive, and rationalization?

500

This CEO of Tyco had the company pay half the cost of a multimillion-dollar birthday party for his wife on the Italian island of Sardinia.

Who is Dennis Kozlowski?

500

Inspiration for this Beatles song came after George Harrison learned how much of The Beatles' earnings went to the U.K. Treasury.

What is "The Taxman"?

500

Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, approximately how many accountants & auditors were hired in 2021?

What is 1.5 Million?

500

What social media company fired Peiter "Mudge" Zatko (the company's Chief Security Officer) for refusing to cover up security vulnerabilities and reporting it to the SEC (Securities Exchange Commission)?

What is Twitter?

500

What does CPA stand for?

What is Certified Public Accountant?