Marcy Phelps and Associates

Beware of special deals: Is it too good to be true?

July 25, 2018 / by Marcy Phelps / Due diligence, Due diligence hall of shame / 2 comments

Like any emerging industry, legal cannabis attracts a lot of risk-takers with dreams of making it big. Unfortunately, it also attracts a lot of fraudsters, luring investors with promises of fast and easy profits. FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) sets in, and people tend to rush into the next great deal without taking the time […]

Are prospects for success really as rosy as they seem?

July 6, 2018 / by Marcy Phelps / Due diligence / 0 comments

During the investment process, you’re often presented with a business plan or some solid-looking financial projections. Everything looks good on paper, but you wonder – Are the prospects for success really as rosy as they seem? It’s wise to be skeptical in business transactions, and that’s where market due diligence comes in. Sometimes known as […]

Online due diligence investigations – 5 things you need to know

June 13, 2018 / by Marcy Phelps / Due diligence, Tips/Techniques / 0 comments

5 things you need to know for online due diligence

I recently had the opportunity to speak at the OACFE fraud conference about online due diligence background investigations. It’s always great to meet other fraud professionals and share my strategies and sources. In this presentation, I emphasize that one of the best ways to prevent fraud is to avoid going into business with fraudsters. If […]

Conduct a background check on yourself – It’s worth it

May 24, 2018 / by Marcy Phelps / Due diligence, Tips/Techniques / 0 comments

Have you ever run a background check on yourself? I’m not talking about just googling your name. I’m talking about checking court and other public records, news, and even social media, and taking a deeper dive into your digital footprint to see what others might find out about you. At a recent social event, I […]

Writing reports that get read – and used

May 11, 2018 / by Marcy Phelps / Reports / 4 comments

“There is a simple way to package information that, under the right circumstances, can make it irresistible. All you have to do is find it.” -Malcolm Gladwell The Tipping Point Last week I had the honor of speaking at the DFW Fraud Conference, hosted by the Dallas Chapter of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. […]

Digging into workplace misbehavior

April 26, 2018 / by Marcy Phelps / Due diligence hall of shame / 0 comments

Early-stage due diligence for workplace misbehavior

“Plays well with others” Remember your report cards from kindergarten? Early on, we were encouraged and graded on our ability to get along with classmates and teachers. Now that we’re all grown up (in some ways), it seem that we’re still learning. Thanks to recent high-profile alleged improprieties, the spotlight is definitely on how well […]

Due diligence investigations come in all flavors

April 10, 2018 / by Marcy Phelps / Due diligence / 4 comments

Levels of due diligence background investigations

A previous post described the differences between a due diligence background investigation and a basic background check and why you shouldn’t settle for less than what you need. After that post, a colleague made a great comment in a Twitter conversation that should be addressed. Fellow Certified Fraud Examiner Robert Gardner, pointed out that “…there’s […]

Google alternatives: A little privacy, please!

March 27, 2018 / by Marcy Phelps / Search tools / 10 comments

Recently, I heard a T.V. news commentator say, “Everything you ever need to know is on Google.” If that’s where he gets most of his information, it’s easy to see why the industry is in so much trouble, but I’ll leave that discussion for another day. For now, judging from reader response, it’s clear that […]

Don’t rely on a basic background check

March 13, 2018 / by Marcy Phelps / Due diligence / 0 comments

People often confuse a due diligence background investigation with other types of background checks, including employment, tenant, and regulatory checks. Unfortunately, this confusion can lead to a false sense of security. For example, some may feel that, since U.S. securities law requires broker-dealers to “fingerprint certain associated persons working in a non-registered capacity who may […]

Manage risk with third-party due diligence

February 21, 2018 / by Marcy Phelps / Due diligence, Due diligence hall of shame / 0 comments

On February 6th, The New York Times reported that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) fired contractor Tiffany Brown, sole owner and employee of Tribute Contracting LLC. The agency hired Brown’s firm after Hurricane Maria to supply food for hungry residents in Puerto Rico. It appears that, instead of the agreed-upon 18.5 million meals, Brown […]

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