Book Reviews

Continuing with book reviews:

"Power Failure - The Inside Story of the Collapse of Enron"

     10 years after the fall of Enron, the story still has a powerful hold upon Houstonians.  Enron was a company of almost mythical proportions in the city and Ken Lay (now deceased) and Jeff Skilling (serving a long jail sentence) mythical figures in themselves.

     Personally, Enron meant a lot.  I worked for a law firm at the time which was located directly across from the Enron building.  I remember the parties during the summer that Enron would have on the green space separating our buildings.  Later, I worked for a firm that represented Sherron Watkins, the Enron whistleblower that brought down the organization, and the author of this book.

    "Power Failure" is an excellent book and highly recommended.  Ms. Watkin's insider details lets us know her story as she began to discover, once again almost by accident, the fact that Enron was, in and of itself, a massive Ponzi scheme.  10 years ago, this shook the foundations of corporate America.  Now, unfortunately, this same story has repeated itself time and again.  "Enron" itself has become a verb to describe a Ponzi scheme of massive proportions.

     The book is even more relevant today than when it was written.  Ms. Watkin's observations on human deception and the need sometimes to look away when the truth is too painful, as happened time and again within Enron, demonstrate how con artists and fraud scammers prey upon our all-too human weaknesses.

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

Book Reviews

I will be on a major project starting Wednesday the 30th of November for a few days and this blog will not be updated until about December 5.  So, rather than start on a lengthy post, I will just devote the next two days to book recommendations.

     "No One Would Listen" by Harry Markopolous is an outstanding read and highly recommended.  Markopolous was a fraud investigator who, with a small team, discovered (quite by accident) Bernard Madoff's Ponzi scheme long before anyone else.  The discovery was based on a few elemental observations and even Markopolous himself was doubtful at first at what he realized was a fraud of epic proportions.

     This is only the beginning of the story, however.  The majority of the book is devoted to Markopolous' tireless efforts to get the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) to listen to him (hence the title of the book) as he tried to bring this multi billion dollar scam (the largest such scam in history) to the agency's attention.  SEC incompetence and outright laziness on the part of SEC officials meant that for many years, despite Markopolous' warnings and exhaustive memos which clearly outlined Madoff's scheme, this vital information was ignored.

    The truly sad and shocking part of this entire story is that, had the SEC taken the time to just listen to Markopolous and read his memos (which anyone could understand), Madoff's scheme could have been caught years before it was finally exposed and upwards of $50 billion dollars saved (yes, you read that correctly, it's billions with a "b").

   Markopolous' story, as I think he would be the first to tell you, was not so much about someone cracking Madoff's scheme (although this was some brilliant work by Markopolous and his team), but rather the frustrating and heartbreaking scandal of government incompetence and possible corruption as Madoff's scam continued to defraud people of money and, in the end, cause an international tragedy and scandal.

    The book is an easy read and is well written.  Markopolous' own frustrations jump out at the reader as he relates his struggles and it is easy to empathize with him as Markopolous discovered that sometimes the real scandal is not the person who does the evil, but the governmental functionaries that are too lazy or incompetent to even care.

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

You realize you are a victim of fraud XI

OK - you've done the leg work, made the hard decisions, stopped the fraud and taken steps to ensure that it never happens again.  What is left?

     Well, as we leave this subject, I will state that it can't hurt to at least become familiar with some of the well-known techniques of fraudsters.  Blogs such as this one (ahem) are a good place to start with learning about fraud and fraud related issues.  But, every so often, it can't hurt to do a scan of the internet to find out about what is occurring in the world and how fraud and confidence scams change and evolve.  In some ways, fraud never really changes - it is the use of deception to take money or possessions from other people and, as we have seen, this has been going on since the dawn of time.  However, the method and means of fraud is always changing.  Fraudsters are incredibly inventive in coming up with new schemes.

     Take some time to read up on what is going on in this murky world.  I find this reading to be absolutely fascinating.  It doesn't take much of an effort, it is often times an easy read and also enjoyable.

    We will move to a new topic tomorrow.

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

You realize you are a victim of fraud X

OK - so we discussed what happens when you are a victim of active fraud and the prevention measures that need to be taken.  What happens if you are a victim of passive fraud?

     There is really no way to sugar coat this - the best course of action is to retain a fraud professional for your business to install security and safety procedures to reduce the chances of it ever occurring again.  Unfortunately, unlike with active fraud, where you have to take some affirmative step to get involved with the fraud, with passive fraud, you were the victim because someone found an opening and exploited it.

     The best course of action is to retain a professional to "seal" these gaps.  There is just too much information to speak about this that cannot fit into this blog (although I may try later).  There are certain things for which you will need a fraud professional and this is one of them.

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

You realize you are a victim of fraud IX

OK - you have found that you are a victim of fraud and you have also taken the corrective measures.  In medical terms, you have found the wound, staunched the flow of blood and closed the wound.  What's next?

     The next step is to ensure that it will not happen again.  If you have been the victim of fraud, you are somewhat more experienced and (hopefully) somewhat wiser.  You know that fraud is not only something that happens to "other people" it is something that can happen to you and has happened to you.  The real trick, therefore, is to prevent it from occurring again.

     Let's start off this discussion assuming you have been the victim of active fraud.  You sent money to a 419 scam in Nigeria (or any other country).  Once again, to have been a victim of active fraud you somehow must  have participated in this action (in this case, by sending the money).  It's easy to say "well, the answer is simple, I just won't do it again."

     Take steps to ensure that it does not happen again.  This is more than just saying "well, I'm never going to accept an e-mail invitation to send money abroad (or in the U.S.) again."  Talk to a financial advisor.  Talk to someone who can tell you if a program or scheme that is offered to you is legit or something that is indeed "too good to be true."  Get some kind of backup system in place so that you can get a second opinion BEFORE any money is sent or any contracts are signed.

     This step alone is enough to deter most fraud.

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

You realize you are a victim of fraud VIII

OK - let's take the position that whether you have been the victim of a passive fraud or an active fraud, you took your case the District Attorneys' office (or the Justice Department depending on the size of the fraud) and it was accepted for prosecution (or you retained a legal or fraud specialist to help you with this and it was accepted for prosecution).  Now what?

     Two things:

1.  First, cooperate with the DA or the Justice Department.  You brought the case to them, they accepted it and they will need your help to fully prosecute the matter.  Just because you brought a case to the DA or to the Justice Department, it does not mean that it ends there.  The case may end up going to trial and, if you were the victim of fraud, it is almost certain that you will be a witness in the case, if not the star witness.  The DA or the Justice Department will need your help to keep the case going to its conclusion.

2.  Second, remember that if a case is being prosecuted, it is not wise to go around talking about it.  Until the case is resolved, it is best to keep quiet about the matter, unless of course you are talking to the DA or Justice or to your own legal counsel.

On a personal note, I will not be posting this Thursday (11/24) because of the holiday.  I wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving.

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

You realize you are a victim of fraud VII

OK - we discussed yesterday what to do when you are a victim of passive fraud and the (usual) necessity of speaking to a lawyer because of the legal overtones of dismissing the employee who was causing the fraud (causing employment issues) and/or going to the District Attorneys' office to file a criminal complaint (bringing criminal issues into the mix).

     The issue for today is: if you are the victim of active fraud, do you still need to take the same steps and precautions?

     Remember, with active fraud, normally the only victim is yourself.  You were the one sending the money so you were the one who experienced the loss.  In this case, there are (usually) no other parties).

     It is still good advice, however, to speak with an attorney before filing any documents or complaints with the D.A.  In this case, "attorney" means a competent criminal defense attorney.  There are three main reasons for doing this:

1.  First, a competent professional should review your case
2.  Second, there is always the possibility that, inadvertantly, you may have committed a crime.  Money that was sent overseas (which occurs in some frauds) may have been sent, even without your consent, to groups that the United States Department of State classifies as terrorist groups.  Also, once again without your consent or knowledge, money transfers could have been in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.  It is a good idea, therefore, to get an informed opinion on this.
3.  Finally, it is important to have an attorney see if this is something that a District Attorneys office can handle or if it needs to go the Federal government, or anywhere at all.

   When you have been the victim of fraud, it is important to report the fraud and how much you lost.  But, once again, getting assistance from an attorney can be important before proceeding forward.

You realize you are a victim of fraud VI

OK - we've had the humbling experience of computing our losses and determining just how big of a hit we have taken.  Now, the next step is to determine the steps that are needed to prevent this from happening in the future.

     Today, however, we are going to discuss what happens if you have been the victim of a passive fraud, i.e. you work for a company and discovered that one of your employees was stealing from the company.  This involves an extra step that may not occur with active fraud (i.e. where you were sending money to someone, such as the infamous Nigerian 419 scams).

     At this point, your company needs to determine if criminal charges need to be filed.  And, at this point, this blog will have to "take the 5th" and simply say the best course of action is to consult with an attorney.  My blog's purpose is to educate as many people about fraud and how to avoid being a victim of fraud, but there are some aspects of fraud related events that are just too specific and complex to discuss on a forum such as this.

   So - here goes.  The general advice for situations when you have discovered that your company has been the victim of fraud because of an employee is to speak with an attorney as soon as reasonably possible.  Anytime an employee will be terminated involves potential litigation.  An employment attorney may therefore be needed.  Also, if criminal charges are to be filed, it is often not as easy as "filling out a form."  There are other legal implications which must be considered and a competent criminal defense attorney can be of assistance with this area.

   So - in the case of passive fraud involving a company, it is best to consult with an attorney after the steps described in previous blog postings have been done.  In situations such as the ones described, competent legal representation will be needed.

   More, of course, tomorrow.

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

You realize you are a victim of fraud V

OK - you've done the financial calculations and have tallied your losses.  It is not fun, not pleasant and certainly a humbling experience.  But, it is necessary.

    After the calculations have been done, the next step is to defined just how serious are the losses.  There is a vast difference between losing a few bucks on a scam that will prevent you from having dinner in your favorite restaurant for the next month or a major financial blow that will seriously redefine your concept of "retirement."  Once again, this is a critical, yet humbling, step.  But, it is also important.  You need to know just how damaging has been this exposure.

     Once again, at this point you may need to consult a financial advisor.  Before we can move on, however, you need to know just how much exposure has occurred.

  Next step tommorrow.

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

You realize you are a victim of fraud IV

OK - if you are the victim of an active fraud, stop immediately.  If you are the victim of a  passive fraud, go tell someone.  What next?

     The next step is to calculate your losses.  Find out how much money you have lost.

    For many people, this is the second-hardest step (the hardest step will be discussed in a future post).  It is painful to realize and discover how much money you have lost to a fraud scheme, but it is incredibly important.  You need to have a fixed number which details your losses so you can detail not only what you have lost, but begin to look at recovery.

     If you are the victim of an active fraud, where you actually had to send money, then detailing your losses should not be that difficult.  However, you may want a CPA or other financial professional to review it with you.  If you are the victim of a passive fraud, then you should most definitely get a CPA or a financial professional since you may have to present this to the police or to someone within your organization and you will need expert backup.

     As state, it is not easy to sit down and put a dollar-and-cents figure on how much you have lost because of fraud.  To move ahead, however, it is essential.

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

You realize you are a victim of fraud III

Yesterday we discussed what to do if you discover that you are being defrauded and it is an active fraud.  Once again, the Nigerian 419 scam is the best example of this.  And, the advice is simple - the first step is to stop sending money.

     What if you are the victim of a more passive fraud, however?  What happens if, for example, you are in the accounting department of a company and you realize that fraud is occurring?  For example, while going over the receipts of an employee who is asking for a refund or a reimbursement.  What happens then?

     It is unwise to simply confront someone in this situation because, as the person doing the confrontation, you may be accused of libel, slander and other torts if your accusations turn out to be baseless.  So, if you find that you (or your company) are the victim of a passive fraud, the best first step is to contact the next person in your department (or the company) who is responsible for oversight and have them check your work.  Or, if you are in a small company, the person who is above your level of responsibility.  Or, if you are self-employed and you think a vendor is committing fraud, ask your accountant.

   You get the idea.  Get an opinion first from someone other than yourself.  Don't go directly accusing people.

    Unlike active frauds, where you actually have to take some action to be a victim of the fraud (i.e. send money), passive fraud means that someone is committing fraud without you having to take any action (other than perform a reimbursement or something of that nature).  You are not being asked to send money to a person or organization, quite the opposite - someone is taking money from you.

This then is a good first step if you are the victim of passive fraud.

More tomorrow.

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

You realize you are a victim of fraud II

OK - you have suddenly realized that you are a victim of fraud.  What's next?

     The first thing to do in the situation described (the case of Nigerian 419 fraud) is to STOP DOING IT!  Seriously.  If a fraudster is tricking you into sending money to him, then stop sending money.  The first step is always to cut your losses.

     Note, however, that the advice to stop doing it is in the case of ACTIVE fraud.  Active fraud is where you are actually taking some affirmative action or step (in this case actually sending or transferring money).  In the case of an ACTIVE fraud, such as the Nigerian 419 fraud, stopping the situation means to stop sending money.

 In the case of a PASSIVE fraud, such as discovering that an employee of a company is defrauding the company, then it becomes a little more complicated.  The first step might involve speaking with an attorney or other counsel first.

We will talk more about this tomorrow.

NOTE: THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE NOR IS IT INTENDED TO BE LEGAL ADVICE.  IF THE READER HAS ANY LEGAL QUESTIONS, PLEASE REFER TO AN ATTORNEY.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------à>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

You realize you are a victim of fraud I

Time to move on to another thread.

     After being in communication with a mysteriously named Nigerian prince or former ruler or medical doctor or bank account manager in Lagos by email for the past few months, you suddenly start getting the feeling that all is not right.  You are supposed to get a deposit in your bank account of $20 million dollars, but there have been delays.  Your contact in Lagos is telling you that they need an additional $5000 for the transfer.  This is after the previous requests for $5000 and another for $7000 that you dutifully paid.

     Your contact in Lagos keeps telling you everything is fine, everything is working but there are just a few unexpected glitches that keep popping up.  A local police inspector needs to get some money to look the other way.  The bank administrator died and someone needs to be placed in a temporary position to cover so that the new administrator won't catch on.  Now there is a problem with the transfer office.  Just one more payment and it will be worked out.

    No big deal, right?  You have to spend money to make money.  You've already sunk $12,000 into the project, what is another $5000?  The payoff will be enormous.  Keep the faith, all will be fine.

     Or will it?

    Suddenly it hits you - your the victim of a scam.

    Now what?

http://www.tauskvega.com

-------------->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

There's a sucker born every minute XV

Piltdown Man set back the science of anthropology for decades.  Perhaps this is the biggest legacy of the fraud - the damage done to a science by those who set out to intentionally deceive others.

     We can always look back and argue that anthropology was still in its infancy and therefore anthropologists were easily fooled by this deception.  But, as we will see in future blogs, junk science and fraudulent science is still a risk in the scientific world.  It has been said by many fraudsters that scientists are usually the easiest people to fool because scientists often live in a world where the idea that someone would intentionally falsify data is hard to accept.

     As I stated at the very beginning of this thread, however, economic fraud is not the only fraud which can be found.  Fraud in the scientific community can occur, as well as fraud in other fields.  The effects of such fraud can affect a community for decades.

     We will move onto another thread tomorrow.

As always, have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

--------------->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

Again

Try this post again: we know that Charles Dawson was the "discoverer" of Piltdown Man.  Dawson was a reseller and seller and fake antiquities.  He did not profit directly from the notoriety of Piltdown Man, but it is arguably clear that his notoriety was enhanced as the discoverer of the "artifact" and, with this enhanced reputation, was able to sell other fake antiquities with this enhanced reputation.

   Therefore, it is worth considering that although some fraudsters may not profit directly from a fraud, they may profit indirectly.

   We will wrap this up tommorrow.

Have a great and fraud free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

------------>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

There's a sucker born every minute XIV

We know that Charles Dawson was the person who "found" Piltdown Man.  As a recap: Charles Dawson was a solicitor who lived in southern England, near Sussex. He was also an enthusiastic amateur paleontologist. In 1908 some workmen, knowing his interest in fossils, presented him with curious bone fragments that they had found while working in a gravel pit near the town of Piltdown. Dawson's interest was piqued and he soon began conducting his own excavation in the pit. Eventually he enlisted the aid of Arthur Smith Woodward, keeper of the Department of Geology at the British Museum.


    After the fraud was completely exposed, Dawson was found to be a trader in fake antiquities.  Although it is not proven that Dawson profited directly from Piltdown Man, it is also clear that Dawson's reputation was enhanced by the "discovery" of Piltdown Man.  It is likely, therefore, that Piltdown Man assisted Dawson in the sale of other fake antiquities.


    It is worth considering, therefore, that fraudsters may profit indirectly from a fraud as well as directly.


Have a great and fraud free day.


http://www.tauskvega.com


------------>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk  

There's a sucker born every minute XIII

So - Piltdown Man and fraud.  What does one have to do with the other?

     When something comes along that seems to provide an answer, sometimes we overlook the obvious.

     Piltdown Man can be forgiven for being a fraud.  It can also be forgiven for deceiving many people, including anthropologists.  Science is in a constant process of development, all science, and it is not uncommon for one theory to be overthrown upon the discovery of new evidence.  In this respect, Piltdown Man is just another chapter in scientific history.

    What signals it as fraud, however, is that it was planted by a person who obviously was intent on deceiving people and that so many people were willing to look past the obvious problems with this "find" because it answered so many issues, including issues that had nothing to do with anthropology.

   Tommorrow, we will discovery how certain people gained financially from Piltdown Man and then wrap it up.

http://www.tauskvega.com

-------------->>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

There's a sucker born every minute XII

So - the ultimate demise of Piltdown Man was two factors:

1.   The advancement of the science of anthropology which was able to prove conclusively that it was a fraud, and
2.   The changing social attitudes which discarded the idea that evolution had some "races" that were more advanced than other "races."

     Both of these factors are important when discussing fraud.

    First, the type of fraud schemes that would have been possible 30 years ago are not possible now, and vice versa.

    For example, the original "Ponzi" scheme depended on the idea that there was an exchange rate that was different in different countries AND it would take time (namely a trip across the ocean) to take advantage of these rates.  This is not possible today with instantaneous communications.  In reverse, the "419" scams of Nigera (and other countries) which happen through email could not have occurred before the advent of email.

More on this later.

Have a great and fraud free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

---------->>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

There's a sucker born every minute XI

We discussed why it took until the 1950's for Piltdown Man to be declared a complete fake.  As stated, there were several anthropologists who from the very beginning who stated as such, but they were swept aside.  It was not until the 1950's that the final verdict was in and Piltdown Man was declared a fake.

     Remember, one of the reasons that Piltdown Man was viewed as "real" from the beginning was because many Europeans were willing to accept the idea that certain races (i.e. Europeans) were more advanced from an evolutionary perspective than other races (i.e. colonized peoples).  Piltdown Man allowed this type of interpretation because it showed that human beings had a "missing link" between apes and humans (a false interpretation of evolution as described today).  If there was a "missing link" then this was proof that certain species were more advanced than others.

     By the 1950's, this view had been discarded.  Combined with the idea that colonialism was on its way out,, this helped to discredit the very idea of Piltdown Man.  If there was no more need for a "missing link" and there was no need to justify colonialization, then perhaps the whole idea of "Piltdown Man" should be reevaluated.

    We will wrap this up tommorrow.

Have a great and fraud free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

------------------------->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

There's a sucker born every minute X

Let's continue this conversation talking about the European version of early 20th century Darwinism.  Or, to be more precise, how many Europeans interpreted Darwin's ideas along with their own prejudices.

      As we discussed all along, Piltdown Man was a fraud from the very beginning.  An unknown fraudster glued together the skull fragments of various species (including humans) and buried his creation.  It was found and interpreted to be the "missing link" between apes and humans.

     Many times, fraudsters take advantage of not only what we believe, but what we want to believe.  Many Europeans wanted to believe that they were more highly "evolved" than other humans and had not only the duty, but the right to colonize much of the planet.  If Piltdown Man were to be believed, then this was proof that humans evolved from lesser animals and, also, were in the process of continuous evolution.  Might it not be true, then that certain humans were more evolved than others.

     This kind of idea helped to keep alive the idea that Piltdown Man was a real find, even though many anthropologists disputed it from the very beginning.  The notion, however, that certain races were more advanced not only culturally, but physically as well, was too enticing of an idea for some.

    By the 1950's, when Piltdown Man was decisively declared to be a fraud, these ideas of evolution had also passed.

More on this later.

http://www.tauskvega.com

---------------->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

There's a sucker born every minute IX

Let's talk about the second element of the Piltdown Man fraud which kept it alive for so long - the old (discarded) idea that evolution is a progression from "worse" to "better."

     During the time when Piltdown Man was found, as stated in an earlier post, European colonial expansion was at its height.  Many people in these colonial countries (but not all) found excuses in its empire building by using ideas that advanced European nations were "civilizing" these colonies.  Please note that Europeans were not the only countries in history to build empires at the expense of other people - this has been going on since the dawn of time.  But, European empire building occurred during a time when our understanding of nature (through the scientific method) was expanding exponentially.

     A misinterpreted idea of evolution, therefore, also made the idea of "Piltdown Man" acceptable.  If "higher" European civilizations were more "advanced" than other cultures, then it might make sense that "Europeans" were also more advanced in a biological sense as well.  Piltdown Man demonstrated that there as a missing link between "higher" and "lower" races and this fit into the worldview of this interpretation.

More on this later.

Have a great and fraud free day

http://www.tauskvega.com

-------------->>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

There's a sucker born every minute VIII

Let's keep on with our discussion regarding the long hoax of Piltdown Man.

     Why did it take so long for anthropologists to discovery that Piltdown Man was basically some jerk who fused together the jaw of an orangutan and the skull of a modern human?  I know it's easy to look at this with hindsight and say "how could people be so foolish?" but there is another factor to consider here which plays into the hands of fraudsters.

     Everyone is familiar with the story of "The Emperor's New Clothes" (a story we will revisit in the future).   I will not go into it on this post.  But, we know that everyone could see that the Emperor was naked and only the revelation from a small boy who, unburdened by social pressures, was able to blurt out that the Emperor had on no clothes.  Once he did this, of course, everyone else felt fine to make the same proclamation.

     Science sometimes works the same way.  Entire careers have been built on mistaken assumptions and, although science is supposed to be self-correcting, sometimes even scientists are reluctant to admit that their professional careers are sometimes built on false foundations (forgetting, of course, that science often advances as much by learning what is not is true by learning what is true).

     Fraudsters often rely on the well known psychological base that people will sometimes do everything to avoid looking foolish, even innocently continuing a fraud.

   So - back to Piltdown Man - the answer is that some people did indeed build their careers on Piltdown Man and were reluctant to admit that it was a fraud, even when it became obvious.

Have a great and fraud-free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

------------>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

There's a sucker born every minute VII

OK - let's look at one of the two main reasons that the Piltdown Man hoax lasted as long as it did.

    First, as discussed, anthropology was still in its infancy.  One of the basic and accepted ideas of anthropology was that although evolution was accepted (more or less) as the preferred method to explain how humans (and other living creatures) arrived on this planet, there were large gaps in the fossil record.  So, any new discovery was viewed as a potential way to close this gap.  Further, although it was discussed, there was still no acceptable way to explain the differences between apes, monkeys and other primates with humans.  So - the idea of a "missing link" was viewed as a necessary way to explain this discrepancy.

     With Piltdown Man, this missing link was apparently found.  The Man had the jaw structure of an ape, but the brain structure of a man.  This could be the way to explain how one pattern (ape) shifted to another (man) in one fell swoop.

    Keep in mind, one of the hallmarks of any acceptance of fraud is the willingness to believe and the voluntary suspension of disbelief.  If we are willing to believe something, then our critical faculties sometimes take a back seat.  Many people have a built in "skeptical" radar and for something to get past that radar, our notions of disbelief have to be suspended.  Anthropologists and other scientists that were looking for some way to verify their theories on a missing link found what they were looking for in Piltdown Man.

     We will continue this tomorrow.

Have a great and fraud free day

http://www.tauskvega.com

------------->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

There's a sucker born every minute VI

OK - as promised - here is the evidence that spelled the end of the hoax of Piltdown Man:

In November 1953, Time magazine published evidence gathered variously by Kenneth Page Oakley, Sir Wilfred Edward Le Gros Clark and Joseph Weiner proving that the Piltdown Man was a forgery and demonstrating that the fossil was a composite of three distinct species.  It consisted of a human skull of medieval age, the 500 year old lower jaw of a Sarawak orangutan and chimpanzee fossil teeth.  The appearance of age had been created by staining the bones with an iron solution and chromic acid.  Microscopic examination revealed file marks on the teeth and it was deduced from this that someone had modified the teeth to give them a shape more suitable to a human diet.

   So, by 1953, the game was up.

Have a great and fraud free day.

http://www.tauskvega.com

----------->>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk

One more time II

Sorry - having trouble posting the link.   I will fix it or type it out myself tommorrow.

-------------->>>>>>>>>>>>gene

One more time

In November 1953, Time Magazine published evidence gathered variously by Kenneth Page Oakley, Sir Wilfred DeGras Oakley and Joseph Weiner proving that the Piltdown Man was a forgery ^[7] and demonstrating that the fossil was a composite of three distinct species. It consisted of a human skull of medieval age, the 500-year-old lower jaw of a Sarawak Oragutan and chimpanzee fossil teeth. The appearance of age had been created by staining the bones with an iron solution and chromic acid Microscopic examination revealed file-marks on the teeth, and it was deduced from this that someone had modified the teeth to give them a shape more suited to a human diet.

Sorry

This happens from time to time:

Here is the Wikipedia post:

In November 1953, Time published evidence gathered variously by Kenneth Page Oakley, Sir Wilfrid Edward Le Gros Clark and Joseph Weiner proving that the Piltdown Man was a forgery ^[7] and demonstrating that the fossil was a composite of three distinct species. It consisted of a human skull of medieval age, the 500-year-old lower jaw of a Sarawak orangutan and chimpanzee fossil teeth. The appearance of age had been created by staining the bones with an iron solution and chromic acid. Microscopic examination revealed file-marks on the teeth, and it was deduced from this that someone had modified the teeth to give them a shape more suited to a human diet.

And, tommorrow we will investigate why issues of nationalism kept the Piltdown Man hoax alive.

There's a sucker born every minute VI

So - what gave away Piltdown Man?  What exposed this fraud?

Once again, Wikipedia:

"In November 1953, Time published evidence gathered variously by Kenneth Page Oakley, Sir Wilfrid Edward Le Gros Clark and Joseph Weiner proving that the Piltdown Man was a forgery ^[7] and demonstrating that the fossil was a composite of three distinct species. It consisted of a human skull of medieval age, the 500-year-old lower jaw of a Sarawak orangutan and chimpanzee fossil teeth. The appearance of age had been created by staining the bones with an iron solution and chromic acid. Microscopic examination revealed file-marks on the teeth, and it was deduced from this that someone had modified the teeth to give them a shape more suited to a human diet."


    In other words, although Piltdown Man had been suspected to be a hoax from the very beginning by certain individuals, it was the continuous investigation of the "Man" that led to it being declared a fake.  This is not unusual in science: theories are discarded all the time.  But, as stated earlier, it was a pretty good run for a hoax.


   Tommorrow we will address the nationalist issues that led to Piltdown Man being accepted for so long.


As always, have a great and fraud free day.


http://www.tauskvega.com


------------->>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>gene tausk