Madoff whistleblower to speak on November 16

Accounting , Areas of Study Featured Events | Nov 04, 2011 | Nicole Gesualdo

Harry Markopolos, the forensic accountant who identified Bernard Madoff’s business as a Ponzi scheme and blew the whistle on the operation, will speak on Wednesday, November 16, at 5:00 p.m. He will tell his Madoff tale and other stories of using forensic accounting techniques to uncover corporate fraud.

Gabelli students can click here to register on GSB Access. Non-GSB students who want to attend should e-mail GSBevents@fordham.edu. You must register by November 14. The location is TBA and will be e-mailed to registrants.

Mr. Markopolos said it took him only five minutes of looking at Mr. Madoff’s returns to know that something was very awry — but he then spent many ensuing years trying to get the Securities and Exchange Commission to take action. He has gone on to develop a career in exposing financial criminals, working with attorneys to pursue investigations into frauds related to medical billing, the IRS, the U.S. Department of Defense, and other topics.

Since the Madoff scandal broke, Mr. Markopolos has been a sought-after guest on TV, appearing on Today, 60 Minutes and The Daily Show, and he has been quoted in a wide range of national and international print media. He comes to Fordham courtesy of the Ernst & Young Speaker Series, which puts the spotlight on courageous individuals who have followed their moral compass and helped uncover unethical business practices. This is the series’s inaugural event.

Photograph with thanks to CNN.