Case: Fighting International Fraud with the FCPA

摘要

This case introduces students to the fraudulent acts committed by United States (U.S.) companies selling to international companies that fall under the Securities and Exchange Committee's (SEC) Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) of 1977. All but ignored from the mid 1970's to the 1990's, the SEC has increased enforcement of the FCPA against many companies since the year 2000. The four case objectives for student learning about the FCPA are to: perform research on the FCPA; examine reasons codes of conduct are difficult to enforce internationally; develop critical thinking skills to determine how identified frauds were committed; and develop business writing and speaking skills. The case objectives are accomplished by having students perform the following: studying the FCPA; selecting and researching a recent FCPA case that was brought by the SEC; reviewing and understanding this company's code of conduct; and by preparing a report and presenting a comparative analysis of their findings to the class. This case can be used in a fraud, forensic, auditing, or international accounting class to introduce the students to the FCPA and to study how companies committed fraud in violation of the law. It can also be used to cover codes of conduct, governance, and accountability.