Blevins Associates Consulting

19/06/2026

Here's a thought.

The most dangerous thing in a business isn't always fraud.

Sometimes it's familiarity.

When we see the same reports, the same transactions, and the same processes every day, we stop noticing things that don't quite look right.

That's human nature.

Unfortunately, fraudsters count on it.

This week's Fraud Friday explores a real Southern California case and one question I think every business owner should ask:

**What have I stopped paying attention to because it has become routine?**

Check out the video below.

12/06/2026

Would you click the link?

That's the question fraudsters hope you'll answer without thinking.

Every day, consumers receive emails that appear to come from:

✔ banks
✔ delivery companies
✔ retailers
✔ technology providers

The goal is simple: get you to click!

What many people don't realize is that the same tactics are used against businesses every day.

The target changes.

The scam doesn't.

Watch today's Fraud Friday video to learn why social engineering remains one of the most effective fraud schemes around.

And if you find it helpful, please share it with someone who could benefit from seeing it.

05/06/2026

Winning a lawsuit is supposed to be the hard part.

Actually getting your money shouldn't be.

This week's Fraud Friday focuses on one of Southern California's most well-known legal fraud cases and an important lesson for attorneys and law firms.

When client funds are involved, trust alone isn't enough.

That's one reason California implemented CTAPP—the Client Trust Account Protection Program.

The goal isn't just compliance.

It's helping attorneys identify trust account issues before they become serious problems.

Whether you're a solo practitioner or a larger firm, trust account management is ultimately about protecting:

✔ your clients
✔ your reputation
✔ your practice

Check out this week's Fraud Friday video below.

And if you're unsure whether your trust account procedures would withstand a CTAPP review, I'd be happy to have a confidential conversation.

29/05/2026

Most business owners believe that once payroll is outsourced, they don't have to worry about it anymore.

Unfortunately, that's not always true.

In some fraud cases, payroll taxes were deducted from employee paychecks but never sent to the taxing authorities.

The result?

The business owner was still responsible for the taxes, penalties, and interest.

That's a painful lesson.

Outsourcing payroll can be a smart business decision.

But it still requires oversight.

Check out today's Fraud Friday video to learn why.

15/05/2026

When people think about fraud in a dental office, they usually picture someone stealing cash.

But in this Southern California case, prosecutors alleged a dental office submitted nearly $800,000 in false Medi-Cal claims for work that wasn’t actually performed.

That’s a very different kind of fraud risk.

Because cases like this often build slowly over time through:
✔ weak oversight
✔ billing processes that stop being reviewed
✔ routine activity nobody questions anymore

And that’s an important lesson for business owners.

Fraud risk isn’t always about someone taking money directly.

Sometimes it hides inside billing, documentation, approvals, and everyday office operations.

If your business handles billing, payments, or insurance claims, it may be worth taking a closer look at your internal controls and fraud risk exposure.

Watch today’s short video below 👇

08/05/2026

Would you catch a fake vendor in your business?

Most companies assume they would.

But vendor fraud often hides inside normal business activity:
✔ invoices
✔ approvals
✔ routine payments

That’s what makes it dangerous.

No big dramatic theft.
Just money quietly going out the door over time.

This is one of the more overlooked fraud risks I see in small and midsize businesses.

Take a look at today’s short video 👇

01/05/2026

30/04/2026

No business owner would ever do this intentionally.

But every day, companies lose money because fraud risks go ignored.

Weak controls are expensive.

That’s why many organizations periodically review internal controls, approval processes, and fraud risk exposure — especially as responsibilities grow and operations become more complex.

24/04/2026

These refunds looked normal…

But they weren’t.

That’s how fraud actually happens.

Not obvious.
Not dramatic.
Just small transactions… over time.

👇 Watch the case

22/04/2026

This employee gave himself a raise for six years…and no one noticed!

At a California flight school, a trusted employee ended up stealing over $527,000 through inflated pay and fake reimbursements.

Nothing about the business looked broken while it was happening.

That’s the part that surprises most business owners.

Fraud usually doesn’t look obvious.
It looks like normal operations.

If one person is handling payroll, expenses, and records in your business, it’s worth taking a closer look.

I’ve put together a free Fraud Prevention Checklist if you want a simple way to start:
👉 www.blevinsassociates.com/fraud-checklist