Spokane, Washington: Scam Capital of America. Tacoma says, "We’re #1!"

Rugged individualism often goes hand in hand with cutting corners. Washington State’s second-largest city is a prime example.

There’s the diploma mill that sold 10,000 phony college degrees to buyers in 131 countries. The $31 million parking-garage bond hustle that snared fund firms Vanguard, Nuveen and Smith Barney. And the many questionable enterprises around the continent that turn for legal and accounting services to firms in the heart of the Pacific Northwest’s Inland Empire.

Welcome to Spokane, Wash., a metropolitan object lesson in what can befall the unwary when rugged individualism is revered and consumers unsuspecting.

William P. Barrett, Forbes Magazine

Full Story: http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2009/0525/106-investment-guide-09-scam-capital-of-america.html

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Hey Forbes! Spokane isn’t even fraud capital of Washington, much less the U.S.

Been awhile since we whined about Spokane getting more glory than it ought to. Our therapist said that if we’re gonna get caught up in sibling rivalries, better to focus on the other “S” city – the closer and more-insufferable one that shares a freeway and an airport with us.

But we can’t just sit idly by while Forbes Magazine gives Spokane credit where credit definitely is not due: As the fraud capital of America.

Full Story: http://www.thenewstribune.com/nose/story/742671.html