Welcome to Professional Ethics: Charlie and The Fraud Factory. This compelling course dissects one of the most audacious startup frauds in recent history, exploring the meteoric rise and catastrophic fall of Charlie Javice and her financial aid company, Frank. Initially heralded as a visionary solution to the complex FAFSA application process, Frank attracted high-profile investors and media attention, culminating in a staggering $175 million acquisition by JPMorgan Chase.

Through a detailed examination of the case, we uncover the reality behind the facade. You will learn how Javice, a Wharton graduate and media darling, orchestrated a scheme to inflate her user base from fewer than 300,000 real customers to over 4 million fake accounts. We delve into the mechanics of the deception, including the hiring of a data scientist to generate synthetic data, and the critical failures in due diligence that allowed the fraud to go undetected by one of the world's largest banks.

This course moves beyond the scandal to provide actionable insights into professional skepticism and ethical decision-making. We analyze the "fake it 'til you make it" culture that often permeates the startup world and discuss the psychological rationalizations that lead entrepreneurs to cross the line into criminal activity. By reviewing the red flags that were missed—such as the discrepancy between marketing costs and user growth—participants will gain a sharper eye for detecting potential fraud.

Key Learning Outcomes:

• Analyze the "Frank" case study to understand how synthetic data and inflated metrics were used to commit securities and wire fraud.
• Evaluate the breakdown in due diligence procedures at major financial institutions and how basic analytical tests could have exposed the scheme.
• Identify the behavioral traits and rationalizations common in fraudsters, including the "gambler's fallacy" and excessive optimism.
• Understand the severe legal and reputational consequences of ethical lapses in business leadership and entrepreneurship.