„Marele scandal al uleiului pentru salată”- scandalul care a zguduit lumea financiară americană

In 1963, Anthony De Angelis orchestrated a massive fraud involving vegetable oil, securing loans against non-existent stock. His company, Allied Crude Vegetable Oil, misled banks by using certificates that falsely confirmed oil quantities, while many tanks contained mostly water. The scheme relied on superficial inspections and manipulation of stock counts, allowing De Angelis to speculate on oil prices. When the fraud was uncovered, the company went bankrupt, leading to losses exceeding $150 million. De Angelis was imprisoned for seven years, and the scandal severely damaged American Express's reputation, prompting them to pay millions to creditors. This incident highlights the dangers of misplaced trust in documentation and oversight.