39 books like Beat the Fraudster

By Doug McAdam,

Here are 39 books that Beat the Fraudster fans have personally recommended if you like Beat the Fraudster. Shepherd is a community of 11,000+ authors and super readers sharing their favorite books with the world.

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Book cover of Treasure Islands: Uncovering the Damage of Offshore Banking and Tax Havens

Alex Cobham Author Of What Do We Know and What Should We Do About Tax Justice?

From my list on tax justice.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve worked for two decades as a researcher and campaigner to expose the tax behaviour of unscrupulous multinational companies and wealthy individuals, and the central lesson is that we only make progress when the narrative shifts: when the public and policymakers start to appreciate just how much damage is done to our societies by the professional enablers of tax abuse. These books are real narrative-shifters, showing the world to us in ways we need to see, and making it a pleasure. 

Alex's book list on tax justice

Alex Cobham Why did Alex love this book?

I think Treasure Islands may well be the most influential book in tax justice.

Author Nick Shaxson, previously a journalist for the Financial Times and Reuters, became a key member of the Tax Justice Network and wrote this rollicking blockbuster. In a story that spans the globe, Shaxson captures the lurking malevolence of the men – and it is almost always men – who shaped our world so they could profit from selling opportunities for tax abuse and financial crime.

By Nicholas Shaxson,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked Treasure Islands as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.


Book cover of How to Complain: The Essential Consumer Guide to Getting Refunds, Redress and Results!

Paul Lewis Author Of Money Box: Your Toolkit for Balancing Your Budget, Growing Your Bank Balance and Living a Better Financial Life

From my list on money and your life.

Why am I passionate about this?

I realised in my twenties that there were millions of people who desperately needed advice about their money but could not afford an accountant or an adviser. Since then my passion has been to simplify the deliberately complex financial world, explain the obscure and often unintelligible rules about tax, childcare, benefits, investment, savings, and borrowing. Recently as the tsunami of fraud has swept across the UK I have devoted more time to help people avoid losing money to scammers – both criminal and respectable. Most people can’t afford professional advice, but they can afford me – I’m freely available in print, on air, and online. 

Paul's book list on money and your life

Paul Lewis Why did Paul love this book?

It does what it says on the cover. Don’t just shrug your shoulders if an airline refuses to refund your money, your insurer won’t pay up, or the jeans you bought online don’t fit. Challenge the firm! Complain! Get your money back – and then some. Helen – who calls herself the Complaining Cow – is a master at all of this and herself a serial complainer. The book explains who to write to, what to say, and what to demand – and the laws to quote to make sure you get what you’re entitled to. 

By Helen Dewdney,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked How to Complain as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

*UPDATED 2019* Here is the result of over 30 years of experience from the campaigner Helen Dewdney, who sports the online persona, The Complaining Cow. Including tips, real-life examples, anecdotes and handy template letters, you are provided with the knowledge and confidence to assert your legal rights, overcome any consumer complaint hurdles and always gain redress. Discover what kind of complainer you are, how you can gain better results and how to deal with the common fob offs companies use. Get comprehensive advice on the most up to date consumer laws you could ever need, how to complain effectively, how…


Book cover of How to Fund the Life You Want: What everyone needs to know about savings, pensions and investments

Paul Lewis Author Of Money Box: Your Toolkit for Balancing Your Budget, Growing Your Bank Balance and Living a Better Financial Life

From my list on money and your life.

Why am I passionate about this?

I realised in my twenties that there were millions of people who desperately needed advice about their money but could not afford an accountant or an adviser. Since then my passion has been to simplify the deliberately complex financial world, explain the obscure and often unintelligible rules about tax, childcare, benefits, investment, savings, and borrowing. Recently as the tsunami of fraud has swept across the UK I have devoted more time to help people avoid losing money to scammers – both criminal and respectable. Most people can’t afford professional advice, but they can afford me – I’m freely available in print, on air, and online. 

Paul's book list on money and your life

Paul Lewis Why did Paul love this book?

At last a book that tells the truth about investment and how it works. The most important thing is keeping down charges. They eat away at your money every month and only enrich other people. Don’t let them manage your money – trust the markets. There are exercises and worksheets to do. So it is not a casual read. But if you study it and work through it you will end up better off and have enough money for your future. Which is the true meaning of wealth.

By Robin Powell, Jonathan Hollow,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked How to Fund the Life You Want as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

An accessible and practical guide to personal finance that busts myths, clarifies jargons and clarifies the best options for building your wealth More and more people are reassessing their lives as a result of the pandemic. Many have left their jobs or reduced their hours. Others have resolved to work only as long as they must, retiring early to focus on families and friends, hobbies or travel. Meanwhile, employers all over the world are experimenting with a four-day week. Making the most of these choices requires having and growing enough money to enjoy your future life, without needing to worry…


Book cover of A Guide to the Unprotected in Every-day Matters Relating to Property and Income

Paul Lewis Author Of Money Box: Your Toolkit for Balancing Your Budget, Growing Your Bank Balance and Living a Better Financial Life

From my list on money and your life.

Why am I passionate about this?

I realised in my twenties that there were millions of people who desperately needed advice about their money but could not afford an accountant or an adviser. Since then my passion has been to simplify the deliberately complex financial world, explain the obscure and often unintelligible rules about tax, childcare, benefits, investment, savings, and borrowing. Recently as the tsunami of fraud has swept across the UK I have devoted more time to help people avoid losing money to scammers – both criminal and respectable. Most people can’t afford professional advice, but they can afford me – I’m freely available in print, on air, and online. 

Paul's book list on money and your life

Paul Lewis Why did Paul love this book?

This book – a copy is free at hathitrust.org – shows how some truths about money are eternal. 

It is the first personal finance guide written for women but its advice is still valid – ‘high interest is another name for bad security’ ‘Do not put all your money into one concern’ ‘the Broker [you employ] should be of high standing and respectability’ ‘place the money…in the bank at interest [or] put it into the Funds’. And it is a model of clear writing. I loved it.

Book cover of Elon Musk: Tesla, Spacex, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future

Rebekah Lyn Author Of Undaunted

From my list on on space exploration.

Why am I passionate about this?

Growing up on the Space Coast, with my dad working on the Space Shuttle, and launches a regular occurrence, over time I took the program for granted. When the last Shutte launched, though, it left a hole in my heart. Gradually a desire to write about my hometown and its place in space history gave birth to the Jessie Cole trilogy. A combination of stories from my dad’s childhood in Titusville, conversations with docents at our historical society, and scores of books, magazine articles, and archived news footage helped reshape my view of space exploration. It was hard to choose just five books to highlight. More are noted in the Research Library section of my website.

Rebekah's book list on on space exploration

Rebekah Lyn Why did Rebekah love this book?

People either love or hate Elon Musk. I fall into the camp of deeply admiring all he has accomplished and the brillance of the way his mind works. Before reading this book, I knew he was driven and has accomplished things others have spent years struggling with. As I read, I learned just how smart and determined he is. Failure isn’t an option for him, nor is focusing on one project enough to keep him content. His life has been messy in several respects, and much of that is captured in this book. To be sure, his lack of a filter when dealing with people as well as his overly optimistic timelines on just about every project have rubbed people the wrong way, but this insight into the way his mind works and the out-of-the-box way he’s gone about building his companies just might change the opinions of some haters.…

By Ashlee Vance,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Elon Musk as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

South African born Elon Musk is the renowned entrepreneur and innovator behind PayPal, SpaceX, Tesla, and SolarCity. Musk wants to save our planet; he wants to send citizens into space, to form a colony on Mars; he wants to make money while doing these things; and he wants us all to know about it. He is the real-life inspiration for the Iron Man series of films starring Robert Downey Junior.

The personal tale of Musk's life comes with all the trappings one associates with a great, drama-filled story. He was a freakishly bright kid who was bullied brutally at school,…


Book cover of Runway RunAway: A Backstage Pass to Fashion, Romance & Rock 'N Roll

Heather J. Bennett Author Of Helplessly Hoping

From my list on 60s 70s rock and roll stories.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’ve been fascinated by musicians almost my entire life, but I always wanted more than the slick on-screen video, profile on the Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, or interview. I wanted to know the whys and hows: why they wrote a certain way, what made them want to be a musician first, and where the inspiration and determination came from. What are they like when they’re hanging out at home, not in the spotlight? This research led me to the music and musicians of Laurel Canyon in particular and how one small area of Los Angeles has managed to create music still influential today. 

Heather's book list on 60s 70s rock and roll stories

Heather J. Bennett Why did Heather love this book?

I love the insights into the behind-the-scenes rock and roll world Shellist shares with her readers. She’s in the room with the bands of the 70s and early 80s, watching how the music is made and telling the story of what it’s like to be the girlfriend of these men–the cheating, the lying, the dysfunction, the drugs, the pull between the persona and the actual person.

That’s what drew me to this in the first place. It’s not necessarily the story the rock star wants us to read, but it’s the truth that no one wants to write about to keep the ‘sex, drugs, and rock and roll’ lore alive. I loved how she told her story, keeping in all the painful details but doing so with kindness and love. She gave us a glimpse into their world, seeing the whole person and the pressures behind the scenes.

By Lorelei Shellist,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Runway RunAway as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Rebellious, headstrong, independent - and on her own at age 15 - Lorelei dreamed of being a model, and made that happen through serendipity; a chance meeting with a '70s SoCal Rock Star opened the A-list Hollywood doors to a wondrous world, as well as a full-blown romance. Pounding the pavement in L.A. and New York taught her the hard knocks of being a working class model. Sheer will and determination jetted her off to Europe, where she became a top runway and magazine model, and where she met the doomed love of her life, fiancé Steve Clark of Def…


Book cover of We Are Anonymous: Inside the Hacker World of LulzSec, Anonymous, and the Global Cyber Insurgency

Jeremy N. Smith Author Of Breaking and Entering: The Extraordinary Story of a Hacker Called Alien

From my list on hackers and hacking.

Why am I passionate about this?

Jeremy N. Smith is the author of three acclaimed narrative non-fiction books, including Breaking and Entering, about a female hacker called “Alien” and the birth of our information insecurity age. He has written for The Atlantic, Discover, Slate, and the New York Times, among other outlets, and he and his work have been featured by CNN, NPR, NBC Nightly News, The Today Show, and Wired. He hosts The Hacker Next Door podcast and lives in Missoula, Montana.

Jeremy's book list on hackers and hacking

Jeremy N. Smith Why did Jeremy love this book?

We Are Anonymous, along with Hacker, Hoaxer, Whistleblower, Spy: The Many Faces of Anonymous by Gabriella Coleman, explores the politics and personalities of the best-known real-world hacktivist group, Anonymous, how it rose to prominence and power, its impact and influence, and the government machinations that ultimately turned members against each other. Its pages reveal hackers at their most human—brilliant, idealistic, vulnerable, and conflicted.

By Parmy Olson,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked We Are Anonymous as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A thrilling, exclusive exposè of the hacker collectives Anonymous and LulzSec.

We Are Anonymous is the first full account of how a loosely assembled group of hackers scattered across the globe formed a new kind of insurgency, seized headlines, and tortured the feds -- and the ultimate betrayal that would eventually bring them down. Parmy Olson goes behind the headlines and into the world of Anonymous and LulzSec with unprecedented access, drawing upon hundreds of conversations with the hackers themselves, including exclusive interviews with all six core members of LulzSec.

In late 2010, thousands of hacktivists joined a mass digital…


Book cover of Managing the Risk of Fraud and Misconduct: Meeting the Challenges of a Global, Regulated and Digital Environment

Mónica Ramírez Chimal Author Of Don't Let Them Wash, Nor Dry!: A Simple and Easy Guide to Protect Your Company from the Risk of Money Laundering

From my list on tackling money laundering risk.

Why am I passionate about this?

The prevention of money laundering caught my attention, and at that time, with so little information on the market, I decided to write my first book so that more people can protect themselves from this crime. I have a gift: explain complicated topics in an easy way. This has helped me to write several articles on different topics in international magazines. I’m a passionate-effective trainer who believes that helping people to grow helps to make this world better. It’s my legacy! I like to do the right thing; take this as a reliable fact: I consult my own book and articles written. I hope to help you grow too!

Mónica's book list on tackling money laundering risk

Mónica Ramírez Chimal Why did Mónica love this book?

I worked at Arthur Andersen, and I was selected to be among the few teams that started to understand, learn, and apply risk assessments or business risk management methodology. In this book, I came across these concepts again, which are vital to identifying where the risk of money laundering and any other crime may occur. In addition, this book also includes useful information to be considered in the compliance program and how fraud and corruption are related to money laundering. It's a book that provides solid knowledge.

By Richard Girgenti, Timothy Hedley,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Managing the Risk of Fraud and Misconduct as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Praise for Managing the Risk of Fraud and Misconduct: Meeting the Challenge of a Global, Regulated, and Digital Environment

"This book belongs on any desk where fraud and misconduct threaten. It is bristling with the kind of detail this field truly needs. Written by leading pros at the top of their game, its soup-to-nuts advice matches solutions to problems. Read it once to gain broad insight; come back again and again to manage particular risks."
Thomas Donaldson, Professor of Legal Studies and Business Ethics,Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

"A valuable road map for corporate fraud fighters in an…


Book cover of The Honest Truth About Fraud: A Retired FBI Agent Tells All

Mary S. Schaeffer Author Of 127 Best Practices for Accounts Payable

From my list on to build excellence in accounting and finance.

Why am I passionate about this?

I’m obsessed with spreading the word about best practices when it comes to the accounts payable function. It’s a lot more complicated than you might imagine – if you want to avoid fraud, excess costs, duplicate payments, problems with the IRS, etc. I regularly speak at both online and live events. As the host of the AP Now YouTube channel, I’m able to share opinions, interview industry thought leaders, and share the latest business intelligence needed to run an efficient, cost-effective accounts payable and payment function. I’ve written over 20 business books, most of them focusing on various aspects of the accounts payable function.

Mary's book list on to build excellence in accounting and finance

Mary S. Schaeffer Why did Mary love this book?

Fraud continues to plague the business community and learning out to deal with it is crucial, especially when it comes to putting a fraud protection framework in place.

Too often, organizations focus heavily on stopping small petty frauds, while leaving the door wide open for some of the more virulent frauds that can literally bring an organization to its knees. Think Enron, Worldcom, etc. Hartman worked on both and shares insights learned from these and other white-collar crimes he investigated while working for the FBI. 

By Victor E. Hartman,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked The Honest Truth About Fraud as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

A retired FBI explains the current fraud threat picture that any individual or organization may face. Armed with this knowledge, the author walks the reader through the Fraud Live Cycle: Prevention, Detection, Investigation, Mitigation, and Remediation. This book has particular significance to the many professionals who are responsible for overseeing fraud-related issues, including auditors, general counsels, compliance officers, board members, human resource professionals, chief audit executives, heads of security, criminal and civil investigators, regulators, and frontline managers. The book is also used as a textbook for university students studying forensic accounting.

The book is also for the casual observer who…


Book cover of Lying for Money: How Legendary Frauds Reveal the Workings of Our World

David Gerard Author Of Attack of the 50 Foot Blockchain: Bitcoin, Blockchain, Ethereum & Smart Contracts

From my list on cryptocurrency and finance crimes.

Why am I passionate about this?

I started writing about bitcoin and cryptocurrency for the funny dumb crook stories. It was ridiculous and arrogant in a particular way that needed and needs puncturing. Somehow this turned into a second job as a finance journalist specialising in the area. The crypto promoters are reprehensible, but their self-sabotaging foolishness makes their comeuppance extremely satisfying. I feel I’m making the world a better place with this.

David's book list on cryptocurrency and finance crimes

David Gerard Why did David love this book?

Davies’ Lying For Money lays out a taxonomy of fraud, illustrated with amazing stories of real-life frauds.

Per Davies: “A long firm makes you question whether you can trust anyone. A counterfeit makes you question the evidence of your eyes. A control fraud makes you question your trust in the institutions of society and a market crime makes you question society itself.”

Davies’ key trick to spotting a fraud: look at something that’s growing unusually quickly, and examine it in some way it hasn’t been examined before.

Only the second chapter is about cryptocurrency specifically, but understanding how frauds think is fabulously useful in understanding how crypto works. Not even crypto’s frauds are new.

Davies used different stories in the UK and US editions of the book – so get both.

By Dan Davies,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Lying for Money as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Financial crime seems horribly complicated but there are only so many ways you can con someone out of what's theirs. In fact, there are four. A veteran regulatory economist and market analyst, Dan Davies has years of experience picking the bones out of some of the most famous frauds of the modern age. Now he reveals the big picture that emerges from their labyrinths of deceit.

Along the way you'll find out how to fake a gold mine with a wedding ring, a file and a shotgun. You'll see how close Charles Ponzi, the king of pyramid schemes, came to…


5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in fraud, cyber crimes, and the FBI?

Fraud 14 books
Cyber Crimes 14 books
The FBI 127 books