Schuylkill officials host anti-fraud and theft seminar

It’s a news story fast becoming too common — fraud. It seems that every day, there’s a story about an organization being ripped off by someone who had a hold on the purse strings.

Schuylkill County officials, with the sponsorship of Mauch Chunk Trust Company, M&T Bank and the County Commissioners, are offering a free Anti-fraud & Theft Prevention Seminar, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 12 at the Humane Fire Company, 200 Humane Ave., Pottsville. County Controller Christy Joy and District Attorney Mike O’Pake are hosting the event, led by speaker John M. Nonnemacher, CPA, Snyder & Clemente, of Kingston.

Joy and O’Pake announced the event during the Schuylkill County Commissioners meeting Wednesday. Nonnemacher said that an organization takes a blow to reputation when it is a victim of fraud or theft.

“The organizations get a black cloud, especially when the cornerstone of the organization is trust,” he said. “The dark cloud hampers the good work they’re trying to do.”

Joy said the recent news of thefts at the county level, and with nonprofit organizations, highlight the importance of “strong oversight and sound internal controls.”

“We have seen countless stories where a group raises money and then someone takes advantage of them,” Joy said. “There are simple, low-cost ways of preventing that from happening.”

O’Pake said that he organized the seminar to support the county’s organizations.

“They do a tremendous amount of good in the county,” O’Pake said. “I am committed to helping these organizations continue to make Schuylkill County a better place to live, work, play and pray.”

Joy said that attendees will also learn the process of setting up a 501c3, for nonprofit status. Nonnemacher said that in Schuylkill County, there are about 800 organizations with 501c3 status; he estimates that there could be 800 more. Having the nonprofit status helps a group when it is seeking donations, Joy said.

Other seminar topics include: Federal and Pennsylvania reporting requirements, organization officer and directors oversight responsibilities, internal controls related to cash receipts and disbursements, Pennsylvania sales tax exemptions for nonprofits, reporting fundraising income and expenditures, and fraud and theft warning signs and red flags.