Dan McCrum Livres

"When investigative journalist Dan McCrum first came across Wirecard, the hot new tech company that looked poised to challenge Silicon Valley, it all looked a little too good to be true- offices were sprouting up all over the world, they were reporting runaway growth and the CEO even wore a black turtleneck in tribute to Steve Jobs (or perhaps Elizabeth Holmes). In the space of a few short years, the company had come from nowhere to overtake industry giants like Commerzbank and Deutsche Bank on the stock market. As McCrum began to dig deeper, he encountered a story stranger and more compelling than he could have imagined- a world of short sellers and whistleblowers, pornographers and private militias, hackers and spies. Before long he realised that he wasn't the only one in pursuit. Shadowy figures were following him through the streets of London, high-flying lawyers were sending ominous letters to his boss, and he even received a criminal complaint from financial regulators. Now the race was on to prove his suspicions and clear his name"--Publisher's description

This stranger-than-fiction account reveals the rise and fall of Wirecard, once a $30 billion tech sensation, through the eyes of the journalist who exposed its fraud. Dan McCrum's investigation began with a tip about the company that seemed too good to be true, boasting rapid growth and a charismatic CEO reminiscent of Steve Jobs. In just a few years, Wirecard surpassed established giants like Commerzbank and Deutsche Bank on the stock market. As McCrum delved deeper, he uncovered a narrative filled with intrigue: short sellers, whistleblowers, hackers, and even private militias. His pursuit of the truth attracted unwanted attention, with shadowy figures trailing him in London and aggressive lawyers targeting his employer. Named a suspect in a criminal investigation, McCrum found himself racing against time to validate his findings and exonerate himself. This gripping exposé reveals Wirecard's multi-billion-dollar fraud, exposing a web of deceit involving fake bank accounts, fictitious offices, and potentially a staged death. McCrum's relentless pursuit lays bare the shocking reality behind Europe's once-beloved tech darling, now revealed as a precarious house of cards.

Der Financial-Times-Journalist Dan McCrum hat den größten Betrug der DAX-Geschichte aufgedeckt. Die Geschichte ist filmreif: Wirecard, ein deutsches Tech-Vorzeigeunternehmen, wird gehypt und übertrifft den Börsenwert der Deutschen Bank. Das Geschäftsmodell des bargeldlosen Zahlungsverkehrs scheint überzeugend, und eine Banklizenz eröffnet weitere Möglichkeiten. Aufgrund von McCrums kritischer Berichterstattung erstattet die BaFin Anzeige gegen ihn und eine Kollegin wegen Verdachts auf Aktienmanipulation. Als die Wirtschaftsprüfungsgesellschaft Ernst & Young entdeckt, dass fast zwei Milliarden Euro auf philippinischen Treuhandkonten nicht existieren, stürzt die Aktie von € 104 auf € 1,28. In kürzester Zeit verlieren Tausende von Anlegern ihr Geld, und Wirecard-Chef Markus Braun kommt in Untersuchungshaft, während sein Vorstandskollege Jan Marsalek flüchtet. Der Bundestag setzt einen Untersuchungsausschuss ein, in dem auch McCrum gehört wird. BaFin-Chef Felix Hufeld und der Deutschland-Chef von Ernst & Young, Hubert Barth, verlieren ihre Posten. McCrum erhält diverse Journalistenpreise, forscht aber weiter. Sein Buch erzählt die unglaubliche Geschichte von Mitwissern, Geheimagenten und Kriminellen aus nächster Nähe. Ein echter Pageturner mit vielen Überraschungen.