This course examines a real-world insurance fraud scheme uncovered in Nepal, in which helicopter rescue operators and Sherpa guides fabricated or exaggerated climbers' medical emergencies on Mount Everest to generate fraudulent evacuation claims — ultimately totaling an estimated $20 million in losses to travel insurers. Participants will identify the industry conditions that created the opportunity for fraud, trace how the scheme operated across multiple related companies, and apply the Fraud Triangle to understand the pressures, opportunities, and rationalizations behind the misconduct. For CPAs in assurance, advisory, or ethics roles, this case offers a practical look at how weak internal controls and conflicted business relationships enable large-scale fraud, and what reforms can deter similar schemes.

Upon completing the course, the participant will be able to:

1. Identify the characteristics of the Mount Everest climbing industry that made it a target for large-scale helicopter evacuation fraud.
2. Explain how the Mount Everest helicopter evacuation fraud scheme was carried out, including the roles played by Sherpas, tour companies, and helicopter operators.
3. Apply the Fraud Triangle to the Mount Everest case to recognize the pressures, opportunities, and rationalizations that drove the scheme, and identify internal controls that can deter similar fraud.