Posted on 02/03/2011 5:35:46 AM PST by Utah Binger
One consequence of Utah being a mostly Mormon state is that the potential for affinity fraud can be higher than in other states. A fraudster can use his activity or status within the Mormon Church to fool church members into trusting him. An example of this in Ogden was Val Southwick, who cheated investors out of millions. Fortunately, Southwick sits in prison now.
Of course, affinity fraud is not confined to the LDS Church. Probably the best-known case of massive affinity fraud is that committed by Bernie Madoff, who is alleged to have defrauded investors of up to $50 billion. Madoff was Jewish, and used his religion as a recruiting and status tool. He is also in prison today.
Nevertheless, trust is still too often used to fool gullible people, including many senior citizens, who are the most vulnerable of investors. According to the FBI, about 4,000 Utahns lost $1.5 billion to fraud last year. We need tougher penalties to go after these predators who use smooth talk, flattery and deception. One solution toward making it easier to punish these criminals is Senate Bill 101, sponsored by state Sen. Ben McAdams, D-Salt Lake City.
(Excerpt) Read more at standard.net ...
Ping
My favorite cartoonist
I think part of the problem is that the LDS people are just so darn nice and trusting.
Then too, they have been taught to judge situations with their feelings rather than their heads.
The combination makes them easy pickings for scam artists.
DUH!
That's a GIVEN; being MORMONs already!
Of course, that’s a generalization. Some are bitter and strident.
We used to live in Los Gatos California. Back then I was still slightly involved. In that upscale ward there were two major hucksters that really took a couple of older women for a great deal of money. One of them became the bishop. I heard later that he had been excommunicated for something or other.
The other was a closet polygamist. Mankind is imperfect but the church is trooooo.
Who’s the old dude with the cane in the cartoon?
It’s not me. I’m a sleek and handsome young dude. I think he is the gullible soul that just got taken to the cleaners with the help of his bishop looking on. LOL
Or is it the mental ability of those mormons who BELIEVE a convicted con-man 'translated' an ancient book by stuffing his face into a hat and looking at a smooth pebble?
That too.
Rip-off artists often see Christians as easy marks... That needs to change. Yes, Christians need to ‘forgive’ but not before serious repentance on the part of the ‘sinner’. God is forgiving - he can see into the human heart - we can’t. And to act like we can is to assume we’re on God’s level. The term blasphemy comes to mind.
“Probably the best-known case of massive affinity fraud is that committed by Bernie Madoff, who is alleged to have defrauded investors of up to $50 billion....”
Neither Madoff, nor, for that matter, Smith and his followers ever saw, much less took the amount of money taken by a certain scam called Social Security. It was asocial (if not downright anti-social) and there was no security in it.
Mere chump change pikers compared to the Social Security scam.
You’re correct about that I believe. One of the best Christian con men was/is the so called “Painter of Light” who continues to hood wink the network of Christian groups where he has actually made people think his reproductions are investments.
I also have witnessed how the con men in the Mormon communities are able to get very close to unsuspecting believers. Also there are lots of get rich quick pyramid schemes presented.
Holiday Magic
Nu-Skin
Etc.
OH. MY. HECK.
OH. MY. HECK.
Hey, check out the pcture of Jesus in that cartoon!!!!!
I testify and affirm the TRUTH of the above statement.
--PDWannBee(If you don't believe ME; you can look it up for yourself! http://i591.photobucket.com/albums/ss354/elsieel/zipperboy.jpg )
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