Spain: Condemned the perpetrators of the pyramid scam 700 Jehovah's Witnesses

by JHK 13 Replies latest watchtower scandals

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  JHK

  Google translation:

  
  

  Condemned the perpetrators of the pyramid scam 700 Jehovah's Witnesses

  Barcelona, February 6. 2015 (EFE) .- The Court of Barcelona has sentenced to three years in prison four members of a pyramidal network that defrauded about 2,000 investors, including 700 members of the Jehovah's Witnesses, who lost their savings to trust plot, led by community leaders of worship.

  At sentencing, the tenth section of the Court of Barcelona sentence of three and a half years in prison for the two leaders of the network and three years to two of his collaborators (sisters), accused of a continuing offense of fraud and criminal bankruptcy.

  According to the judgment, the defendants executed their scam between 1998 and 2002, when they took advantage of their prevalence on other members of the Jehovah's Witnesses to steal their savings.

  The Court emphasizes that most of those harmed by this scam had a precarious financial position, so that its financial position was very poor after delivering all the money they have earned in their working lives "induced by an abuse of confidence of those who considered their 'protectors elders'. "

  The network operated by the Rural societies New Life and Mutual Life Mas, who justified their existence with healthcare policies where doctors "noninvasive" treatments are guaranteed, which was key to attract Jehovah's Witnesses. EFE.

  http://www.elconfidencial.com/ultima-hora-en-vivo/2015-02-06/condenados-los-autores-de-la-estafa-piramidal-a-700-testigos-de-jehova_488695/
  
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  DesirousOfChange

  They found a group who were suckers for one scam, so why not try to sucker them on another scam.

  Doc
  
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  JHK

  Religious affinity fraud...
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  davidmitchell

  But WHY did these Witnesses even have any money to invest (and lose!). What about Luke 12:33, Acts 5;1-4, etc., etc.
  

  
  
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  Vidiot

  Not all that surprising.

  JWs are particularly susceptible to MLMs and pyramid schemes, in my observation.
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  JHK

  Affinity Fraud:
  How To Avoid Investment Scams That Target Groups

  What is an Affinity Fraud?

  http://www.sec.gov/investor/pubs/affinity.htm
  
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  OrphanCrow

  vidiot: JWs are particularly susceptible to MLMs and pyramid schemes, in my observation.

  It is the JWs obssesion with 'approved' health care options that make them particularly vulnerable to those who seek to profit from the WTS' twisted policies about blood and other misguided notions about medical science.

  from the article:

  The network operated by the Rural societies New Life and Mutual Life Mas, who justified their existence with healthcare policies where doctors "noninvasive" treatments are guaranteed, which was key to attract Jehovah's Witnesses.

  
  

  
  
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  berrygerry

  But WHY did these Witnesses even have any money to invest (and lose!).

  They didn't.
  

  
  

  The Court emphasizes that most of those harmed by this scam had a precarious financial position, so that its financial position was very poor after delivering all the money they have earned in their working lives "induced by an abuse of confidence of those who considered their 'protectors elders'.
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  rebel8

  The dubs where I'm from, and those I know in other areas, are heavily into Shaklee, Amway and other pyramid-type vitamin schemes.

  It's part of their legacy.

  
  

  

  
  
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  JHK

  berrygerry12 hours ago

  But WHY did these Witnesses even have any money to invest (and lose!).

  
  

  They promised to build a hospital without blood in Barcelona. But they had to invest money and meanwhile receive interest of 9% -13% of the deposited amount.