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$40M Fortune Telling Scam


susieice

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There's gold in those crystal balls. One person gave these gypsies $20M. That's bizarre!

I think the only reason these people can be charged is because they promised people they wouldn't spend their money then wouldn't give it back. Otherwise it would have been given freely. They didn't hold a gun to anyone's head.

http://news.yahoo.com/8-charged-alleged-40m-fla-fortune-telling-scam-203920656.html

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aside from the false promise they made, which leaves them liable to prosecution, I believe the people who gave them money are subject to "buyer's remorse". Anyone who deals with fortune tellers, palm readers or psychics should be aware of the possibility of being scammed, leaving truth in the age old saying "buyer beware".

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Any guesses on the 20 million spending Floridian best selling author?

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aside from the false promise they made, which leaves them liable to prosecution, I believe the people who gave them money are subject to "buyer's remorse". Anyone who deals with fortune tellers, palm readers or psychics should be aware of the possibility of being scammed, leaving truth in the age old saying "buyer beware".

It also leaves truth to the saying "A fool and his money are soon parted." I think anyone who gives their faith and their money to fortune tellers and other assorted psychics get what they deserve.

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Agreed that the people who fall for these scams are foolish. However, the con artist 'crystal ball readers' are still guilty of criminal activity IMO.

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Look at Sylvia Brown. She charges people $600 just for a phone call from what I've heard. She made multi-millions doing this stuff also and her track record isn't the greatest. It's not illegal to hang out a shingle proclaiming yourself to be a psychic. I can't believe the amounts of money people will hand them because they believe in visions.

It should be criminal Lilly, but it's not. Why are some charged and others aren't? The article says these people were under observation since 2007 when a man complained about giving them $3000, but why did he do that in the first place? Can you complain after the fact if your fortune doesn't come true or you somehow prove that your deceased loved one wasn't in contact with the psychic?

Here's what MSNBC is reporting today. The family told their clients that more money would help them change the future and people gave it to them. They broke a promise to return it to them which made them liable but people need to learn to be more wary. This is a service no one can prove or disprove. The answer to Jerry Only's question is in here also.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44217973/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

Edited by susieice
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Short as the article is, the only punishable offense I can see would be in the social contract of having made a promise not to spend it, but then not being able to return it. Otherwise, the people willingly handed over their money.

Punishment based on the idea that they "believed" opens up a Pandoras box on every single faith and ideology-based concept out there, which I'm sure crosses the boundary of freedom of religion/belief/etc. somewhere (and would ultimately suck creativity out of life as a basic premise thereafter).

Thus. Don't make promises you can't keep.

And don't trust people making unlikely claims.

But...aren't these basic lessons for children in the first place?

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The victims had no one to turn to other then some gypsies? Holy crap! I hope I never get to that stage in my life! I'd rather turn back to the drink then turn to gypsies. I've seen Snatch, I know what they are like!!!

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The American people are very stupid. Look how many give their life savings to con artists who promise them big returns on their money. So the gypsies stole $40 million. THERE ARE BILLIONS STOLDEN EACH YEAR IN PHONEY PONZI SCHEMES. Madoff stole $65 billion and there are many others promising stupid people they can make big money. And what about Wall Street and the Stock Market. People lose everying every few years, yet the keep coming back and throwing away their life savings. We should also look at sports betting where billions are spent every year on horses or corrupt baseball or football players.

The gypsies just got a few crumbs of the big cake.

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The American people are very stupid. Look how many give their life savings to con artists who promise them big returns on their money. So the gypsies stole $40 million. THERE ARE BILLIONS STOLDEN EACH YEAR IN PHONEY PONZI SCHEMES. Madoff stole $65 billion and there are many others promising stupid people they can make big money. And what about Wall Street and the Stock Market. People lose everying every few years, yet the keep coming back and throwing away their life savings. We should also look at sports betting where billions are spent every year on horses or corrupt baseball or football players.

The gypsies just got a few crumbs of the big cake.

you do make a point.. but you know they are easier target, they are gypsies.

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this reminds me of that woman that bought a painting that was just a thought in the artists mind

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The American people are very stupid.

O_O

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Aren't generalizations fun? That's coming from an obviously 'foreign' genius who thinks the "American people" are ALL very stupid...

Word to the oh so wise, when you point a finger, 3 point back at you.

Edited by Spid3rCyd3
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Sigh. Sarcasm is lost on you apparently.

Not at all. I'm probably one of the most sarcastic people you'll ever meet. To a fault at times. :blush:

But what I said stands as far as I am concerned.

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Not at all. I'm probably one of the most sarcastic people you'll ever meet. To a fault at times. :blush:

But what I said stands as far as I am concerned.

Then I agree. No one deserves to be robbed...

but my sarcastic side begs to differ. :devil:

lol

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This kind of reminds me of that other group of gypsies who tell you to pay your taxes or be thrown in jail. :lol:

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This kind of reminds me of that other group of gypsies who tell you to pay your taxes or be thrown in jail. :lol:

lol, so true!

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Well, with 40million tucked away I doubt it's gonna be much of a problem for the gypsies. In America, you can buy your way out of anything with enough cash. Even murder.

A fool and his money are soon parted. Don't you just love platitudes?

or how about "Takers get the honey, givers sing the blues" Robin Trower.

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My girlfriend's immediate family tree has gypsies in it (she's Ukranian). She's a nightmare when it comes to money. They literally would steal from their own mother and disown each other over less than $100.

Edited by Spid3rCyd3
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They should have tried Quantum Jumping. That's got to be legit. :tu:

And I'll bet it's cheaper.

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Wow, anybody who falls for that crap deserves to be robbed.

Amen to that!

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