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macross1984 t1_j6uwmid wrote

The suspect pitched investment that was pitched as a nearly risk-free opportunity to earn annual returns of 50 percent by lending money to slip-and-fall victims awaiting checks after the settlement of their lawsuits.

Anyone with common sense will know that such return is too good to be true scenario.

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[deleted] t1_j6uykq2 wrote

[deleted]

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Colorado-Sunshine t1_j6v17dh wrote

Specifically Mormons. The religion started as a long con. The true believers are guaranteed to be gullible because anybody with common sense finds it laughable and walks away.

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groveborn t1_j6v1zdr wrote

You'd think so, but for every objection raised they have an answer that is plausible to anyone who might believe in God (and already believe what they do).

I had to already be on my way out to even be able to hear the problems. It's pretty much this way in all religions, too.

If you are thinking "I don't suffer from this", whether that's because you're religious or not, you do. Nobody is immune to errors in thinking.

We all know things that are simply wrong.

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[deleted] t1_j6v2c4b wrote

[deleted]

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groveborn t1_j6v2qmx wrote

I'm in general agreement.

I like you. Let's make a religion together

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[deleted] t1_j6v3e9l wrote

[deleted]

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NoYoureTheAlien t1_j6v8cv1 wrote

It’s a religion to all the mouth breathing acolytes, but you’ll know. You’ll know, and profit too. The profit (prophet) part is my favorite.

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Golluk t1_j6xbaii wrote

Perhaps a religion for the non religious. Maybe call it Mormon't.

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East_Living7198 t1_j6w0c72 wrote

Good con man has an answer for every objection as well. The similarities don’t end there.

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WhileNotLurking t1_j6win8p wrote

Not sure how Mormons are and more or less of a con than any other organization religion practiced today.

They are all cons (perhaps with different motives) but all generally rely on obedience, dogmatic practices, faith, and other qualities that mimic the Mormons.

We just give a pass to more mainstream religions - often because people grew up in them (or still are).

We refer to Greek and Roman "mythology" but people get really pissed when you call it Christian mythology

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9Wind t1_j6wl0rq wrote

That is a very abrahamic view on religion that thinks every religion acts like the abrahamic religions common to Europe, and ignores mormonism's creation by rewriting the history of indigenous people for financial gain and racism.

Mormonism is closer to the Hoteps saying native americans were black settlers from of a long lost black empire than it is a religion.

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Golluk t1_j6xbset wrote

I was under the impression Mormonism was a continuation/update of abrahamic religion after Jesus. Similar to Islam and Muhammed, but now it's Joseph Smith and Mormon.

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omganesh t1_j6xhtc6 wrote

I think that's accurate. The book of Mormon is fan fiction of the sequels of the Torah.

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9Wind t1_j6zcwkb wrote

Mormonism is a strain of american pseudohistory like the hoteps

They say the aztecs were a lost jewish tribe, quetzacoatl was jesus, native americans are red because they are cursed by god, and a lot of other racist attacks on history. During the time mormonism rose, it was one of many ideas trying to justify genocide.

Saying mormonism is a continuation is like saying the third reich is just a contuation of the 2nd reich ignoring all the things that made the 3rd reich unique like racial essentialism and pseudoscience ideas on race.

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gandalf_el_brown t1_j72tr6x wrote

>by rewriting the history of indigenous people for financial gain

That describes most religions during their expansion phase

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atomic1fire t1_j6yxjas wrote

Nah.

It's probably more so that if the scam artists can convince a few members of the congregation to go in on it, their interpersonal relationships and religious background ("They'd never give me a bad deal") will keep anyone from looking too closely at it, and of those that are skeptical, they're probably not going to say anything to the FBI or secret service because they don't want their friends or church leadership to lose all their money to an investigation or attract unwanted attention from people aware of the sudden financial windfall.

Given the reports that people were told to keep it "hush hush", I'm guessing a few knew the money wasn't legit but went along with it anyway because they were profiting off it at the time, and too much oversight might damage that income.

It wouldn't shock me if MLMs targeted any closely knit group that could give their scam a sense of legitimacy.

e.g #girlboss and the terms affiliation with MLM schemes targeting women.

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Disaster_Capitalist t1_j6va4ho wrote

Utah as the highest ponzi schemes per capita of any state. https://www.deseret.com/2019/4/29/20671965/does-utah-deserve-the-title-fraud-capital-of-the-united-states

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Mythosaurus t1_j6vju5q wrote

Same tactics as Alex Jones or Nigerian princes. They know the small number of people willing to fall for their BS are out there, so they spam media to up the chanced of getting a random mark

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Chippopotanuse t1_j6wik8u wrote

Yup.

Grifter: “Hey, wanna be really shitty and make some quick money off of other people’s misfortune?”

Mormon: “Okay…you have my attention, go on.”

Grifter: “Well, you know when someone gets really hurt and is going to obtain a settlement for their injuries? Often times they have huge medical bills they need to pay now. We will lend them money and charge insanely gouging interest rates to profiteer off of their misfortune while they wait for their settlement checks to arrive, which can take years.”

Mormon: “Oh, interesting, what do you charge for interest? Ten percent? That’s why I tithe to Heavenly Father for all he gives me!”

Grifter: “Oh frig no. More like fifty percent! Now…can I count on you to write us a hundred thousand dollar check so we can lend it to injured people in a very un-Christlike way?”

Mormon: “I was thinking more like a million. Can I tell my friends about this too? They would be interested.”

Grifter “Bless you Brother Levi, and make sure to tithe the church 10% of your profits”

Mormon: “I sure will. Heavenly Father would be very proud of what we are doing here.”

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DazedWithCoffee t1_j6xatxp wrote

The greatest case of too good to be true:

“So wait. If I just. Really really feel sorry. I can just. Live forever? No strings attached? Where do I sign!”

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Ghost_of_Till t1_j6uxx0u wrote

A fool and his money are soon parted.

Guess the folks in the magic pajamas qualify.

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PEVEI t1_j6uvycu wrote

There's a reason so many pyramid schemes, MLM scams and the like target Mormons.

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Qlinkenstein t1_j6v941n wrote

If you can be tricked into believing the Book of Mormon, you can be tricked into anything.

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Dr_Quiznard t1_j6x9pdz wrote

Seriously, why do we give Mormons a free pass? I get it, all religions are mythology, but come on! The whole mess was made up by a conman and well documented as a fraudulent enterprise from the start!

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Succulentmeditator t1_j6xk1r0 wrote

Probably because many Mormons you’ll meet out in the wild through work, education and social circles away from majority Mormon areas are kind, conscientious, sober, family focused nice people. That’s been my experience getting to know some Mormons who weren’t met in their proselytizing missions anyway. Got to know a brilliant 7th day Adventist like that once too, she went on to get a dual JD/MD degree. 🤷

I hear it’s a lot different in majority Mormon areas, but haven’t had exposure to that.

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Dr_Quiznard t1_j6xpik6 wrote

I'd agree that mormons are certainly...let's say enterprising folks. As for kind and conscientious, I'd have to disagree. Mormons are phony-nice, and their actions are never for the betterment of society at large, but for themselves and the enrichment of their cult. Also, their level of indoctrination is greater than your average christian denomination. I've never encountered a mormon doing something that doesnt benefit mormons.

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doctorclark t1_j6vziw6 wrote

Each of us can be tricked into believing something. It is dangerous to look down on people who also get tricked.

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TheyCallMeQBert t1_j6wwcej wrote

For example, your survivor bias is tricking you into believing all of us are as gullible as yourself.

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cadencecarlson t1_j6vlkpx wrote

Most of the MLMs are owned by Mormons. They are a pyramid scheme.

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mindspork t1_j6w6hea wrote

Well I mean it stands for Mormons Losing Money, right?

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whistlingbatter t1_j6v5juj wrote

tbf, Mormonism is a Ponzi scheme preying on gullible people for +10% of their income

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bozeke t1_j6vkr51 wrote

Tomorrow is a Latter day!

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restlessmonkey t1_j6weifg wrote

Thanks. The performance of the BoM is awesome. Hope everyone can see it live.

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WankSocrates t1_j6wt0s3 wrote

My face hurt from laughing so hard. 10/10 would recommend.

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TheDodoBird t1_j6xh56j wrote

Hands down, the funniest live performance I have ever seen. I went in skeptical, "Oh, this is going to be so corny", and literally laughed the entire time!

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Nullarni t1_j6v11yy wrote

Mormons out west seem to be target by schemes like this and pyramid schemes as well. I think it is because they tend to be a tight knit community, who puts too much trust in other church members. I lived in Utah for several years and I saw multiple friends and coworkers get sucked into “multi-level marketing” schemes. It’s very discouraging to see. The people running these schemes are preying on people’s hope and desperation for a better life.

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molotovzav t1_j6v2r9l wrote

I think it's also since their church is essentially run like a ponzee scheme mixed with a real estate racket when it comes to tithing and what the church spends money on...it's easy for them to fall victim to the same scheme, often ran by the same people. There's a lot of Mormons in the top brass of mlms too.

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SofieTerleska t1_j6vpmm9 wrote

Yes, I lived in Utah as well and Mormons in general tended to center their social lives around their ward a lot more than most other churchgoers do now -- I would say they're more like the average mainline Protestant or Catholic was fifty or sixty years ago in that they often live in neighborhoods with coreligionists, attend the same church, go to the same stake events etc. It's not surprising that they're more susceptible to this, but I don't think it's their particular doctrine that makes them susceptible, it's the social closeness and reliance on each other. And yes, I sat through many a Mary Kay presentation, but nothing like this. I would have thought that promised rate of return was a bit much even for the average Utah County resident.

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imregrettingthis t1_j6wopq7 wrote

Mormonism is basically a giant MLM scheme. Why wouldn’t you think that factors in?

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PuellaBona t1_j6vvr7t wrote

Dang. Anyone notice that the investigative journalist originally working on this story was stabbed by a city employee he was investigating? So sad.

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Actual__Wizard t1_j6x9ssr wrote

The Mormon church itself is a massive scam that has amassed over 100 billion dollars.

I would fully expect there to be massive corruption of state and city officials in the state of Utah.

You would think with that kind of money that the "church" would spend some of the money to try to deal with the toxic dust that is likely going to kill many of their members as the great salt lake dries up, but I guess they're just going to let them die.

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MaybeADumbass t1_j6ziqz2 wrote

The journalist that was stabbed worked in Las Vegas and the official worked for Clark County, NV.

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Art-Zuron t1_j6vmcmq wrote

Considering the Mormon church itself is basically a massive MLM, it's not a surprise.

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bigt503 t1_j6vnl1s wrote

Let that be a lesson to you! If anybody is gonna screw Mormons out of their money it’s gonna be the church of LDS!

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999others t1_j6v8sb9 wrote

I thought that said morons and well.....

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HeckaGosh t1_j6wamlm wrote

The tithing they pay is the bigger scam of around 10 billion a year.

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GO2462 t1_j6v45oj wrote

The worst part of this story is that I can’t read it because it comes from the Washington Post.

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Actual__Wizard t1_j6xaotj wrote

I use a browser plugin called toggle JS and then just turn JS off. It works for reading the article, but it breaks the functionality of certain things like the image lazy loading.

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dhusk t1_j6wr1xc wrote

So one Ponzi scheme targeted another one?

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technerd1988 t1_j6wd6ac wrote

This religion IS a scam so its just scammers scamming scammers. Bad memories man.....I was forced into this crap

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Rustic_Professional t1_j6xmlm1 wrote

Everyone's so busy making fun of Mormons that they're missing that this may be another case of law enforcement shooting someone who was attempting to comply with their instructions.

>One of the agents — identified only as “J.M.” in a detailed criminal complaint filed March 4 in the U.S. District Court of Nevada — opened his suit jacket and flashed his badge.

>Beasley stepped fully into the doorway. He held a loaded pistol against his head.

>“Easy, easy,” yelled J.M.

>“Drop the gun,” shouted a second agent

>As the FBI agents shouted at him, Beasley said later in an interview with The Post, he pointed the pistol toward the ground.

>He was doing what the three agents had asked of him, Beasley said, adding that “I never pointed my gun anywhere except for my head.”

>The FBI maintains in its criminal complaint, though, that he aimed the weapon at the agents. At least one opened fire, striking Beasley in the chest and shoulder.

...

>He was taken to a hospital before being charged with assault on a federal officer.

I don't suppose the FBI were wearing body cameras.

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DragonflyValuable128 t1_j6ycdpi wrote

The Mormon Madoff.

Fellow Jews never thought Bernie would rip them off.

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being_sentient t1_j72bm4v wrote

The Mormon (LDS) church was founded by convicted con-man Joseph Smith on transparently false claims and fantastical lies so great that fraud is an understatement

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Blarg0ist t1_j6x4ok2 wrote

Isn't the FBI chock full of Mormons? Or is that the CIA?

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VAdogdude t1_j72fzcj wrote

Former Mormon overseas missionaries are often hired for their cross-cultural experience and expertise.

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BayonetTrenchFighter t1_j7b8fwa wrote

Dang some of these comments.

“If they were tricked into it, the probably deserved it” type things.

Same with being Mormon they deserve it. What is this comment section?

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