Fraud and Deception - The Art of the Prank

December 6, 2007January 15, 2019

Medical Diagnosis via Satellite Imagery Courtesy of the CIA

Man Sentenced in Bizarre Diagnosing Scam
1010 WINS
December 5, 2007

Monroe, La. (AP) — A man was sentenced to more than four years in prison for bilking friends and family out of more than $800,000 by convincing them that his wife was a government agent who could arrange to have their medical problems diagnosed by satellite imaging…

U.S. Attorney Donald W. Washington said in a news release following Monday’s sentencing of Brent Finley that the couple convinced numerous people that Stacey Finley was a CIA agent and with her contacts she could schedule a medical scan of the victims’ bodies by satellite imaging that would detect any hidden medical problems.

The Finley’s convinced their victims that, if any medical problems were found, secret agents would administer medicine to them as they slept in exchange for payment, according to a bill of information filed when the Finleys were charged in May…

Image: flightsim.com

Editors’ Note: Speaking of miracle cures — In 1981, Joey Skaggs perpetrated his Metamorphosis Hoax. Under the name Josef Gregor, he claimed to be an entomologist who had extracted a hormone from his proprietary strain of super-roaches which were immune to toxins and radiation. To date his medical breakthrough had cured all of the common ailments known to man, including colds, acne, anemia, and menstrual cramps. Skaggs claimed that his cockroach miracle cure would even make people immune to nuclear radiation. Widely covered by the national media as if true, Metamorphosis aptly satirized the public’s gullibility when it comes to medical miracle cures.

December 2, 2007January 15, 2019

Mexican Cell Phone Extortion a Hoax on Mexican Congress

Extortion hoax stuns Mexican Congress
Bogus abduction phone calls likely made by inmates
by Gregory Brosnan
Houston Chronicle
November 30, 2007

Mexico City “” One by one, the shrill rings of cell phones cut through the din of a typically raucous session in Mexico’s Congress. Each lawmaker who answered got the same chilling news: A close relative had been kidnapped and that they should do as they were told.

The messages to the Mexican ruling party lawmakers turned out to be from phony kidnappers pretending to hold family members captive for ransom, giving birth to a disturbing new criminal trend. Continue reading “Mexican Cell Phone Extortion a Hoax on Mexican Congress”

December 1, 2007January 15, 2019

America: Freedom to Fascism – Director’s Authorized Version

Here’s an interesting, controversial and challenging hour and 51 minute film produced in 2006 by Aaron Russo (1943-2007).

From the Conscious Movie Network:

“Determined to find the law that requires Americans to pay income tax, Aaron Russo (The Rose, Trading Places) sets out on a journey. Neither left- nor right-wing, this startling examination exposes the systematic erosion of civil liberties in America. Through interviews with US Congressmen, a former IRS Commissioner, former IRS and FBI agents, tax attorneys and authors, Russo connects the dots between money creation, federal income tax, voter fraud, the national identity card (becoming law in May 2008) and the implementation of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to track citizens. A striking case about the evolving police state in America.”

However, David Cay Johnston wrote an article in the New York Times, July 31, 2006, refuting some of the filmmaker’s assertions about American income tax laws. This is none-the-less a very compelling story.

Links of interest:

An Interview with Aaron Russo, June 2006 [36 minutes]

The Aaron Russo Interview, with John Factious [55 minutes]

Thanks Brian Truskey. Photo: Mikkelina’s Thoughts.

November 29, 2007January 15, 2019

Perils of Online Pornography Pop-ups

Hidden Dangers in Visiting Porn Sites
By Jordan Robertson
AP Technology Writer
November 28, 2007

San Jose, Calif. (AP) — Online pornography hunters’ Internet adventures are already fraught with danger from malicious code many porn sites use to commandeer visitors’ machines or steal personal data.

Now comes a scheme some researchers say amounts to extortion: One site’s threat to disable visitors’ computers with relentless pop-up ads if they don’t pay for a subscription they were automatically signed up for after a free trial.

The threats, reported this week by researchers at security vendor McAfee Inc.’s Avert Labs, affect people who visit the Web site and download software to access a free three-day trial membership.

Visitors do get free access for three days, but the download includes code that then generates a stream of pop-up windows, when the user is online and offline, demanding payment of roughly $80 for 90 days’ worth of additional access. Continue reading “Perils of Online Pornography Pop-ups”

November 26, 2007January 15, 2019

George C. Parker, King of the NY Con Men

Meet The King Of NY Con Men
November 25, 2007
New York Post

New York City has been home to some of the cleverest con men in history – but no flimflam artist was a greater scoundrel than George C. Parker.

In his upcoming book, The Modern Con Man: How to Get Something for Nothing, Todd Robbins recounts the astounding chutzpah of Parker as he merrily ripped off countless numbers of residents and tourists – “selling” them city landmarks over and over again.

“He was one of the ballsiest grifters ever,” Robbins writes. “He sold the Brooklyn Bridge on an average of twice a week for years and it was not unusual for buyers to begin construction of their own tollbooths before police broke the news to them.”

Following this great tradition, Joey Skaggs once sold the Brooklyn Bridge too (see The Brooklyn Bridge Lottery hoax). In 1992, he faked an inter-office memo from then Mayor David Dinkins, purporting that the City was planning a lottery to sell the Brooklyn Bridge. In addition to a million dollar prize, the winner would have the bridge named after him or her for five years. The proceeds would help to pay for the restoration of the decaying bridge.

To continue the Post story about George C. Parker Continue reading “George C. Parker, King of the NY Con Men”