Community | January 21, 2012 | 96 comments

Do religious people make easy targets for scams? Case in point the Republican Party!

source: http://www.christiancentury.org/article/2010-11/do-religious-people-make-easy-targets-scams

I've often wonder how easily the Religious right continue's to vote against their best interests and what Jesus would have done. In fact I blame these Religious idiots for electing George Bush in a very close election in 2000 and the 2 wars he gave us. In other words Born again Christians have directly been responsible for at least a million dead in the middle east, not to mention thousands of U.S Soldiers! The Republican Party's deception of they will get rid of that pesky Roe v Wade law and end abortion clouds their easily conned brains so they keep voting for the War Party despite a couple of decades of that said Party doing nothing to Roe v Wade!



Do religious people make easy targets for scams?
Nov 22, 2010 by Nicole Neroulias
(RNS) Convicted Ponzi schemer Bernard Madoff bilked billions of dollars out of thousands of fellow Jews, including charities like the Elie Wiesel Foundation and Steven Spielberg Wunderkinder Foundation.

Other major frauds exposed by federal investigators in recent years have targeted Jehovah's Witnesses, Baptists, black churches and other denominations, from $190 million lost in a three-year scam promoted by a Christian radio host in Minnesota to an estimated $1.4 billion conned from thousands of Utah Mormons.

Now three Pakistani immigrants -- two believed to have fled the U.S. -- are accused of swindling $30 million from hundreds of Chicago-area Muslims with an investment plan they promised complied with Islamic law.

Is it simply too easy for con artists to prey on people of faith?

"We've seen where it's an outsider who has come into the fold, and we've seen some where it's a person who has been a member of the community for decades," said Lori Schock, director of investment education and advocacy for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

"We've had cases where people quote Scripture, that the Lord wants you to make money. And when the house of cards comes crashing down, the victims sometimes lose more than just their money -- sometimes they lose their faith, and it's extremely sad."

Why do religious groups make such easy targets? For one, a swindler who professes the same faith, or belongs to the same congregation, has an easy time of earning trust, however misplaced. Duped investors, meanwhile, also hesitate to suspect or report on one of their own, Schock added.

Although the FBI's Utah Securities Fraud Task Force has issued a warning to members of the Church of Latter-day Saints, the SEC hasn't examined whether religious groups are more susceptible to "affinity fraud" -- scams that target specific demographics, whether evangelical Christians or the elderly.

But researchers say it's a question worth considering.

Harvard scholar Robert D. Putnam and Notre Dame's David E. Campbell found a connection between religiosity and trust in others in their new book, "American Grace: How Religion Unites and Divides Us."

Based on Harvard's 2006 Faith Matters Survey, Putnam and Campbell conclude religious people are viewed as more trustworthy by both religious and nonreligious Americans, and also tend to be more trusting of others.

In an interview, Campbell said the strong social networks found in some faith communities, such as "the tight bonds among Mormons," seems to make them especially vulnerable to fraud.

"The underlying issue, I think, is the question of mutual trust," agreed Nancy Ammerman, a Boston University professor of religion and sociology. "These schemes rely on and exploit that trust, and people within religious communities tend to have high levels of trust for others within their community."

There's also ease of access, Ammerman said.

"Conversations are easy to strike up, and everybody's got a directory or an e-mail list or at least people they talk to at coffee hour. The social connections are there, and that makes it easier for someone with something to sell to get new customers."

Anson Shupe, an Indiana University sociologist and author of several books on faith-based fraud, said his own research indicates evangelicals, Mormons and black churches are most susceptible, while Catholics are relatively protected by a dense, hierarchical network of clergy supervision.

"Protestants and Mormons tend to believe that there is a sort of straightforward relationship between keeping the tenets of the faith and contributing financially to it, and then reaping rewards in the here and now," he explained. "Some pastors preach a one-to-one relationship between worldly prosperity and attendance to matters of faith."

Members of these groups also believe that God wants them to prosper, and that God wouldn't allow them to be ripped off -- especially not by someone who shares their beliefs, he added.

But Earl L. Grinols, a Baylor University economics professor, believes any correlation between faith and fraud stems from a "mistaken" perception that religious people as easily misled. That prompts con artists to disproportionately target them, along with the elderly and the newly affluent.

"It's the ease of identifying and finding people in the group to scam, and that the perpetrators have a misperception that these members are more naive," he said. "They may tend to view (Christians) as more simple, maybe more easily led."

Schock said potential investors should check with the regional SEC office before handing money over to potential con artists, whether it's a longtime congregant in good standing, a religious leader who has been endorsed by fellow clergy, or someone who promotes an investment that appears faith-friendly, such as church bonds or Islam-compliant loans.

"Trust, but verify," she said. "If something sound too good to be true, it probably is."
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96 comments // Do religious people make easy targets for scams? Case in point the Republican Party!

  • noxidereus
    • 0
      noxidereus  

    • Yes. A fantasy-based system of trust and irrational perceptions of reality can and will be exploited, but it should be noted that religion isn't the only thing that yields false perceptions of reality. Anyone who accepts a manufactured reality as a substitute for actual reality is susceptible to exploitation by those who manufacture that false reality. For example, the false reality presented to us through the media and the lies that politicians tell cause most of us to vote for one of the two elite-approved candidates for POTUS against our self-interests. Anyone who really trusts either of the two major political parties or even just thinks one party is less evil than the other is being scammed by the elite into casting their votes to further the agenda of the elite. If one who is not part of the 1% elite supports Obama, Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, et al, then he has been successfully scammed.

    • 4 months ago
  • nardo1224
    • +4
      nardo1224  

    • There is no way of validating someone's true belief in a non valid religion. Religious people are prone to be gullible because their whole foundation is based solely on trust and not facts which allows any swindler to come in and con them because they are used to believing and not proving and in order for their faith to be valid, they have to trust and believe.

    • 4 months ago
  • fiberbundle
    • +3
      fiberbundle  

    • The concepts of compassion, empathy, duty and cooperation in most cultures are transmitted through parental guidance, peer interactions and religious institutions. The concepts of sin, crime and evil and protecting yourself are also taught. Sometimes, as in any recipe, ingredients are not balanced properly. A little too much trust can leave a bitter taste of financial loss (or lost innocence) in your mouth.

    • 4 months ago
  • Stoneyroad
    • +4
      Stoneyroad  

    • I wrote a song about it , like to hear it , here it goes

      IRRATIONAL NONSENSE BLUES
      " There's no use in your tired old argument,
      that science cannot disprove this nonsense
      the onus lies with you - and if you cannot prove it's true,
      then we will keep our money and our sense "

      (disclaimer: i didn't really write this song)

    • 4 months ago
  • PeteLeS33
  • PeteLeS33
    • +4
      PeteLeS33  

    • Part of any religious cult is that there is a trust that is crucial to being a member. You trust only those of the same or similar faith. What happens is that in a lot of southern states, ( which are predominately Republican ), christian cult church leaders, (evangelical, baptist, ect, ) are also tied into the Republican party, Local business owners, local leaders, county and state office holders who attend these cults and donate large sums of money to their "church" have great influence, and create close ties with the church pastor. In return the pastors influence over the rest of the congregation is strong. In other words they will vote who they are told to vote for and support what they are told to support. To be shunned from the church is to be shunned from society. Might as well pack up and leave the state.

      Whisper campaigns start at the church. Congregants are inside praising the lord and after church there are fliers on their windshields explaining that this office hopeful is a liberal, or supports abortion, a sexual predator, or worse yet a homosexual.

      I don't understand why there complaining, there rewards will be in heaven,,, RIGHT??

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBK5aKOr2Fw

    • 4 months ago
  • Stoneyroad
    • +5
      Stoneyroad  
    • PeteLeS33:

      Halfway through reading your comment i decided i was gonna click on your avatar and "follow" you on Current . . . Then halfway through watching the cult video you posted i decided i should do alot more thinking before i start following people i don't know.

    • 4 months ago
  • ampersand
    • +3
      ampersand  
    • PeteLeS33:

      Very astute comment.
      Insular, faith-based groups are purposefully resistant to the flow of information.
      Two of the most obvious negative traits of such groups are paranoia and gullibility.
      And, as you noted, character assassination and smear campaigns are the most commonly used tools in directing and maintaining control of the group.
      It's a tried and true pattern; "values voters" indeed.

    • 4 months ago
  • PeteLeS33
  • PeteLeS33
  • nursediesel
  • skylab
    • +3
      skylab  

    • It's more than trust. There are deeper issues here. Their leaders, in an attempt to continue leading, promote the idea that they, like Jesus, are the persecuted.
      That those non-believers on the outside are their enemies. So, any like-minded people that find a way into their lives are their kind of people. It's the Fox News system of us against them. Even if their is no such thing as THEM! Like the war on Christmas. Like Obama is a Socialist. The deeper issue is the capacity to HATE. The need to vilify a set of society in order to validate their own beliefs.
      The enemy of my enemy of my friend's enemy or their enemies yada yada yada. . .! This cuts along ALL ISSUES and into the hands of whomever wants to exploit
      the haters. Why think when you can Hate??

    • 4 months ago
  • Plue
  • kennymotown
  • warman1138
  • kbshana
    • +8
      kbshana  

    • my theory is they vote repuclican because they want the world to end and jesus to come back. They don't care about the world or the people in it

    • 4 months ago
  • kennymotown
  • PeteLeS33
    • +2
      PeteLeS33  
    • kbshana:

      They have been fanatical like that since the 90's.

      "Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." "
      Author: Matthew 19

    • 4 months ago
  • Plue
  • Plue
  • Truthitswhatsfordinner
  • northernexpat
    • +8
      northernexpat  

    • I have become so skeptical of organized religion because they interpret and twist the Bible to meet their needs. Many forget that the Bible has been translated so many times I often wonder what the Matthew, Luke, John, and Paul really said. As a result, tell a religious group what they want to hear and they will do anything for you. That is why it is so easy for the GOP candidates to win over these groups. They tell them what they want to hear whether they themselves believe it or not. Most don't even practice what they preach. Family values my ass!

    • 4 months ago
  • Plue
    • +2
      Plue  
    • northernexpat:

      And let's not forget they are all so willing to forgive sin (especially marital infidelity in their own kind) because they are so quick to sin. In ordeder to be compleatly forgiven one must change deep inside. I just don't see that type of chamge in the Republican Party or the willingness to forgive those who are not part of their group. :-)

    • 4 months ago
  • Plue
    • +6
      Plue  

    • Yes. I think that they are an easy mark. Look at the current primary in South Carolina. Gingrich is the biggest scam walking the planet yet they bought it hook, line, and sinker. I have many thoughts on Gingrich, his wife Cruella De'Vill, religion, and the Republican party. But all I will say on the subject at the moment is that they have perfected the art of the scam and that many people ar looking at what's on the stage instead of looking at what's behind the curtian. How have you been Kenny? Hope your holiday and New year were happy. :-)

    • 4 months ago
  • kennymotown
  • northernexpat
  • Plue
  • Plue
  • Stoneyroad
    • +8
      Stoneyroad  

    • Do religious people make easy targets for scams?
      That reminds me of the Chicken / Egg question.

      Are religious people easy marks ,
      or are organized religions just really good con-men?

    • 4 months ago
  • kennymotown
  • Stoneyroad
  • kennymotown
  • nanac
    • +6
      nanac  

    • Republican politicians and so-called ministers, prey upon the weak, and vulnerable. They are some of the biggest scammers in history. The majority of people who claim to be Christians are not, most of them are selfish and full of hate, the complete opposite of Jesus Christ. Atheists appear to be better people. One must be Christ-like to be a Christian, and no one in the entire Republican Party fit that description.

    • 4 months ago
  • kennymotown
  • Bob_Miller
  • Bob_Miller
  • kennymotown
  • kennymotown
  • Bob_Miller
  • kennymotown
  • nanac
    • +6
      nanac  
    • kennymotown:

      Thank you, Kenny. Many people are Christ-like in behavior, however they don't claim to be Christians. They are identified by their deeds. You appear to be a good person.

    • 4 months ago
  • nanac
  • Plue
  • northernexpat
  • Truthitswhatsfordinner
  • nanac
  • Plue
  • Plue
  • jubal
  • kennymotown
  • Anonmaly
    • 0
      Anonmaly  

    • Atheism has become religion.....

      And capitalism....

      consumerism.....

      a few others.....

      Of course the unconventional religions are the only real ones...

    • 4 months ago
  • kennymotown
  • nikonwilly
  • kennymotown
  • Bob_Miller
  • Andover
  • DEM46
    • +7
      DEM46  

    • Just look in the Yellow pages for the fish symbol. "TRUST ME" I'm a christian and not a heathen looking to steal from you.
      Funny really, I avoid this nonsense because I see it as only a marketing tool to suck people in.

    • 4 months ago
  • kennymotown
  • MSII
  • kennymotown
  • unimatrix0
  • kennymotown
  • rerushg
  • DEM46
  • TanzaniteDiamonds
  • nikonwilly
  • GENERALNATTY
    • +5
      GENERALNATTY  

    • Half of religious people vote democrat, but what i think is that the left is partly to blame for the strengthening of the religious right, these republican politicians invoke the name of god and say that the left does not give a shit about them and in general the left is silent on the issue, the fact of the matter is the majority of the public is somewhere near the centre and many believers believe that their religion is more important than themselves, meanwhile the christian democrats don't give them any assurances that they have their best interests at heart. A lot of people vote for one side over the other because of as little of one issue or small handful of issues, a gay person may be conservative in almost every way but is for gay marriage so he votes democrat, african-americans culturally have more in common with southern values from whence many of them came ideologically but politically are aligned with democrats because they feel its in their best interest historically.

      If some of the democrats that are more closer to the centre made more effort to gain their vote they would cut a chunk out the republican base, democratic leaders only seem to let anyone know they have a religious affiliation of some sort when they are running for president.

      I strongly disagree with the implication that you can hold george w bush's religious affiliation as the sole or primary contributing factor in his campaign in the middle east. Holding his claims of his religiousness against all born again christians in an argument about how republicans scam people exploiting their faith for their votes, not only is it a extreme case of generalization it potentially contradicts the idea set forth that republicans are being scammed by their politicians using their faith, more or less saying that these politicians aren't what they say they are.

      When you have a two party system in the event a nation becomes ideologically divided generally only one party represents issues most important to you, therefore you no longer have options, only one choice, in my opinion that is not democracy and when you do not have the power to remove a party entirely, it has potential to create consolidate power away from the people, as i see not no matter what party is in power it seems that power is slowly being taken from the people bit by bit.

    • 4 months ago
  • kennymotown
    • +8
      kennymotown  
    • GENERALNATTY:

      Very deep my friend, and here comes the but.....in recent elections you have to admit the Evangelics have been duped into voting for a party of the rich for the rich believing they will fix Roe v Wade.

    • 4 months ago
  • GENERALNATTY
    • +4
      GENERALNATTY  
    • kennymotown:

      Yes but again this goes to my position that a two party system is inadequate to represent the views of 308 million people, when you have only one choice that in anyway suits your beliefs are you really being duped, or is that you feel you only have one choice? Could it be that they believe throwing a Hail mary preferable to walking off the field? If a person genuinely felt that abortion is indeed baby killing in their heart of hearts would you expect them to just give up? Even if you believe them misguided you can understand how they feel.

    • 4 months ago
  • kennymotown
    • +4
      kennymotown  
    • GENERALNATTY:

      No doubt about the two party system, it sucks big time! Big changes are coming, the American Spring is just around the corner and a President thats begging the country to push him to the left. When the dust settles I hope we can fix the political scene in the mix and really have a just election system. As for the abortion thing, it's settled law and in my opinion those that feel that strongly really need to understand it's a woman s body and her decision.

    • 4 months ago
  • GENERALNATTY
    • +4
      GENERALNATTY  
    • kennymotown:

      I agree with almost everything you said, however i have my doubts about the left being able to carry out the "american spring" i find that conservative constituents are far more organized and motivated and willing to sacrifice in direct comparison to their progressive counterparts, partly because they have been mentally and physically preparing for the day "the south" could rise again for a long ass time. I think if there is an "american spring" it can only really happen with support from elements of both sides, otherwise the ideological divisions will the divider that will allow america to continue to be conquered by corporate interests. Imagine if half of the protesters in egypt was against the other half Hosni Mubarak would probably still be in power right now.

    • 4 months ago
  • kennymotown
  • KB723
  • kennymotown
  • KB723
  • kennymotown
  • TanzaniteDiamonds
  • kennymotown
  • cherry5000
  • kennymotown
  • KB723
  • scared_in_the_bible_belt
    • 0
      scared_in_the_bible_belt  
    • kennymotown:

      The religious who steal (let's face it, that is what it is) feel that they are entitled to the money of others. One woman I know promised her son that she would help him pay for college. The kid worked two jobs and went to school full time. She withdrew her money, because her "beloved minister" told her that the God needed the congregation to tithe 15% of their income. Now, my friend goes to school part-time, and he struggles with his finances. On the other hand, the minister has a really nice yacht.

      Do I believe in God? Yes (It is personal, so back off.). Do I believe in religion? No (never have). Is it easy to get my money away from me? NO!

      A good rule of thumb is, if a religious person says God said so ("give more money"), run like your life depends on it.

    • 4 months ago
  • mrtraffic
    • +4
      mrtraffic  

    • "Born again Christians have directly been responsible for at least a million dead in the middle east, not to mention thousands of U.S Soldiers!" Funny part is you think they care...In their eyes, the US soliders died defending a "Christian" nation, and the Hajis all go to hell for practicing their voodoo.

    • 4 months ago
  • kennymotown
  • mrtraffic
  • kennymotown
  • mrtraffic
  • kennymotown
  • cherry5000
  • kennymotown
  • cherry5000
  • kennymotown
  • kennymotown
  • kennymotown
  • nanac
  • kennymotown
kennymotown
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