loving art, science and creative kids
2/20/2021 8:49:51 PM
You Decide
What is it? It could be a secret language, an emotional appeal, a work of beauty, a print or ugly art painted by someone famous or a by trained monkey. It could cost $10,000 or $15. Is it a fraud or the real thing?
Scammers & Victims
Last week I wrote about telephone scams. This week the conversation continues by delving into the type of person who excels at scamming with a focus on charismatic investment advisors, corporate swindlers, and religious leaders.
Though in the past there certainly were snake oil salesmen who conned innocent people out of their money, today's electronic technology moved fraudulent deceptions to an entirely new level that enable tricksters to reach broader audiences. As I mentioned in my previous newsletter, 95 million robocalls a day are made to reach a small number of gullible people.
High among the list of scammers are charismatic leaders who get millions of people to empty their purses. Some are financial wizards who offer Ponzi schemes with promises of easy riches while others are preachers out to benefit unscrupulous ministries. And, there are the conniving ways of executives of large corporations that supposedly operate under the watchful eye of government regulators.
Con artists have been fooling the public for generations. In the late 18 and early 1900s, George Parker successfully sold the Brooklyn Bridge many times over, getting $50,000 for it at least once. Police removed several of victims when they tried erecting toll booths on the bridge. During his career he sold Madison Square Garden, The Metropolitan Museum of art, and the Statue of Liberty, setting up fake offices to handle real estate swindles targeting immigrants and tourists. He turned actor and dressed in Civil War attire when selling Grant's Tomb. Convicted of fraud three times, he escaped once, was recaptured and sentenced to a life term in Sing Sing. His exploits gave rise to the phrase, "and if you believe that, I have a bridge to sell you."
What Parker had in common with other con artists was an ability to exploit a need to feel part of a group. He looked for people with knowledge-gaps and pretended he was able to help them. When techniques like this fail, scammers resort to intimidation or force as exemplified by shops that conduct endless sales and salesmen who push customers with fake time pressures.
In the early 2000s, Enron, under the leadership of Kenneth Lay (now deceased), inflated profits and concealed debt, fooling both regulators and investors with fake holdings and off-the-books accounting. After its stock peaked at $90.75 it plummeted to 26 cents a share causing shareholders to lose $74 billion in what at the time was the largest bankruptcy ever. Lay was considered a good guy who insisted the world needed equal opportunity, that smoking was bad, and that the African-American arts community deserved support. He knew what was best for you, how to negotiate conflicts among peers, and was admired widely. Parker also liked drinking coffee from china cups, had an Enron plane repainted during a layover because he didn't like the color, and spent thousands of dollars on antiquing trips and birthday parties when his company was tanking. Lay was featured on television going to church and carrying a bible. Most people in Houston thought they knew who he was, but by the end of his trial the jury uncovered the truth. His win-at-all-costs personality showed him to be imperious, devious, and disloyal, pushing his crimes onto the shoulders of colleagues.
Bernie Madoff's empire came crashing down in 2008. The following year he pleaded guilty to engineering the biggest Ponzi scheme in history, losing $65 billion that included the life savings of close friends and family members. The 81-year-old, still in prison serving a 150-year sentence, recently petitioned for release due to kidney failure. His request is being considered.
Mr. Madoff was a swindler who conned investors to hand over their savings and falsely promised consistent profits in return. He is described as an affable, charismatic man who moved comfortably among power brokers on Wall Street and Washington. He had a penthouse apartment in Manhattan, shared in two private jets, and owned a yacht on the French Riviera. Madoff honed his image carefully and shunned one-on-one meetings with investors to make him more desirable to those seeking access. He was greedy and didn't care whom he hurt to get what he wanted.
Gregg McCrary, a former F.B.I. agent who constructs criminal behavioral profiles, said Madoff shared destructive traits typically seen in psychopaths who lie, manipulate, have feelings of grandiosity, are self-confident, and are callous towards their victims. He calls him a chameleon, good at "impression management," a man who cast himself as a crusader protecting the interests of smaller investors. He wooed regulators to ignore what he was doing and told employees to adopt the mantra "KISS," or "keep it simple, stupid."
A great many mega-churches, pay-for-prayer calls, and televangelists are part of an underworld run by leaders who entice poor and ill people in desperate situations with promises of salvation, wealth, and healing. Known as "property preachers," they link riches to religion and preach that health and prosperity are controlled by God. Charismatic preachers dress in suits, spout the bible, and urge devotees to send them "seed" pledges to demonstrate their faith. Followers are encouraged to contribute to the church before paying rent or utility bills. According to Christian religious scholar Michael Cooper,
"These personality cults-such as Jim Jones of the People's Temple, David Koresh of the Branch Davidians, or David Berg of the Children of God/the Family-exhibit extraordinary influence over their followers. While these extreme examples resulted in abuse and death, others have exhibited a spiritual abuse couched in Christian language that appears legitimate for a while, but they are often exposed by disillusioned followers. In recent times, one may recall Jimmy Swaggert, Jim Bakker, Ted Haggard, Mark Driscoll, Bill Hybels, James MacDonald, and most recently, Jerry Falwell, Jr. as well-known examples of charismatic personalities within the evangelical world who held an extreme influence over followers, thus permitting their deviant behaviors and moral failures."
They keep messages simple and provide followers with a way to make sense of sickness and healing. Claiming they are God-anointed figures, they promise that bequeaths made to the church will be repaid many times over with good fortune and healing. When donations don't produce the desired results, followers are told that their faith is not strong enough, and that they need to contribute more. Kirbyjon H. Caldwell from Texas, Spiritual adviser to Presidents Bush and Obama, used his clout and influence to persuade people to invest $3.5 million in bogus bonds issued by the former Republic of China. The $900,000 he received before being sent to six years in prison, helped maintain his lifestyle and pay down credit cars and mortgages.
Mega-churches collect millions of dollars that make the salaries of their senior ministers rival that of Wall Street executives, while most of their employees barely earn a living wage. They enjoy tax-exempt status and federal subsidies that are supposed to go to community outreach, but are not required to share how much of what they bring in goes to charitable causes. Collections support private jets, expensive cars, and numerous mansions. Followers turn their backs to their wealth since it is seen as proof that God shined on the preacher.
Charismatic scammers, whether financial or religious, are irresistible, hypnotic, exude confidence, and have a force of personality that draws people to them. They are strong communicators who know how to mobilize followers to view them as gifted, heroic and god-like. They are organizers who train banks of telephone callers, volunteers, and salespeople to push rattletrap messages and make pitches that bring in the gold.
Larger than life figures who produce positive results do exist. A good example is Bill Gates, Microsoft's founder. But when manipulative, narcissistic men like Adolf Hitler take center stage, a dark self-focused side emerges. When errors in judgement, unethical behavior and self-serving actions go unchallenged due to fear of retribution by the leader, followers disengage and withdraw rather than act. Their timidity makes the leader stronger and enables him or her to become more wicked and corrupt.
The Federal Trade Commission says that people are less likely to lose money if they've heard about the scam beforehand. They suggest spreading the word when you read or hear about fraudulent acts or were victimized by one. Social media sites and television make it difficult to tell honest promotions from deceptive ones. We can help one another by sharing what we know, and by being dubious about investments and pitches that appeal to emotions and seem too good to be true.
References:
Lisa, a. (2019) 30 of the biggest scams in modern history. Stacker. retrieved from https://stacker.com/stories/2525/30-biggest-scams-modern-history
Swartz. M. (2006) The Three Faces of Ken Lay. New york Times. retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/21/opinion/21swartz.html
Crswell and Thomas Jr. (2009) The Talented Mr. Madoff. The New York Times. retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/25/business/25bernie.html
MacBeth, C. 2020 Are mega churches just businesses masquerading as worship? News Daily. retrieved from https://filmdaily.co/news/mega-churches/
Brown, D. (2020)How Megachurches Blurr Religion and Riches. How Stuff Works. retrieved from https://people.howstuffworks.com/do-megachurches-preach-that-prayer-will-make-rich.htm
Church Law Website (2020) Political Activities by Churches: What's Permitted and What's Prohibited. Church Law Center of California. retrieved fromhttps://www.churchlawcenter.com/church-law/political-activities-by-churches-whats-permitted-and-whats-prohibited/
Cooper,M. (2020) the Dangers of Charismatic Leadership. Ephesiology. Retrieved from https://ephesiology.com/blog-post/the-dangers-of-charismatic-leadership/
Audrey M. (2018) Battling the Dark Side Of Charisma. Forbes. retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/audreymurrell/2018/06/04/battling-th
Baker. V. (2019)The preachers getting rich from poor Americans. BBC News. retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-47675301
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Art is always for sale. You Decide - acrylic on canvas painting, 16” x 40” x 2” / $ 385. Painted by a real live person. For information contact me at [email protected].
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Art is always for sale. You Decide - acrylic on canvas painting, 16” x 40” x 2” / $ 385. Painted by a real live person. For information contact me at [email protected].
Have you ever been scammed. Do comment below.
2/13/2021 6:23:34 PM
Coming Home
Home is supposed to be a peaceful retreat. Unfortunately it is marred by telephone scammers who call and interrupt my activities during the day and into the night.
Scammer Be Gone
Telephone Scammers! I'm tired of them. Robocalls and phone banks of hustlers out to steal money or personal information have made Americans reluctant to answer their phones. This is dangerous, for there are occasions when incoming calls are important.
Hearing that my social security number was compromised or that a large international purchase was made from my Amazon account is getting tiring. Threatening calls come in from the IRS and technicians who want to fix my computer. An extended appliance warranty and a lottery sweepstake award almost trapped me. Thankfully, I realized what was happening before the hustlers got my money, but that didn't stop their calls from resuming.
Robocalls take pay-to-pray formats to a new level. "Hello, this is the Hope and Prayer Center Ministry calling today to see if you need an urgent prayer. If you would like to have someone from our center pray for you, please press one. If you no longer want to hear from us, please press three." If you press one, as many Americans do, you will receive a second automated call asking for a donation to the Hope and Prayer Center Ministry. Though not stating how much you will need to donate, it will forward you to a service in charge of collecting payments.
The government anticipates scammers will steal over $2 billion in 2021. Over 95 million robocalls will be initiated daily with the use of advanced autodialing technology in order to reach the few who fall prey to their con. Robocalls are commonly spoofed. That means they are initiated internationally, but the call that comes to your home has a local area code. Legislation introduced in 2019 by bi-partisan members of congress is helping FCC go after companies that spoof.
The government's warning list of scams is robust. They center on banking, government grants, and pyramid schemes. There are ticket hoaxes, census-related fraud, investment and charity rackets, moving company cons, and Ponzi schemes. Extortionists push time-share vacations homes and supplemental healthcare programs. Since the start of the pandemic, coronavirus ripoffs were added to the list of false rumors and price gouging. Sorry, but you cannot "jump the vaccine line" in exchange for payment. Rackets occur online, through the mail, and on the phone where victims are pushed for an immediate decision. Hardly anyone with a phone is immune from them.
Taking advantage of the public is not new. I admit to fooling an elderly woman when I was twelve. One summer afternoon my cousin and I thought it would be fun to pick a random phone number and tell the person answering the phone that he or she won a prize. Our first call was answered by a sweet lady who was so happy to her of her award that we were horrified by our prank. The woman probably knew we were a couple of kids playing a prank, but she went along with the ruse. Though we didn't want money or ask anything from the woman, we made an award that was bound to make her feel bad when nothing was received. The guilt my cousin and I felt kept us from making a second call.
For those who don't know how scammers communicate with unwary victims, I've put together a few scripts.
SCAM #1 - Sweepstakes
Scammer: Congratulations, Ms. Smith. I'm pleased to tell you that you won $250,000 from Publisher's Clearing House Sweepstakes.
Winner: I did? I can't believe it. I've entered for years.
Scammer: Your persistence paid off. What will you do with the money?
Winner: This is so sudden, I'm not sure. Pay some bills and help my family, I guess. I always wanted to take one of those river cruises. But, wait a minute. How do I know this isn't a scam? I'll have to pay to get my money, won't I?
Scammer: "Absolutely not. You don't have to pay a thing. Here is a number you can call to check that we are legitimate. xxx-xxx-xxxx. (The phone is answered by someone in the scammer's group. If the winner does not call the scammer back he will continue calling over the following months, reinforcing that the person is a winner and should claim the award before it goes away.)
Winner: This is very exciting. How do I get my check?
Scammer: "We'll come to your house with balloons and flowers and hand you a large check that we use in publicity. You don't mind if we take photos, do you? If you prefer to keep your award quiet we can honor your wish as well.
Winner: I'd prefer not to have any fanfare. I don't want the neighborhood knowing I won a $250,000.
Scammer: That's understandable. When is a good time to come by?
Winner: I'll ask my husband when he'll be home.
Scammer: No, don't do that. This is for you alone. Let him be surprised when he discovers the amount in your bank account. Does Thursday next week work?
Winner: I'm free that day.
Scammer: Because $250,000 is such a large amount, we'll accompany you to the bank to make sure the deposit goes through. After it is deposited, we do ask for a small amount ($8,000) to cover expenses for getting the money to you.
(The check is put on hold for four days before the bank contacts the winner to say it is fake. The winner remains responsible for funds paid to the scammer. When a Michigan Representative was recently asked to look into a scam a constituent's elderly father fell for, the Rep's answer was, "More than likely these are legitimate businesses and we are not interested in stopping good businesses.")
Scam #2 - Social Security
Robocaller: Hello. This is a message from the Social Security office. Someone is using your social security number for suspicious activity. Call xxx-xxx-xxxx immediately immediately to speak to an agent in our office or you could be subject to arrest. Have the last four digits of you social security number ready.
SS Card holder follows through and is connected to a live person.
Scammer: Your name please, and the last four digits of your Social Security number. Due to suspicious activity we are suspending your social security number and issuing a new card.
Card Holder: What? How can that be? I've had this card all my life and I'm going on 75.
Scammer: Congratulations for a long life, dear. Too bad this had to happen to you. Unfortunately identity theft is rampant and someone got ahold of your number. It is a good thing we caught the fraud, so you are not implicated. But, to be sure that I'm talking to the right person, please read off your full social security number.
Card Holder: Just a minute, I have to get it from my wallet.
Scammer: Now that I know it is you, I need to verify your address. A new card will cost $45. Will you be using VISA, Mastercard or American Express. Let me know when you are ready. I'll read the number back.
Obtaining a credit card, social security number and address made the scammer's call successful. It is good to remember that neither the social security office or IRS communicate through the phone.
To eliminate scams you might consider getting a robocall blocker if you haven't already done so. Other suggestions are:
a) Never let a recorded stranger talk you into pressing 1 or to press 2, the do-not-call list. Don't press anything.
b) Never provide legal businesses with written consent to contact you by phone.
c) Place your number on the FTC's do-not-Call list and check out the FCC guide to robocalls.
d) Slow things down. Callers try to create a sense of urgency. Ask questions and don't get rushed into a bad situation.
e) Spot check and look up the organization that's calling you and get in touch directly.
f) Never send a payment on the spot.
February is a time to beware of romance scammers who build relationships slowly before submitting an urgent request for money. In 2019 over $200 million was lost to romance scams. Loneliness during the pandemic has made many people targets of their devious ways.
Have you been scammed? Though it may be embarrassing to admit to being a victim of fraud, your story will help others avoid falling into the same trap. Do share your experience on my blog site at eichingerfineart.com/blog
This method of extortion raises additional questions I plan to address in my next newsletter?
- Are more people out to defraud the public than ever before or does it just feel that way? Millions of people, especially the elderly, fall pray to a variety of devious schemes. Since they are bad for society, why do we let it continue? Why allow credit card and payday loan companies to charge usury fees for services that put millions of people so deeply in debt they will never escape from it.
- What makes people gullible to deception and who is most likely to become a victim of fraud?
Tune in next week to find out.
References:
USAgov. site about Scams: https://www.usa.gov/common-scams-frauds
Bote, Joshua. (2019) Fraud, private jets and Lamborghini: 10 Televnangelists who have faced controversy. USA Today. retrieved from https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2019/06/17/joel-osteen-kenneth-copeland-10-televangelists-trouble/1471926001/
website ( 2020) How to Deal with Hpe and Prayer center Ministry robocall. Do Not Pay. retrieved from https://donotpay.com/learn/hope-and-prayer-center-ministry-robocall/
Collins,G (2021) Arise, Robocall Resistance! New York Times. retrieved from
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/10/opinion/robocalls-telemarketing.html?campaign_id=39&emc=edit_ty_20210211&instance_id=27002&nl=opinion-today®i_id=99366442&segment_id=51444&te=1&user_id=12c7cdc64c72bcde46f22458fd64bd0c
web site ( 2021) Scam Spotter. retrieved from https://www.scamspotter.org/?gclid=Cj0KCQiAyJOBBhDCARIsAJG2h5cnuuf6MVPjGbxy3pg-KsGe4hEyfhOFqKbbvwxow8x9nVyGsvHDpvgaAo_GEALw_wcB
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Art is always for sale. Coming Home is 16x 20 acrylic painting in silver frame available for $325. To make arrangements, contact me at [email protected].
2/6/2021 6:50:29 PM
These trees were painted with real bark applied to their trunks. Not only are the pictures to be enjoyed visually, they can be touched. They were inspired by walks at the arboretum where I touched the bark as I passed different species. I was surprised to find that some are soft and spongy while others are iron hard. Bark peels and curls on some trees while on others it grows in plates that fall off and are replaced. It is interesting to see how the trunk changes as the tree grows and how it adapts to the environment.
Match of the Century: Senses VS Covid
Welcome to all of you who came late to the match. The bell just rang on the seventh round featuring Senses Vs COVID and the crowd went wild with frustration. COVID, coming from behind, upset Smell in the third round, all but wiping him out. Taste rebounded in the fourth as restaurants closed and home chefs experimented. Sight lost her footing, shaking in fear at seeing so many masked, hooded men. Sound made up for sight's loss, soothing spectators with the chirping of birds and awakening them with the banging of pots thanking healthcare workers. A mounting rumble of sadness caused COVID to turn Touch into the biggest loser of the day by making the fight a no-contact sport. Tension is mounting, friends, as the referee tries to balance sanity with madness before the match ends.
SMELL: COVID-19 plays havoc with our senses. Eighty percent of people who test positive complain of smell or taste lost. The first symptom they notice is loss of smell, but because taste is connected, it soon follows. Recent studies show that those who experience smell dysfunction usually have a milder case than those with severe respiratory infections that include congestion, drainage and other nasal symptoms. Doctors believe the primary reason for loss of smell is an inflammatory reaction inside the nose leading to loss of olfactory neurons. For quite a few victims, the loss is permanent.
TASTE: The pandemic initiated a lot more home cooking. Not only are people unsafe going to restaurants, they work from home longer and don't stop for meals on their commute. For many, financial concerns are an added reason to dine at home. According to the New York Times, home chefs are more confident of their abilities in the kitchen and have been making more complex dishes. They prepare more gourmet sauces and are clearing out spice racks in super markets to do so. Spicy sauces and dishes of all kinds have increased substantially. Retailers, realizing that taste buds have become more discerning, started offering round the world adventurous flavors.
SIGHT: The visual arts play a role in keeping people sane during COVID. A recent survey by the CDC revealed that anxiety and depressive disorders in the US increased considerably since last spring. During periods when we can’t see friends and family, art can reduce stress and help people process the heaviness they feel. According to art therapist, Tammy Shella, the verbal and visual sides of the brain take two different paths. People with PTSD (a side affect of COVID for some) are triggered by sights, smells, colors and sounds reminding them of the trauma. Talking therapy doesn’t always lead to healing, while an artistic outlet may. My experience is similar to others who engage in artistic endeavors.
Creating art puts me in state of flow where I am completely focused on the task at hand. Worries fade away and a sense of peacefulness takes over. Arts (and crafts) provide a way to connect with others. I can express inner feelings to friends through my paintings. Some artists sculpt, make videos, design cards, or make quilts for newborn babies. They are selfless acts that make the practitioner feel good. Engaging in artistic ventures does not have to be expensive.
SOUND: During the pandemic, many sounds that defined our cities have vanished. Though some residents find the silence is deafening, others celebrate it. In New York, the screech of subways, the chatter of multilingual voices, the blare of traffic are replaced by the clear sounds of chirping birds and air conditioner motors coming from tall apartment complexes. Stuart Fowkes, a U.K. sound artist, has been mapping sounds of cities around the world since 2014 and continues so during the pandemic. He wonders if adapting to less noise pollution will cause a rebellion when the cacophony of jarring sounds reappear on our streets? I sure hopes so. I'd like to outlaw gas leaf-blowers disturbing the quiet of my neighborhood?
TOUCH: The complaint I hear most frequently from single friends is their inability to touch and be touched, adding to feelings of loneliness. Unable to hug parents, children, grandchildren and friends or to trust kissing a new paramour, they are touch-starved. Those with partners and children are fortunate.
Singles are experimenting with solutions to combat social distancing. In one shared apartment, residents instituted a six o’clock hug at the end of every day activity that lasts 25 seconds, that psychologists say is long enough the get the physiological and psychological benefits that touch can bring. Touch can convey emotion faster than words and it is known to reduce stress in adults as well as babies—though it is important to remember that not everyone likes to be touched. When someone is touch-starved, stress, depression and anxiety are triggered with cascading negative psychological effects that effect blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, the digestive and the immune systems.
I am a hugger and miss putting arms around friends and family and shaking hands with acquaintances. Dr. Fauci doesn’t think we should reintroduce the handshake after the pandemic is over, saying it will go a long way to preventing influenza as well as coronavirus disease. However, I feel certain we will find a way back to tactile bonding in order to release oxytocin, the cuddle hormone, in the brain. Those feel-good sensations of trust and connection that decrease our fears and anxiety, is such a need, that we will be compelled to find safe ways to touch one another.
The ongoing match between The Senses and COVID will make many people feel like they are going mad. However, this isn’t the first time or the last the world was faced with a pandemic, and we know they end, though it may take years for trauma from the experience to settle. We may be more cautious and risk adverse than before it started. We may continue cooking at home for pleasure and not shake hands for health reasons, but eventually, fears will lesson. But hopefully, what we learn about ourselves and society will be used to improve lives going forward.
References:
Staff (2020) Five things to know about smell and taste loss in COVID-19. Vanderbilt University Medical Center. retrieved from https://www.vumc.org/coronavirus/latest-news/five-things-know-about-smell-and-taste-loss-covid-19
Contrearas,T. (2020) How the pandemic is shaping home cooking trends. SmartBrief. https://www.smartbrief.com/original/2020/09/how-pandemic-shaping-home-cooking-trends
Repko,M. (2020) THe pandemic’s new chefs and foodies: How the health crisis shaped what we cook and crave.CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/29/even-after-pandemic-companies-may-have-to-cater-to-a-nation-of-aspiring-chefs-foodies.html
Staff ( 2020) How Art Can Help You Cope With The Pandemic. Cleveland Clinic, Healthessentials. retrieved from https://health.clevelandclinic.org/how-art-can-help-you-cope-with-the-pandemic/
Scherer, J. MD (2020) Hearing Humanity Through the Noise of a Pandemic. National Institute of Health. retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7301060/
Poor,L. (2020) Soundscape. Bloomberg City lab. retrieved from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-22/the-changing-sounds-of-cities-during-covid-mapped
2020 Why I’m not alone in missing hugs during the pandemic. BBC News, retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-54373924
Pierce,S. (2020) Touch starvation is a consequence of COVID-19’s physical distance.retrieved from https://www.tmc.edu/news/2020/05/touch-starvation/
