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10/5/05

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Shal

Shal

Los Angeles, CA
October 2002

OCT 05, 2005 10:45 AM

The FBI has arrested 9 residents of Bakersfield, California, for defrauding the Red Cross of at least $25,000 that was meant for victims of hurricane Katrina. Four of these completely fucking worthless human beings had volunteered to help at a Red Cross center following the storm, but started finding ways to put money in their own pockets instead.

The Red Cross said it set up the national call center in Bakersfield for Hurricane Katrina victims seeking assistance. Operators provide qualifying victims with a personal identification number they then present to receive funds from Western Union.

"The bad guys would call their buddies and give them pin numbers," Scott said. "Sometimes they'd just call with unused pin numbers. Sometimes they'd give a victim a pin number and turn around and call a buddy with the same pin, and there'd be a race to Western Union."

The Red Cross contacted the FBI after it performed an audit of the call center and discovered "that way too many people in Bakersfield were getting aid," Scott said.

Eight Bakersfield residents were arrested in recent days, and another woman from the city remained at large Tuesday.

Trent Jermaine Preslie, 33; Aminah Randle, 19; Robert Johnson, 23; Miko Shannia Nobles, 22; Tonjua Randle, 39; Sheena Porter, 21; Stanley Lewis, 44; and Candice Brown, 20, were arrested on suspicion of wire fraud. Elizabeth Ray was wanted on the same charge.



There is a Hurricane Katrina Fraud Task Force already in place. In addition to the human scum arrested in Bakersfield, the FBI has netted a disgusting waste of life named Gary S. Kraser in Florida, who stole almost $40,000 in donated money, as well as complete and total dickfaces Tino Lee and Gina Liz Nicholas of California, who posed as Red Cross employees collecting money outside stores in Burbank, CA.

Fuck these people. Seriously. And not in the fun way, either.

doolittle

doolittle

Mesa, AZ
December 2004

OCT 05, 2005 12:04 PM

wow that seriously pisses me off. cocksuckers.

Idjit

Idjit

HOPEFUL

I'm lost

OCT 05, 2005 12:05 PM

You'd be shocked at all the different scams people pull with disasters like this. While Stiles and I were down there we listened to the radio a lot, and there was a PSA running fairly regularly warning people about hiring people to do reconstruction work - fairly "duh" stuff like "don't pay before services are rendered". It just boggles my mind that people would victimize people who've already gone through so much. mad

Mirtzig

Mirtzig

Kansas City, MO
July 2005

OCT 05, 2005 12:07 PM

What the fuck is it that separates people that would do that shit from the ones that don't. Do they have no fuckin soul?

EndedBen

EndedBen

Grand Rapids, MI
August 2004

OCT 05, 2005 12:19 PM

Mirtzig said:
What the fuck is it that separates people that would do that shit from the ones that don't. Do they have no fuckin soul?



Simple: Opportunity.

bean

bean

STAFF

Los Angeles, CA

OCT 05, 2005 12:24 PM

SuperNintendo said:

Mirtzig said:
What the fuck is it that separates people that would do that shit from the ones that don't. Do they have no fuckin soul?



Simple: Opportunity.


Bullshit. 99.99% of the people who have the opportunity to defraud other people don't. That's a pretty clear indication that opportunity has jack shit to do with it.

GoatsGoToHell

GoatsGoToHell

USA
OLD SKOOL

OCT 05, 2005 12:26 PM

SuperNintendo said:

Mirtzig said:
What the fuck is it that separates people that would do that shit from the ones that don't. Do they have no fuckin soul?



Simple: Opportunity.



And Greed

EndedBen

EndedBen

Grand Rapids, MI
August 2004

OCT 05, 2005 12:29 PM

bean said:

SuperNintendo said:

Mirtzig said:
What the fuck is it that separates people that would do that shit from the ones that don't. Do they have no fuckin soul?



Simple: Opportunity.


Bullshit. 99.99% of the people who have the opportunity to defraud other people don't. That's a pretty clear indication that opportunity has jack shit to do with it.



I'm just saying everybody has the capacity for any moral or ethical crime.

[Edited on Oct 05, 2005 by SuperNintendo]

Meridon

Meridon

I'm lost
September 2005

OCT 05, 2005 12:40 PM

SuperNintendo said:

bean said:

SuperNintendo said:

Mirtzig said:
What the fuck is it that separates people that would do that shit from the ones that don't. Do they have no fuckin soul?



Simple: Opportunity.


Bullshit. 99.99% of the people who have the opportunity to defraud other people don't. That's a pretty clear indication that opportunity has jack shit to do with it.



I'm just saying everybody has the capacity for any moral or ethical crime.

[Edited on Oct 05, 2005 by SuperNintendo]




Capacity doesn't equal inclination, though.

EndedBen

EndedBen

Grand Rapids, MI
August 2004

OCT 05, 2005 12:50 PM

If we could determine that every person who takes money from something like this is caught and, yes, 99.99% of every single person who is involved in charities is truly a wonderful person I would buy it. But I guess I have a much lower opinion of humanity than some others.

mamet

mamet

Charleston, SC
March 2005

OCT 05, 2005 01:06 PM

SuperNintendo said:
If we could determine that every person who takes money from something like this is caught and, yes, 99.99% of every single person who is involved in charities is truly a wonderful person I would buy it. But I guess I have a much lower opinion of humanity than some others.



So are you suggesting that we are all inherently evil, and given what we perceive as a reasonable chance of escaping undetected, we would all do the same thing? My overall opinion of humanity is low, but I have a hard time swallowing that. I don't think everyone who gives or volunteers for a charity is altruistic, but I can't believe that they're all potential criminals.

reindeerblood

reindeerblood

I'm lost
August 2005

OCT 05, 2005 01:11 PM

Dont let them turn you to the dark side man.... Its not true!
Even though morals and ethics are relative, and we live in a morally deprived nation, not "everybody is capable of any moral or ethical crime"... Why do you think the news is full of negativity? To breed isolation and distrust and contempt for the fellow human? My guess is yes, propaganda is a well oiled machine.. However, I must say "dont believe the hype!" Truly it is a shame that many people live by the code of "go on take the money and run," but we all know "you cant take it with you," in the end... and it is true that "everything that comes around goes around." Anyway, that shit really sux...

Idjit

Idjit

HOPEFUL

I'm lost

OCT 05, 2005 01:15 PM

SuperNintendo said:
If we could determine that every person who takes money from something like this is caught and, yes, 99.99% of every single person who is involved in charities is truly a wonderful person I would buy it. But I guess I have a much lower opinion of humanity than some others.



Sorry you feel that way, man. Why don't you volunteer with the Red Cross or one of the hundreds of non-profit organizations currently involved in cleanup and restoration down there and see for yourself what people are really doing. There's a lot of great people doing selfless work who you're writing off because there's the usual handful of fuckwads taking advantage of the situation.

EndedBen

EndedBen

Grand Rapids, MI
August 2004

OCT 05, 2005 01:17 PM

mamet said:

SuperNintendo said:
If we could determine that every person who takes money from something like this is caught and, yes, 99.99% of every single person who is involved in charities is truly a wonderful person I would buy it. But I guess I have a much lower opinion of humanity than some others.



So are you suggesting that we are all inherently evil, and given what we perceive as a reasonable chance of escaping undetected, we would all do the same thing? My overall opinion of humanity is low, but I have a hard time swallowing that. I don't think everyone who gives or volunteers for a charity is altruistic, but I can't believe that they're all potential criminals.



I wouldn't go so far to say evil, but yeah I would say we're all basically fighting our most selfish and crude desires deep down. It's just a matter of how you go about it and how it makes you behave. What is your perception of these people? That they're unfit for society, psychopathic monsters? Or that they're just regular people who took a risk/chance to get some money. I think it's the latter, but that's just me.

threejane

threejane

San Francisco, CA
November 2004

OCT 05, 2005 01:17 PM

SuperNintendo said:

Mirtzig said:
What the fuck is it that separates people that would do that shit from the ones that don't. Do they have no fuckin soul?



Simple: Opportunity.


The fraud triangle is

1. Opportunity

2. Non-shareable financial need.

3. The ability to rationalize the behavior as ethical or legal.

reprobate

reprobate

New Orleans, LA
December 2002

OCT 05, 2005 01:34 PM

SuperNintendo said:

bean said:

SuperNintendo said:

Mirtzig said:
What the fuck is it that separates people that would do that shit from the ones that don't. Do they have no fuckin soul?



Simple: Opportunity.


Bullshit. 99.99% of the people who have the opportunity to defraud other people don't. That's a pretty clear indication that opportunity has jack shit to do with it.



I'm just saying everybody has the capacity for any moral or ethical crime.

[Edited on Oct 05, 2005 by SuperNintendo]



We're not talking about capacity, we're talking about inclination. Some people are pieces of shit and that's all there is to it. Things like this bring out people's true nature. I could defraud FEMA or the Red Cross. I could have looted my neighbors houses, I could have sold lumber and tarps and water for ten times what I paid for it. I could have also gotten away with it. I didn't, and neither did 99% of the people who had better reason than a bunch of greedy scumbags 1500 miles away. I helped people and what I did was an inconceiveable fraction of what tens of thousands of others from all over the world have done. The Humane Society people rescuing pets right now are paying to be there out of their own pockets. The Military, Police and Fire personel from all over the world are down there in tents with their lives on hold and have been for over a month. Even my insurance adjuster who is just doing his job is living in an RV 70 miles away because thats what he has to do to get his job done. All these people have your capacity but they also have free will and a conscience.

reprobate

reprobate

New Orleans, LA
December 2002

OCT 05, 2005 01:35 PM

SuperNintendo said:
If we could determine that every person who takes money from something like this is caught and, yes, 99.99% of every single person who is involved in charities is truly a wonderful person I would buy it. But I guess I have a much lower opinion of humanity than some others.



Then maybe you ought to come to New Orleans.

Walker

Walker

Redmond, OR
March 2005

OCT 05, 2005 01:38 PM

Is it to much for them to be taken into a feild and shot? It is isn't it? Yeah I thought so.

Idjit

Idjit

HOPEFUL

I'm lost

OCT 05, 2005 01:43 PM

reprobate said:

SuperNintendo said:

bean said:

SuperNintendo said:

Mirtzig said:
What the fuck is it that separates people that would do that shit from the ones that don't. Do they have no fuckin soul?



Simple: Opportunity.


Bullshit. 99.99% of the people who have the opportunity to defraud other people don't. That's a pretty clear indication that opportunity has jack shit to do with it.



I'm just saying everybody has the capacity for any moral or ethical crime.

[Edited on Oct 05, 2005 by SuperNintendo]



We're not talking about capacity, we're talking about inclination. Some people are pieces of shit and that's all there is to it. Things like this bring out people's true nature. I could defraud FEMA or the Red Cross. I could have looted my neighbors houses, I could have sold lumber and tarps and water for ten times what I paid for it. I could have also gotten away with it. I didn't, and neither did 99% of the people who had better reason than a bunch of greedy scumbags 1500 miles away. I helped people and what I did was an inconceiveable fraction of what tens of thousands of others from all over the world have done. The Humane Society people rescuing pets right now are paying to be there out of their own pockets. The Military, Police and Fire personel from all over the world are down there in tents with their lives on hold and have been for over a month. Even my insurance adjuster who is just doing his job is living in an RV 70 miles away because thats what he has to do to get his job done. All these people have your capacity but they also have free will and a conscience.



Thank you for yet again saying it better than I ever could. smile

mamet

mamet

Charleston, SC
March 2005

OCT 05, 2005 01:45 PM

SuperNintendo said:

What is your perception of these people? That they're unfit for society, psychopathic monsters?



Psychopathic? No. Unfit for society? Yes. And anything else I might say would just be echoing most of what reprobate said, so there is no need to do so.

FridgeMagnet

FridgeMagnet

Chicago, IL
November 2004

OCT 05, 2005 01:46 PM

This is obviously disgusting. But it surprises me not at all. There are a lot of people in the world who will do anything for a buck. It's been that way from the beginning of time, and it will never go away.

Ryan_Dipietro

Ryan_Dipietro

Naples, FL
April 2004

OCT 05, 2005 01:58 PM

Why are residents of Bakersfield, CA such fucking assholes?

EndedBen

EndedBen

Grand Rapids, MI
August 2004

OCT 05, 2005 01:59 PM

If anyone thinks I'm saying the aid workers in New Orleans and from around the world are all criminals, we've had a misunderstanding. What I guess I'm getting at is this is such a common, human problem that I don't feel it needs to be reacted to in such a way. This kind of thing happens and it's terrible. Look at those kid's ages, 19, 20, 21...Do you honestly mean to tell me you think a fucking teenager has already voided his life away to worthlessness on something like this?

I'm not trying to derail anyone's volunteer and work efforts, I just don't think it's right to call these people monsters.

[Edited on Oct 05, 2005 by SuperNintendo]

reprobate

reprobate

New Orleans, LA
December 2002

OCT 05, 2005 02:19 PM

SuperNintendo said:
If anyone thinks I'm saying the aid workers in New Orleans and from around the world are all criminals, we've had a misunderstanding. What I guess I'm getting at is this is such a common, human problem that I don't feel it needs to be reacted to in such a way. This kind of thing happens and it's terrible. Look at those kid's ages, 19, 20, 21...Do you honestly mean to tell me you think a fucking teenager has already voided his life away to worthlessness on something like this?

I'm not trying to derail anyone's volunteer and work efforts, I just don't think it's right to call these people monsters.

[Edited on Oct 05, 2005 by SuperNintendo]



An hour ago you were all about the wrechedness of mankind and now youre saying that people who signed up to help distribute aid and instead ripped off the devastated and empvovershed aren't so bad? Read the article again. Some of those people were merely ripping off the Red Cross, but some of them were taking issued IDs. They were banking that their buddies would be able to get to Western Union before people who were living in fucking shelters with what they could carry on their backs. Monsters? I don't belive in monsters. I do belive that people who steal from those with nothing shouldn't have the priviledge of seeing their loved ones save though 2 inches of plexiglas ever again, though.

And incidentally, 19, 20 and 21 is about how old most of the military personel in New Orleans are.

MisterSatan

MisterSatan

Portland, OR
August 2002

OCT 05, 2005 02:22 PM

SuperNintendo said:
If anyone thinks I'm saying the aid workers in New Orleans and from around the world are all criminals, we've had a misunderstanding. What I guess I'm getting at is this is such a common, human problem that I don't feel it needs to be reacted to in such a way. This kind of thing happens and it's terrible. Look at those kid's ages, 19, 20, 21...Do you honestly mean to tell me you think a fucking teenager has already voided his life away to worthlessness on something like this?

I'm not trying to derail anyone's volunteer and work efforts, I just don't think it's right to call these people monsters.

[Edited on Oct 05, 2005 by SuperNintendo]


I think that people's reaction to this crime has just a little to do with the magnitude of the disaster involved, and the fact that it happened to us.

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