According to Investopedia, affinity fraud is a type of investment fraud in which a con artist targets members of an identifiable group based on things such as race, age, religion, etc. The fraudster either is or pretends to be, a member of the group. These schemes work because the victims are more likely to trust […]
Affinity Fraud? SEC Charges Broker in Alleged $4.7 Million Ponzi Scheme
The Securities and Exchange Commission charged Larry Dearman Sr, an investment advisor working for Focus Group Advisors, with defrauding dozens of investors between 2008 and 2012. They say that many victims entrusted him with their savings because of his affiliation with a small town Oklahoma church. According to published reports, Dearman at one time served […]
In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash
by Brian Mahany The headline in the Palm Beach Post says it all, “Ex Delray Beach Commissioner ‘Used God’s Name’ In Alleged $1.8 Million Ponzi Scheme.” Stories like this are far too common; fraudster’s using the Church or religious affiliations to steal from innocent victims. What makes this case so unusual is the age and […]
Victim Assaults Ponzi Scheme Promoter
by Brian Mahany Losing one’s life savings to a Ponzi scheme promoter would be devastating to anyone. We often see courtroom footage of victim’s families attacking defendants at sentencing hearings when emotions are the highest. Usually these assaults occur in connection with a homicide or sex crime. In Longwood, Florida it was the victim of […]
Hook ‘Em and Book ‘Em – Former Texas Longhorn Star Charged WIth Affinity Fraud
by Brian Mahany Three days ago I was in Bandera, Texas participating in my first “Cowboy Mardi Gras.” As a new Texas landowner and soon to be resident, it was fitting to begin spending time in my new hometown. (It was also 80 degrees while Milwaukee was a frigid 8!) Football is king in Texas […]
Hall Of Famer Coach Implicated In Affinity Fraud Ponzi Scheme
by Brian Mahany Fraud is so prevalent these days. We could write a dozen stories a day, half just from press releases coming from the SEC. The cases that are particularly depressing involve affinity fraud – investment schemes that prey upon members of close knit groups or communities. We have seen many such cases involving […]
Former Bucks Player Indicted in Ponzi Scheme
[Updated 2021] It’s no secret that our headquarters office is less than a half mile from the Bradley Center, home of the Milwaukee Bucks. Although not a basketball fan, its hard to miss when a former Bucks player is indicted for allegedly operating a Ponzi scheme. Prosecutors in Newark, New Jersey unsealed a four count […]
It Must Be True, I Heard It On TV
by Brian Mahany My grandmother would often say “It must be true, I heard it on TV.” That was years ago but people still believe things they see or hear on the TV, radio or Internet. Now a federal grand jury in Los Angeles has indicted a radio talk show host and charged him with […]
$200 Million Ponzi Scheme Targeted Orthodox Jewish Community
by Brian Mahany Readers of this blog know that we frequently report on religious affinity fraud. Catholics, the Black faith community, and even the Amish have seen multimillion dollar Ponzi schemes and frauds this year. Orthodox Jews are unfortunately no exception. According to a recent press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the feds have […]
Georgia Bishop Accused in Ponzi Scheme
by Brian Mahany Just when I say nothing shocks me comes this story from DeKalb County Georgia. Bishop Eddie Long, spiritual leader and pastor of a Georgia megachurch, the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, was sued in a state court yesterday and accused of participating in a massive Ponzi scheme. The victims? Church parishioners. While […]