Ideal Confidence Scam.

For a confidence trickster to try to implement a foolproof scam, it becomes important that the victim has no idea that he has been set up to be swindled. The individual confidence man, more commonly known as a con-artist, is at a disadvantage as there is always an element of risk that he may stumble and become exposed for what he is. Once the victim realises that he has been taken in, he turns against the confidence man, and he will refuse to play the game again. He will warn his friends about the deceit and more than likely he will complain to the Police.

These types of results for a con man are undesirable, and should be avoided, and another disadvantage is that the community at large does not appreciate confidence games or confidence men. Society also regards confidence men as tricksters and criminals.

It comes as no surprise then that some institutions have developed confidence schemes to obtain money and resources from the general unsuspecting public, and there are many scams in operation today.

For a confidence game to become near perfect it is important that the victims do not realise that they have been swindled, so it remains important for the unsuspecting victim that his return for giving contributions is by way of a huge reward at some later date. Anything that might expose the confidence trick are avoided and never mentioned, and the unsuspecting victims even advertises this scam, usually by word of mouth to attract other victims into the fold.

A successful confidence scam can be achieved by delaying the reward or payout until such a time that the victim can no longer return to lodge a complaint. The promise of a reward after death is an ideal one since dead people don't come back to complain that they have been swindled.

How can a victim be persuaded to wait for an after death reward? Well firstly we can use the reward such as, 'Eternal Life in Heaven'. This is very tempting, as there is no risk of the victim lodging a complaint. Secondly we have this supposed inerrant 'holy book' known as the bible which guarantees the reward with the 'written word'. Thirdly many people can participate at the same time. People in this unsuspecting confidence scam usually become united into groups and they all expect to share in this great reward, and they believe that the more they pay out in both money, time and self sacrifice the greater will be the reward. This gives them a great sense of expectation and anticipation, and they give their money and their time willingly. They are also taught that those who don't participate will be punished in hell, which is also guaranteed by the written word.

This type of institutional set up has a great advantage over individual con men, as these leaders have this sacred 'holy book' and the victims (members of the congregation) believe this book without question.

. The victims usually provide their own testimonials as to the rewards of participation, such as eternal life etc. The victims participate in their own fleecing as they continue to support the institution. The victim never dreams that he is being swindled and therefore never complains.

There are some educated people beginning to realise that these 'after death' rewards are pie in the sky and are part of a huge confidence scam, and therefore they drop out of the institution. The small number of victims that discovers what's going on usually looks upon their weekly contributions that they have given as a learning experience and that it may probably be of some benefit to the community. They keep quiet about it as they feel that other members may ridicule them if they speak out about what they know and how they feel.

These institutions blend in with other activities within the local community and appear to be seen as places of respectability. The leaders of these institutions are not only well paid but have the added bonus of various tax concessions. Their control over groups of people give them power and influence in their respected towns, and this particular confidence game can be of value to the rich and powerful in the society by helping to maintain the status quo. The political scene and those of local council also do not object to these institutions and have been known to promote them.

These institution are never held suspect, and they remain very popular. The leaders make claims that they can intercede with God and that God can do miracles and provide provisions to meet all of their needs.

When famines occur around the world in starving third world countries, the religious leaders seem unable to call upon their God to feed the hungry. Maybe their personal God is busy somewhere else; maybe he is listening to the praises and prayers of the well-fed main obese party faithful.

The supposed miracles that are often spoken of do not help the hungry starving masses of humanity with their bloated stomachs and drawn faces riddled with sickness and disease. I've said it before in other essays that it is far better to lend a helping hand than to be lips that pray.

The religious leaders want the flock to contribute their time and money to the religious institutions. Once members accept the 'holy book' as inerrant then the religious leaders use this book to remove doubts and excuses, because they claim that the 'holy book' is more reliable than science.

I do not know how many ministers of religious institutions there are through out Australia or the world for that matter, but you can be sure of one thing that all of them make money from preaching doctrines that contain many errors. It is not only the ministers who are making big money but all of those who are associated with in the institutions such as authors, book and bible publishers, religious music industries, counseling services, speaking engagements, private religious schools. None of those making money from these institutions are ever going to question? They have their lively hood to protect and many reasons to defend the falsehood that these institutions preach.

Are you one of those who have been conned?

Jim Lee. 2001