Can we start doing this?
jewel July 8th, 2008
A Russian court just convicted Grigory Grabovoy of fraud for bilking people out of money by claiming he could raise the dead. Like our own Silvia Browne and John Edward, this creep made a living preying on the desperate and the grieving. People who are very vulnerable to snake oil salesmen. Well, now he’s doing hard labor in prison. When can we start convicting fraudsters like this in this country?
“He used a special method of influencing people distressed by the loss of relatives or the illness of loved ones,” the judge said as he found Grabovoy guilty of 11 cases of fraud.
This swindler didn’t stop with claims of being able to raise the dead, either. He has also made claims of being able to cure diseases like AIDS, teleport and pinpoint mechanical problems on airplains without examining them. But wait - there’s more! He also apparently claims to be the 2nd coming of Christ.
Some people ask “what’s the harm?” when they see people like this on TV, making stuff up. The harm is very real, however, when people like this bilk people out of money by claiming to be able to cure disease and death. These people are harmed by not seeking real medical treatment.
People like this swindler really tick me off.
Further reading on why people like this guy need to be stopped:
- in the news , pseudoscience , skepticism
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I’m really torn on this. Yes, the guy is obviously despicable. But another part of me says that if some people are stupid enough to fall for this sort of nonsense, then let them.
I don’t think they’re all stupid. They do need to be educated, for sure. It’s a failing on society’s part to promote rubbish and superstition as having any value at all. But tragedy and desperation will often make people do or believe things they normally might not. He’s taking advantage and that simply is not right.