Attorney-general picky and hypocritical when it comes to religious scammers.

[DetlefK]

http://www.rawstory.com/2016/03/judge-orders-seattle-man-to-repay-7-8-million-for-running-pay-to-pray-website-scam/

The testimonials were glowing: Pastor John Carlson prayed for them and God delivered on his prayers. A healthy baby. A negative HIV test. A winning lottery ticket. The senior pastor at the Christian Prayer Center (CPC) saved homes from foreclosure and put cancer into remission.

Except, of course, he didn’t.

The online prayer service was a fake, the creation of a Seattle businessman who was shut down this week by the Washington state attorney general’s office after bilking 125,000 people across the country out of more than $7 million.

Benjamin Rogovy was ordered to stop what attorney general Bob Ferguson called “unfair and deceptive business practices” and repay the money he took from unwitting customers along with attorney costs, court fees and $1m in civil penalties if he does not comply with the order.

“I believe in the power of prayer,” Ferguson said in a statement. “What I do not believe in and what I will not tolerate is unlawful businesses that prey upon people – taking advantage of their faith or their need for help – in order to make a quick buck.”



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So, according to the attorney-general, promising to solve problems in a supernatural fashion and soliciting donations from gullible people is illegal and should be punished by the law.

Except when its a supernatural thing and donations he's personally okay with.

If these people believed that paying for these services will solve their problems, who is the attorney-general to attack their religious freedom?

He has me confused: Is it legal or illegal to fleece people with supernatural tales?

[mountain grammy]

1. Fools and their money are soon parted

Preachers figured that out centuries ago..

[progressoid]

2. Rookie mistake.

He should have just ordained a couple of his friends and given them some vestments. Then taken some photos of them "praying" for people.

[AlbertCat]

3. So he's gonna go after every psychic now, right?

Or how about Insurance Companies who never pay up when you need them to.

[Curmudgeoness]

4. I was always in the wrong business.

I thought "$7 million from just 125,000 people"???? That is a lot of money. Turns out that when I did the calculations, it is only $56 per person. Hmmmm.

And in answer to your question, or course it is legal to fleece people with supernatural tales. It isn't like churches are hiding.