Scams in the frum community

What is with all the frum people who get involved in scams? I’m not talking about the people who run them–they are just reshaim. I’m talking about the people who buy into them!

The latest scam I’ve heard about apparently even has shuls buying in with large amounts of mamon hekdesh. I’ve even heard that rabbonim are falling for it.

The latest scam I’ve heard is where they tell you to “buy” a tablet, with the promise of a huge “rebate” down the line. They tell you that they need to sell these tablets so that they can show investors how many they’ve sold, and that they will rebate your money and give you an “educational grant”. You can read all about it on dansdeals on the main site and in the forums. They have a screenshot of the “receipt.”

How does anyone fall for that? At best you are aiding a fraud, and in reality you are the one being defrauded. The people are actually telling you outright that they are frauds and are trying to fool investors. But you think they are being honest with you?

If someone tries to sell you a get rich quick scheme/scam–ostracize the bum! Don’t let your kids play with his kids! Don’t let him get an aliyah in shul! Don’t go to his kids’ bar mitzva!

And if you buy in thinking that you’ll be one of the first ones in and only the last ones will be scammed–then you’re just as bad as the scammers themselves.