Kamala Harris files suit in scam that targeted black Southern California churches



Attorney General Kamala Harris filed a lawsuit in the Los Angeles Superior Court Monday, February 28, in the hopes of helping a group of California churches recoup money that was lost in an alleged scam.  image

More than 30 black churches in Southern California leased computer kiosks from Television Broadcasting Online Ltd., Urban Interfaith Network, Willie Perkins, Michael Morris, Wayne Wilson, Tanya Wilson, Balboa Capital Corp. and United Leasing Associates of America Ltd.

The kiosks were supposed to enhance the church experience for members of the congregations, but the equipment was unreliable and the churches paid high monthly fees.

“This was a cruel and hypocritical scheme,’’ said Harris.  “The perpetrators preyed on institutions of faith. Let this be a lesson to others who may look to defraud our community organizations: You will be caught and you will be held accountable.’‘

Of the 33 churches persuaded to sign leases, 24 of them are located in Los Angeles County. 

Harris’s lawsuit seeks compensation and civil penalties of more than $800,000. 

Read the official complaint here

Photo credit: Kaitlin Parker

Comments

  1. Scams are an old story that’s written anew every day. Some scams have been around for at least a century, such as the Spanish prisoner scam, which has evolved into the Nigerian letter scam of today. Many newer scams utilize the latest in technological advancements to make it ever easier to part fools from their money. And not just fools-careful, intelligent people also fall prey to the many scams that pervade our everyday life. Scam artists, the rare criminals justifiably referred to as “artists,” often have a knowledge of psychology that would make Sigmund Freud proud. These criminals know just which buttons to push to appeal to our fears, friendships, charitable instincts, compassion, optimism, greed, and desire for quick-and-easy solutions to life’s problems.your ideas cooking area remodeling
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