Pirates and Emperors

Bridges become the hottest new item for thieves to steal

"Are you in the market for a 22-tonne bridge? Is there an 82ft gap that you’re aching to span? If so, and assuming you like to play fast and loose with the law, you might want to get over to the Kocaeli province of Turkey where, earlier this month, audacious thieves stole an entire bridge overnight. It’s thought the miscreants intended to sell it for scrap metal; now villagers wanting to reach their orchards have to paddle across barefooted. It’s not the first time thieves have displayed such ambition. Earlier this year half a bridge in India was stolen over the course of three days." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBridges become the hottest new item for thieves to steal

Four Men Busted for Stealing Hundreds of Thousands From Bank Accounts Using Fake Credit Cards

"Lots of lessons here. Protect your bank account numbers and passwords. Its less likely that an individual will steal your funds than the government but you still need to be careful. Also note the advancement in private surveillance, the bank was able to detect the fradulent withdrawal of funds in real time, grab a picture of the suspects and get it it the police in apparently minutes." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFour Men Busted for Stealing Hundreds of Thousands From Bank Accounts Using Fake Credit Cards

Florida investment adviser charged with selling $8 million of fake Facebook shares

"A Florida investment adviser was charged Tuesday with selling $8 million of fake Facebook shares ahead of the social network’s highly anticipated public offering, officials said. The Justice Department said Craig Berkman, 71, was arrested on two separate securities fraud schemes involving Facebook shares. Berkman received a total of at least $8 million from these schemes, most of which he 'misappropriated for his own benefit,' a Justice Department statement said. Investors discovered the fraud when they tried to redeem their shares in 2012, officials said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFlorida investment adviser charged with selling $8 million of fake Facebook shares

‘Die Hard’ director John McTiernan faces jail within weeks for illegal wiretap, lying

"McTiernan, whose films also include 'The Hunt for Red October' and 'The Thomas Crown Affair,' was sentenced to 12 months in jail and fined $100,000 in 2010 for making false statements to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). But he stayed free pending appeals in the case, which stems from his hiring a private investigator to illegally wire-tap a producer. The US Supreme Court has refused to hear his case, leaving him with the deadline to surrender." Continue reading →

Continue Reading‘Die Hard’ director John McTiernan faces jail within weeks for illegal wiretap, lying

Former Santa Fe cop arrested for printing counterfeit $100 bills

"Former Santa Fe police officer Anthony Rivera and brother Dominic were arrested Sunday and charged with overseeing the production of fake $100 bills, created using $20′s that were stripped of their color using paint thinner. The two men, 44 and 34 respectively, were arrested along with 20-year-old Tyler Ament and accused of creating more than $1,200 in counterfeit currency. Police broke the case last week after Ament tried to use one of the bills at a gas station and a clerk turned him away. Ament returned to the gas station for cigarettes after buying jeans at a local Kohls and officers were waiting for him." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFormer Santa Fe cop arrested for printing counterfeit $100 bills

The Truth Behind the Decline in Somali Piracy

"[P]rivate security forces thwarted Somalian piracy and not the mighty navies. It is interesting to note that while everyone from navies of different countries to 'the transitional administration in Somalia' becoming more successful are cited as causes of this, it notes that 'For many in the shipping industry, the fall in attacks is a vindication of the decision to massively ramp up the use of armed guards'. It also notes that 'So far, not a single ship with armed guards has been taken by pirates'. Looks like the risk/reward of being a pirate is not economical anymore. All due to private security. Walter Block would be happy." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe Truth Behind the Decline in Somali Piracy

US drugs prosecutors switch sides to defend accused Colombian traffickers

"US prosecutors and other senior officials who spearheaded the war against drug cartels have quit their jobs to defend Colombian cocaine traffickers, saying their clients are not bad people and that United States drug policy is wrong. Senior former assistant US attorneys and Drug Enforcement Administration agents are turning years of experience in investigating, indicting and extraditing narcos to the advantage of the alleged traffickers they now represent. Feitel and Klapper spoke of recognising the humanity of their clients and called for alternatives to a four-decade-old 'war on drugs' which costs billions of dollars and incarcerates thousands." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingUS drugs prosecutors switch sides to defend accused Colombian traffickers

Scam City – 2012 TV Series

"Every year, hundreds of millions of tourists head off in pursuit of adventure in foreign lands - and each year, millions of them get a little more adventure than they bargained for. Anyone can be a victim of a crime but it seems to come naturally to tourists. But while you try to avoid the thieves and con artists, economist and author Conor Woodman actively seeks them out. Travelling to the world’s great cities with an undercover team and hidden cameras, Conor exposes the ruthless ploys used to steal your hard-earned holiday cash by getting himself scammed, robbed and conned so you won’t." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingScam City – 2012 TV Series

The IRS wants to tax your illegal income

"Dealt some drugs? Stole some cash? There's a line on your income tax form to declare it. As ridiculous as it sounds, the federal government requires that money acquired through illegal means be reported and taxed just like legitimate income. It's right there on the official IRS tax instructions: 'Income from illegal activities, such as money from dealing illegal drugs, must be included in your income on Form 1040, line 21, or on Schedule C or Schedule C-EZ (Form 1040) if from your self-employment activity.' If you tell the IRS you made $1 million from stealing money or dealing drugs, does the agency tip off the cops?" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingThe IRS wants to tax your illegal income

Rwandan woman stripped of U.S. citizenship after lying about role in genocide

"Witnesses described Munyenyezi conducting selections of who would die according to whether identity cards said a person was Tutsi or Hutu. 'If I’m checking IDs at roadblocks, knowing that person is going to be clubbed to death, I’m as responsible as if I wielded the machete myself,' said Capin. Prosecution witnesses included Consolee Mukeshimana who described Munyenyezi as checking identity cards at the roadblock for two hours on one occasion, and directing Tutsis to their deaths." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRwandan woman stripped of U.S. citizenship after lying about role in genocide