Fraud Alert

[The Librarian]

(Orignally posted in 2014 in the jw-archive.org)

 

Introduction

This alert involves a particular form of fraud known as affinity fraud that has been perpetrated upon multiple congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Northern California (USA), specifically Circuit 13*, by persons professing to be servants of Jehovah God.

Affinity fraud is defined as a scam that preys upon the trust and friendship that exist in associations, such as religious groups. Those who utilize affinity scams typically are - or pretend to be - members of the group and often use respected religious leaders within the group to promote the scheme by convincing the members that a fraudulent investment is legitimate and worthwhile (See g02 5/22 p. 29 under the heading Theft in the Name of God; also g97 9/22 pp. 9-10).

Sadly, an affinity fraud scam manifested during my congregation’s engagement with Regional Building Committee #7 (2009 – 2011).

Having observed this firsthand as a participant in the RBC engagement and as an officer for the congregation’s non-profit religious corporation, I am shedding light on this situation since the wrongdoers, including some overseers within the English - Menlo Park Congregation, Regional Building Committee No. 7 and Circuit 13*, continue to cover up their misconduct. They have done so to avoid scrutiny from persons in the organization with greater responsibility, unsuspecting congregation members as well as the secular authorities.

Understandably, the following information may be difficult for some to believe. As a lifelong servant of Jehovah, I find this situation hard to believe myself. Nevertheless, it has occurred.

In Matthew Chapter 13, Jesus warned of false Christians when providing the illustration of the Wheat and the Weeds. At 2 Timothy 2:20, 21, Paul speaks of vessels “for an honorable purpose” and other vessels “for a purpose lacking honor” within the same house. At Acts 20:29 Paul spoke of “oppressive wolves” entering in among true Christians that would not treat the flock with tenderness.

This alert is intended to provide a general overview of the problem.

In the spirit of Leviticus 5:1, the goal is to overcome the current cover-up of this situation so that brothers in positions of organizational oversight can become aware of this problem and take the appropriate action.

The scam involves theft by false pretense (1, 2), private benefit, excess benefit transactionsand self-dealing - in short: white collar crime (1, 2).

It appears that the participants in this scam occupy strategic positions of responsibility at varying levels of the organization. All requests to the Service Department for a special committee to be formed to investigate and resolve this situation have gone unanswered.

Jehovah’s organization itself is not perpetrating this scam, rather a group of deviant, self-willed individuals therein are doing so. Such persons insidiously exploit the arrangements, procedures and infrastructure of the organization to execute their schemes - to their own benefit.

The Scam: Phase 1

The scam often targets Kingdom Hall properties that are fully paid for. A “trigger man” is required to set the plan in motion. This may be the circuit overseer, an RBC representative and/or members of a local body of elders. The trigger man may be complicit in the scam or may simply be directed by complicit persons above him to unknowingly set the stage for the scheme.

The trigger man then initiates a discussion of maintenance needs invariably steering the flow of the conversation toward completely remodeling the Kingdom Hall and/or selling it to purchase new land and build a new one.

If the existing body of elders agree, all is well. If they do not then non-conformists may be arbitrarily deleted as elders and/or diluted by new elders  predisposed to proceed with the desired building project that are directed to move into the congregation. This dilution can also occur under the premise of merging congregations.

The newer elders typically become the officers in the congregation’s non-profit religious corporation. In doing so, they amend the articles of incorporation changing the name of the corporation and the by-laws ensuring that the local branch office is named as the recipient of all assets, including the Kingdom Hall property and proceeds from the sale of such, upon dissolution of the corporation. This enables the schemers to acquire operational control of the corporation and thereby assume effective ownership of the Kingdom Hall property.

The Scam: Phase 2a

Next, complicit RBC representatives provide a proposal for a complete remodel of the Hall when, in reality, a more modest project would suffice in-line with organizational directives (Policy letters dated 4/2/2009, 4/6/2009 & 12/11/2009). This proposal is approved by the body of elders as a matter of course regardless of the undue financial burden that is placed on congregation members.

The costs of the building project are inflated with specific intent to exceed the congregation’s available funds thus manufacturing the need for the congregation to obtain an interest free loan from the Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Inc.

For example, the actual costs of a modest remodeling project for Kingdom Hall “A” is $35,000. However, complicit RBC members unnecessarily recommend a complete remodel that, in actuality, should cost no more than $100,000. Yet, the RBC representatives specify a project cost of $250,000. This amount exceeds the congregation’s available funds and so they are then directed to obtain an interest free loan from the local branch.

The project proceeds and the work is done for the actual cost of $100,000 – or less. However, the congregation is now responsible for a loan of $250,000 due to the misrepresented project costs.

By inflating construction costs for a project that the congregation doesn’t actually need and then finalizing a loan that will be paid monthly for the next 10 – 25 years, the scam fraudulently creates a revenue stream that constitutes a surreptitious form of tithing, something that Jehovah God and his organization do not approve of.

Based on what occurred during the English - Menlo Park Congregation’s RBC engagement, sham building projects have also been used as a means to reposition liquid assets specifically to obscure their source and/or final destination. Such transactions can enable tax evasion especially when performed under the guise of religious non-profit activity, something else that Jehovah God and his organization do not approve of. (See w11 9/1 pp. 21-23)

The Scam: Phase 2b

Alternatively, once the perpetrators of the scam acquire operational control of a congregation’s corporation, thus assuming effective ownership of the Kingdom Hall property, the congregation is directed to finance upgrades to the Kingdom Hall and then sell the property for a substantial profit, anywhere from 200 – 300%. With the original congregation and corporation dissolved at the direction of complicit branch personnel, the publishers are then merged with a neighboring congregation and the perpetrators move on to the next “building” project.

Conclusion

Thus far, all efforts to report this problem through standard organizational channels have been met with stiff opposition in the form of retaliation. In my case, my family has been insidiously undermined and attacked by the perpetrators of this scam. These attacks have included false accusations intended to destroy my reputation and credibility (See g90 5/22 p. 12 - Fallacy Number 1). Nevertheless, the import of James 1: 2, 3 remains.

While others in Circuit 13 have the basis to do so, at present, a total of seven persons can and will bear witness to the authenticity of this problem. (John 8:17) All that is required now is someone in a position of responsibility within Jehovah’s organization, whose fear of God exceeds his fear of men, who will listen and take the appropriate action to investigate matters. (Matthew 10:28; w01 12/1 p. 23 pars. 17-18)

If such corruption can manifest in this one cited area, there may be cause for concern in other regards. A special committee under the direction of the Governing Body, would be able to investigate these matters and determine the actual extent of the problem to the end of fully resolving this situation. (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

The old saying “Sunshine is the best disinfectant” emphasizes that a good way to impede underhanded activity is to shed light on it.

In being created in Jehovah God’s image, each person has the fundamental basis and inherent potential to be a force for good.

If anyone has knowledge of this situation, or others, please notify your congregation elders, circuit overseer, district overseer, local branch, and anyone else who may be positioned to help. If you have the basis to communicate directly with any member of the Governing Body, PLEASE do so as their involvement will be needed to solve this problem. (Leviticus 5:1)

Jehovah God sees what is taking place and he will soon act for the sake of his own name. (Ecclesiastes 12:14)

- C.J. 

* Circuit 13 is located on the San Francisco Peninsula and consists of English congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Redwood City, San Mateo and Burlingame.

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If everything you say is true, I am sure a member of the Governing Body at the United States Branch Office, would be more than willing to listen to you.

Best Regards,

The Librarian

[The Librarian]

[JOHN BUTLER]

Someone once suggested that the Org uses brothers and sisters to build Kingdom halls for 'free' labour, then the Org sells the halls. 

I do know that Kingdom Halls are being sold here in the UK, and that more congregations are being 'pushed' in to less halls. This of course means that congregants have to travel further and for longer to get to every meeting. 

There are lots of older and infirm people in the Org now and it is difficult for them to travel, however the Org refuses to own and use minibuses to transport its own people. 

As for the above I do hope it's not true. The GB has enough problems already. 

 

[renovatio]

As a member of Circuit 13 and a direct participant in these matters I can confirm the following:

The initial concern on the part of varied congregation members stemmed from key differentials in the financial reporting (total congregation assets; total Kingdom Hall building fund) provided to the English Menlo Park congregation prior to being merged with the English South Redwood City congregation and then after said merger. When certain elders declined to explain this differential, some congregation members became concerned. This concern increased when cost projections for the pending Kingdom Hall remodel project inexplicably increased 200% from the pre-merger projections.

As tensions rose, the branch was notified of the issue. Upon further review by organizational designates, all congregational funds were fully accounted for. (Acts 15:6) Therefore, the conclusion was that no financially fraudulent activity had actually occurred.

In retrospect, problems could have easily been avoided with less pride, posturing and gamesmanship and more open communication/financial transparency…as well as stricter adherence to clearly stated organizational directives to keep Kingdom Hall building projects simple and cost effective. (Prov 13:10; 15:22; Lu 10: 41, 42a; Col 3:14)

As time passed, the RBC transitioned to the current LDC arrangement, some brothers remained in the circuit and others did not. In the end, the Kingdom Hall was sold to further Kingdom interests.  

Everett

[Space Merchant]

@The Librarian It's not too far off from Gang-Stalking, instead of a pretending member of the church to see relations with a man/woman or pursuit someone of a specific race to torment, they attest to this action.

[phyxius]

Topic Update From The Original Author Of This Fraud Alert

In 2011, during preparations for a theocratic building project, concerns of financial impropriety arose on the part of various congregation members.

As these concerns mounted, the Branch Office was notified and I then posted Fraud Alert above as a general notification.  

Despite being moved by genuine concern for others, I should have refrained from doing so as the responsibility to handle such matters rests with the Circuit Overseer. (Continue reading the full post)