The British govt. apparently knows full-well that 'MLM income opportunity' fraud can destroy communities, families and individuals

Corporate Frauds Watch has received part of an unsigned, and unpublished, report which, we are informed, was produced for a UK government Dept.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of this document, is its authors' use of the same non-specific term, 'income opportunity fraud,' now used by attorneys in the Bureau of Consumer Protection at the US Federal Trade Commission. Notice the report's emphasis on why so few victims have come forward. It is also interesting that no estimate is given for the actual overall numbers of victims of blame-the-victim 'income opportunity' fraud in the UK, and that no victims or front companies are mentioned by name. However, if what this report contains is already confidentially known to senior UK government officials (and probably to Ministers), how is it possible that numeous 'MLM income opportunity' racketeers are still allowed to hide their psychologically, and financially, abusive criminal objectives behind legally-registered, privately-owned, limited-liablity, commercial-companies in the UK? The racketeers behind these counterfeit corporate structures have obviously got their agents to make false declarations to the UK Registrar of Companies, as to their actual purpose.

The continued silence of UK govenment officials and Ministers (who apparently have known full-well that countless UK citizens have been destroyed, and continue to be destroyed, by this insidious, global, criminogenic phenomenon) could be construed as being part of an overall pattern of ongoing, major racketeering activity.

Corporate Frauds Watch

 

The following is a page from the report:

 

What have been the psychological effects of income opportunity fraud? 

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

'Income opportunity fraud is personal violation. Although there is no outward physical injury, certain victims have described the betrayal they felt, as the psychological equivalent of rape. Whilst a few victims have sought the help of mental health professionals or advocacy groups, most have suffered alone.

Income opportunity fraud victims' trust in their own judgment, and their trust in others, has often been destroyed. They generally cannot seek the support of family members or friends, because family members and friends often have been exploited at the victims' instigation, producing increased feelings of guilt and self-blame.

Income opportunity fraud often leads to the following feelings or emotional reactions amongst its victims:

	shame, embarrassment and guilt the sense that the victim contributed to his/her own, or to others', victimization self-doubt, shock, disbelief
	societal condemnation and indifference (produced by the attitude that victims merit what they got as a result of their own greed and stupidity)
	isolation (victims suffer in silence rather than risking alienation and blame from family members and friends)
	anger, resentment and a sense of betrayal toward the recruiter for taking advantage of the recruit
	frustration with criminal justice system
	fear for the victims' financial security
	increased concern about victims' personal safety and well-being, or that of victims' families.

The financial cost of income opportunity fraud can be evaluated. However, less easily measured, and perhaps the most devastating cost of all, has been the emotional impact of this crime on many of its victims. Such harm is often the result of the victims' loss of the following:

	financial security
	family home previous social contacts including marriage partners and relatives
	business/employment/career
	inheritance
	retirement or other savings
	professional or personal credibility

Although victim-service providers and mental health professionals have focused on the emotional harm caused by violent crime. Some of the same physiological and long-term emotional effects experienced by victims of violent crimes have also been experienced by income opportunity fraud victims:

	fear/terror:powerlessness
	stress, increased blood pressure and heart rate
	hyperventilation
	panic
	inability to eat or sleep
	loss of enjoyment of daily activities
	depression

Short-term effects on income opportunity fraud victims have included:

	preoccupation with the crime (thinking and talking about it constantly, replaying the crime, wondering what could have been done differently, etc.)
	inability to concentrate or perform simple mental tasks
	concern that other people will blame victims for what has happened
	increased strain on personal relationships (divorce or withdrawal of support)

In extreme cases, income opportunity fraud has led some victims to attempt, or to commit, suicide.

Why has income opportunity fraud been under-reported?_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NGOs and government agencies that help crime victims have not reported significant levels of income opportunity fraud victims, in part because the victims themselves are often too embarrassed to come forward. Many feel they have only themselves to blame when, in reality, it has been gangs of calculating and skilled confidence tricksters who have been to blame for these widespread criminal acts. Although income opportunity fraud victims are not alone, they often suffer their losses alone and in silence. Shame, guilt, embarrassment, and disbelief are among the reasons explaining why only a low percentage of fraud victims overall make any form of complaint to law enforcement. However, the percentage of income opportunity fraud victims who have complained, is far lower. Some income opportunity fraud victims experience such high level of shame or fear about the loss of personal and professional respect and credibility, that they choose not to disclose their victimization to anyone, including family members, friends and professional colleagues. Many consider their losses are not large enough to report. They chose not to get involved, believing that law enforcement agencies will not take the crime seriously, or believeing that nothing will result from reporting the crime. Sadly, this is often the case. Income opportunity fraud victims can fear confronting the person(s) who defrauded them. They also can fear other peoples' judgmental attitudes towards a public disclosure, particularly when they have not even told anyone close to them that they were the victim of a crime.'