John Oliver on televangelists

[Gina]

I love the part when he corresponds with Robert Tilton. Now if only he'd do a bit on these online Ponzi assholes......



https://youtu.be/7y1xJAVZxXg

[shipdit]

I love the part when he corresponds with Robert Tilton. Now if only he'd do a bit on these online Ponzi assholes......
That's great, Gina. Robert Tilton and "Reverend Ike" a couple of decades before him, sparked my fascination with how unbelievably gullible people can be. Tilton's excursions into "speaking in tongues" had the unmistakable ring of a year of flunked high school spanish. I've always felt that if legitimate salesmen could tap into a similar wellspring of blind acceptance, their fortunes would be assured. The parallels between the "prosperity gospel" crooks and the slimeballs that run and promote Ponzi schemes are unmistakable.

Tilton got effectively destroyed by Diane Sawyer in a 1991 Primetime Live exposé:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yncWoylN0o

His protests in response were absolutely hilarious:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiiroE52ic0

There is a two-part edited version for those without 58 minutes to squander:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ox95oEaeJFE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ML0CKzuC02w

The Miami New Times wrote a great piece on the reckless indulgence and chaos that was Robert Tilton's personal and professional life:

The Resurrection of Robert Tilton | Miami New Times (http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/the-resurrection-of-robert-tilton-6377686)

You would think the poor, the elderly and the infirm would have had enough of Robert Tilton, but noooooo!

He's back (http://www.roberttiltonlive.com/), of course. Check your local listings for "Success-N-Life" on the Black Entertainment Television (BET) network.

"Why people are always drawn to the irrational has always puzzled me" - James Randi

SD

.

[Gina]

I know, Shipdit. I can't believe he's still around either. I read somewhere that since Oliver did that piece, the IRS is taking a closer look at "churches." I want to write him about the internet ponzi nonsense but not sure how to effectively communicate it to him. Maybe I'll just send him a link to the traffic monsoon and MAPS links on this site?

[Soapboxmom]

Imagine the horror of living close to spitting distance from this charlatan. How have I managed to stay out of jail this long with so many scammers that need to be vanquished?

[ribshaw]

I know, Shipdit. I can't believe he's still around either.

This was one of the guys we would prank phone call years ago, had to be late 80s early 90s. Silly stuff like "seeding" $1,000,000 after telling a heartbreaking story. I laughed just writing that, may have to fire up a little prepaid action.

There was a thread I believe here where someone would put a brick in a box and use the prepaid reply envelope one of these charlatans sent and send it back. Probably some laws being broken so I hate to condone that behavior, but that's amusing.

[Gina]

This was one of the guys we would prank phone call years ago, had to be late 80s early 90s. Silly stuff like "seeding" $1,000,000 after telling a heartbreaking story. I laughed just writing that, may have to fire up a little prepaid action.

There was a thread I believe here where someone would put a brick in a box and use the prepaid reply envelope one of these charlatans sent and send it back. Probably some laws being broken so I hate to condone that behavior, but that's amusing.

That's funny. Reminds of the bit at the end where it says something like, "Due to receiving four envelopes containing semen, Our Lady of Perpetual Exemption is now closed. Please don't send any more donations."

[Soapboxmom]

This was one of the guys we would prank phone call years ago, had to be late 80s early 90s. Silly stuff like "seeding" $1,000,000 after telling a heartbreaking story. I laughed just writing that, may have to fire up a little prepaid action.

There was a thread I believe here where someone would put a brick in a box and use the prepaid reply envelope one of these charlatans sent and send it back. Probably some laws being broken so I hate to condone that behavior, but that's amusing.

http://www.realscam.com/f14/spoofing-peter-popoff-62/ That was such a fun one!

[nomaxim]

Interestingly, the Peter Popoff vids were made by a lawyer in the UK.

Here's some comic relief for this kinda stuff.


https://youtu.be/I7e9vnwTjJA

Oh, and if you watch this next one, at ~20:40, you'll discover that this isn't just limited to Christians.


https://youtu.be/RUP7r5S6rRw
EDIT:
Oh, and Tilton is mentioned in that last vid as well.