Comment by pbohun
6 months ago
Something I don't understand is why don't any scammers ever go to prison? For example, people like Logan Paul have run multiple scams now and have had zero repercussions (except making loads of money off of naive people). Is scamming legal?
You just have to keep passing the blame, Logan Paul claims he didn't intend to scam people and was himself scammed by the developers he hired and that is why his project never materialized.
The difference between running a scam and running a failing business is just a matter of intent, which is hard to prove.
> The difference between running a scam and running a failing business is just a matter of intent
Perhaps in some cases but "running a failing business" becomes fraud when you start lying, even if your intentions are "good".
> ... becomes fraud when you start lying, even if your intentions are "good".
You have to prove they lied. I.e. that they knew they were defrauding customers, which goes to intent. Though I suppose it could be lying only later, in the cover up -- if Logan was stupid/lazy enough to trust dishonest people to build his game then deny or renege on refunds.
Regardless I imagine we'll find out soon as he sues CoffeeZilla since he may be countersued or be otherwise unmasked in discovery. CZ already has videos of Logan saying CZ is a stand up guy who does good reporting.
This article makes it sound like they would go after them if they knew who they were? I don't know what scams Logan Paul has done, but I'd imagine if they can get him on something that they will?
Its a case by case thing
People like this ex CEO go to prison all the time. Stateside scammers misrepresenting why they’re getting their victim to wire things go to prison all the time.
In this case its not proven that anyone knows who the scammers are, or where they are. Its just as likely that they are pig butchering the bank account owners in those other countries too.
Now, Logan Paul? You have to also realize when some communities use the word scam far too liberally. Naive people losing money trying to flip something thats not an investment, and failing, doesn't make it a scam involving any legal sanction. Even if it was an investment, properly registered, that just protects the promoter even more.
> You have to also realize when some communities use the word scam far too liberally.
That's true! People are calling an overpriced garbage dlc a scam nowadays, and that's just not true. It's exactly what it says on the label, so it's definitely not a scam, unless the marketing was very disingenuous.
But what Logan Paul did is not an example of that. It was not an investment that didn't pan out. It was an orchestrated pump and dumb scheme that was centered around a product, which he never delivered on.
You'd have grounds to argue if the game was delivered - but as it stands you cannot call that anything but a scam
Did anyone bring the case? If nobody does or nobody complains to the state then it won’t happen
Scammers go to prison all. the. time. Just search news for "Fraud conviction".
A lot of the scams originate in other countries. Convincing them to prosecute on behalf of a foreign victim is difficult.
In the big picture, it really depends whom you're scamming.