#Financial exploitation

[buzzblend]

Widow loses life savings after ‘firetrap’ developer fails to repay €150k loan

A controversial developer who asked to borrow the life savings of an 81-year-old widow has failed to repay the money after half a decade of broken promises.

In 2017, the widow gave €160,000 in cash to developer Paddy Byrne, who built the Millfield Manor estate in Co. Kildare where six houses burnt to the ground in under 30 minutes in 2015.

The cash was for a penthouse apartment in Dublin she planned to move into.

The development was built by Victoria Homes, a company that was established by Mr Byrne’s sister Joan just before Mr Byrne was precluded from acting as a company director in Ireland for five years.

After viewing plans for the €630,000 property, in a development called Greygates in Mount Merrion, the pensioner withdrew the cash from her bank and gave it to Mr Byrne.

Some €10,000 of this was a deposit, with the remaining €150,000 provided on the advice of a third party who was known to Mr Byrne and the widow, who said the cash would secure a good price.

According to a handwritten receipt, signed by Mr Byrne, the money was provided on May 29, 2017.

But in November 2017 the widow, a retired primary school teacher, found a more suitable home and asked for her money back.

Mr Byrne agreed to this, saying he would have no problem selling the penthouse and promptly refunded the €10,000 deposit.

However, he asked that the remaining €150,000 be treated as a 14-month loan and promised to pay a 10% annual interest rate.

This effectively turned the widow into an unwitting creditor of Victoria Homes.

According to a handwritten agreement, signed by Mr Byrne, the loan was to be ‘paid back from the sales proceeds’ of the penthouse at his Greygates development.

More than half a decade later, the loan remains unpaid – even after the widow made a criminal complaint to gardaí and took legal action to secure a judgement.

As it is a civil matter, the Garda investigation faltered. And because various other unpaid creditors had previously secured judgements against Victoria Homes, the widow is now unlikely to get her savings back. During the Celtic Tiger years, Paddy Byrne was renowned for his €2.4m Sikorsky helicopter and sponsorship of the Irish National Hunt festival.

But in 2011 his then-firm, Barrack Homes, went bust and Mr Byrne declared bankruptcy in Britain with debts of €100m.

He was banned from acting as a UK director for 10 years in 2012.

This ban was scheduled to end in 2022 – and ran the full course – but it only applied in the UK and Wales.

According to the UK insolvency register today, Mr Byrne’s discharge from UK bankruptcy is ‘suspended indefinitely’ until the fulfilment of conditions made in a 2012 court order.

Separately, in Ireland, he was also restricted from acting as a director for a period of five years – which ended in January 2018.

Mr Byrne is also known for building the Millfield Manor estate in Newbridge, Co. Kildare, where half a dozen houses were razed to the ground within 30 minutes in 2015.

A report into the blaze found ‘major and life-threatening serious shortfalls and discrepancies and deviations from the minimum requirements of the national mandatory building regulations’ at Mr Byrne’s development.

Today, having exited bankruptcy, Mr Byrne is best known as the figurehead behind Victoria Homes and associated businesses, which was set up by his sister and her husband in December 2012, while he was bankrupt.

Mr Byrne was not a director or owner of Victoria Homes during the period of his bankruptcy. But, in 2017, Mr Byrne’s sister and her husband stepped back from Victoria Homes, transferring their shares to an offshore entity in Belize city called Victoria Holdings.

In November 2022, the main lenders to Victoria Homes – the Lotus Development Group – forced the firm into receivership for the second time.

In 2020, Lotus had forced a previous short-lived receivership before agreeing a deal that saw Victoria Homes begin trading normally once more.

Today, Mr Byrne appears to have left Victoria Homes behind and seems to be focusing on a new firm instead.

Set up in the summer of 2020, Branach Developments is entirely owned by Mr Byrne and is not encumbered by any bank debt or mortgages as Victoria Homes was.

According to the latest filed accounts, for the year ended 2021, Branach Developments held ‘tangible assets’ of €210,000 and ‘stocks’ of €600,000.

The accounts also show that, in 2021, Mr Byrne provided the company with an interest-free loan of €1,024,438.

Just last week Mr Byrne’s new firm was one of the winners at the National Property Awards sponsored by the Business Post and Deloitte, among others.

At the award ceremony, Branach Developments took home the prize for best sustainability initiative of the year.

However, Mr Byrne, who shuns publicity and is rarely photographed, does not appear to have attended the ceremony and the award was accepted by a colleague.

This week the Irish Mail on Sunday sent queries to Mr Byrne via his mobile phone, his email at Victoria Homes and his email at Branach Developments, without response.

Queries to his solicitor and the separate accountancy firms representing Victoria Homes and Branach Developments also went unanswered as did calls to the numbers on the websites of these firms.

Mr Byrne also previously declined to respond to questions from the MoS relating to the establishment of Victoria Homes during the period of his bankruptcy.

At the time, Mr Byrne appeared to be living at Ballinrahin House, close to Rathangan on the border of Offaly and Kildare.

The home is a luxury build on 26 acres of stud-railed paddocks with six stables and a 1.3km tree-lined avenue behind electric gates.

The property was on sale for €2.8m in 2009, but land registry records confirm that, in November 2014, it was sold to Victoria Homes for a knockdown price of €484,000.

Ownership of Ballinrahin House was transferred offshore to Victoria Holdings in Belize on April 10, 2018, just weeks before Mr Byrne was due to repay the €150,000 back to the widow.

[planetary-wolf]

Hi, I need some advice if I can get any.

I'm currently working technically 3 jobs; one part-time with an actual regulated Employer that I get paid for and health benefits with (13.5 hours a week), one as a live-in caregiver for my grandmother (24/7), and one where my official title is "Operations Director" for my family's mobile home park where I'm on call from 10am to 6pm every day (56 hours a week, give or take). Sometimes that last one goes over or under that time.

I get paid money for the 13.5 hour job

The 24/7 and 56 hour job both together are supposedly all for my room, board, and gas.

I'd see that being fair if it was just for one of those two, but I'm literally doing more than 2 full time jobs for my father's benefit and still bottoming out my bank account between my paychecks.

He won't listen to me when I say I deserve compensation. He's a tightass with money. He always says he's proud of the work I'm doing until I ask for payment for it, at which point he tells me I do nothing all day.

I'm being exploited. I'm 29 years old and I'm being exploited because I'm too soft to know how to demand what I'm worth. So I need some advice on how to grow a backbone and make my needs heard.

[ivygorgon]

If buying isn't owning, Then copying isn't stealing

[thebasedsaint7]

If you were witnessing the manipulation and financial exploitation of an elder, would you report it even if it meant potentially getting evicted from your current residence? I genuinely need input.. I’m so sick to my stomach about this situation, but I also need a place to live .. idk what to do

[rightnewshindi]

सोलन में धोखाधड़ी का सनसनीखेज मामला, 88 वर्षीय रिटायर्ड एयरफोर्स अधिकारी ने लगाए गंभीर आरोप

Solan News: सदर थाना सोलन में पुलिस ने एक चौंकाने वाला धोखाधड़ी का मामला दर्ज किया है। 88 वर्षीय रिटायर्ड एयरफोर्स अधिकारी प्रेम प्रकाश मल्होत्रा ने कुलदीप कुमार और उसके परिवार पर वित्तीय शोषण, मानसिक उत्पीड़न और संपत्ति पर अवैध कब्जे जैसे संगीन आरोप लगाए हैं। इस मामले ने स्थानीय प्रशासन और पुलिस को हिलाकर रख दिया है। 8 करोड़ से अधिक की आर्थिक ठगी का दावा प्रेम प्रकाश मल्होत्रा ने अपनी शिकायत…

[ivygorgon]

An open letter to the U.S. Congress

Pass the Stop Wall Street Landlords Act

15 so far! Help us get to 25 signers!

The housing crisis in our nation is reaching unprecedented levels, making homeownership increasingly out of reach for many hardworking individuals and families. A major contributor to this crisis is the unchecked activity of Wall Street firms and institutional investors who are treating homes as mere speculative assets, driving up prices and pricing out potential homebuyers. We cannot stand idly by as private equity giants and corporate landlords continue to exploit the housing market for their own profit, at the expense of our communities. The Stop Wall Street Landlords Act seeks to put an end to this predatory behavior by implementing sensible regulations and disincentives for large investors to hoard single-family homes. This legislation represents a critical step towards restoring balance and fairness to the housing market, ensuring that homes are available and affordable for those who need them most. I strongly urge you to support this bill and prioritize the needs of everyday Americans over the greed of wealthy investors. Our constituents deserve the opportunity to build equity and achieve the dream of homeownership without being priced out by exploitative corporate tactics. Together, we can take meaningful action to address this crisis and make housing more accessible for all.

▶ Created on October 23 by Jason

📱 Text SIGN PNJEQK to 50409

[sharkspez]

Badge: 🚫 🚫 🚫

Without the 💵 petrodollar the 💼 government can't push off 🇺🇸 American debt ⬇️ to other countries 🇮🇱

[howwelldoyouknowyourmoon]

"Dae Mo Nim" is now running her own cult

The following information comes from this churchheresy.com article. The article was originally in Korean. This is not a word-for-word translation.

Kim Hyo-nam, once known as "Dae Mo Nim" or "Hoon Mo Nim," is continuing her ministry/business after her 2015 expulsion from the Family Federation (FFWPU) due to allegations of embezzlement. In Pyeongchang, Kim has begun a Cheongpyeong-style spiritual retreat known as Cheongseongaewon. Her following consists mainly of Japanese members, including those who have stepped away from the formal FFWPU in the midst of the Hak Ja Han's administration rolling out a new Christology. Much of this retreat center replicates the "Cheongpyeong providence," with sessions of "ansu" or "chanyang" and ancestral liberation.

▲ In 2015, Hyo-Nam Kim was stripped of her public position Kim Hyo-nam's influence within the Unification Church was significant; she was bestowed the title of "Hoonmo" (teaching mother) by the late founder Sun Myung Moon. She was believed to host both the presence and ministry of Dae Mo Nim, Han's mother, and the Moon's deceased son, Heung Jin. It was during her leadership that "the Palace" was constructed and more explicitly "shamanistic" practices became church-sanctioned and widespread. It was a few years after Moon's death that Kim faced accusations of financial misconduct, leading to the termination of her public role by the church's headquarters.

▲ Kim Hyo-nam’s hunmo at Cheongseongaewon in Pyeongchang

Kim’s continues to claim to be aided by the spirit of Hong Soon-ae, the late mother of Hak Ja Han (Sun Myung Moon’s wife and the current leader of the Unification Church).

▲ Karaoke room used for ansu sessions

Kim purportedly addresses ancestral grievances to facilitate physical and spiritual healing. Followers from around the world, including the US and Japan, continue to flock to her in search of these spiritual services. The retreat boasts various amenities, including accommodations, a restaurant, and a karaoke room repurposed for spiritual rituals.

▲ Entrance to Cheongseongaewon in Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do

Related

Kook Jin ‘Justin’ Moon exposed Dae Mo Nim as a fraud in 2012 Done With Moon testimony: Depression and Dae Mo Nim Fear and Loathing at Cheongpyeong ‘Fixing Spiritual Problems’ at Cheongpyeong

“Ancestor Liberation must be done” Hak Ja Han 2015

DaeMoNim liberates $182 million golf course

Houses for sale in the spirit world – buy now to be close to God

Dae Mo Nim (Hyo-nam Kim) pours guilt on the Japanese

Wish Papers: Make a wish, write it down, give it to the UC with your money. They will burn the papers in a ceremony…

Unification Church shampoo for evil spirits (this is NOT a spoof)

The Panzer vs. Fefferman debate and the Sokcho question

[medicaltourismscammerinmexico]

MTM Medical Tourism Mazatlan & Scott Kramer: A Cautionary Tale of Fraud and Deception

I recently embarked on a journey for medical tourism in Mazatlan, Mexico, and I must share my harrowing experience with MTM Medical Tourism Mazatlan, owned by Scott Kramer. What initially seemed like a promising opportunity turned into an absolute nightmare, and I feel compelled to warn others about my ordeal.

I had sought out MTM Medical Tourism Mazatlan for Massage Physical Therapy services, and I was initially presented with a package deal priced at $10,000. However, when the bill arrived, I was shocked to find that I was charged an exorbitant $20,000 instead. It didn't take long for me to realize that I had fallen victim to a fraudulent scheme orchestrated by this company.

My investigation revealed that MTM Medical Tourism Mazatlan had engaged in various unethical and illegal practices, including bundle coding manipulation and misusing codes on a claim. These tactics, such as upcoding and unbundling codes, are not only illegal but also morally reprehensible. It became apparent that Scott Kramer, the owner of the company, was the mastermind behind this fraudulent operation.

The impact of this experience on my physical and emotional well-being cannot be overstated. Not only did I receive subpar services, but I was also financially exploited in the process. The trust I placed in MTM Medical Tourism Mazatlan was utterly betrayed, and I was left with no choice but to endure the consequences of their deceitful actions.

I strongly advise anyone considering medical tourism to Mazatlan, Mexico, to exercise extreme caution and thoroughly research any company before engaging their services. MTM Medical Tourism Mazatlan, in particular, should be avoided at all costs. My hope is that by sharing my story, I can prevent others from falling victim to the unscrupulous practices of this company and its owner, Scott Kramer.

In conclusion, my experience with MTM Medical Tourism Mazatlan was a devastating one, marked by fraud and deception. Please heed this warning and choose your medical tourism provider wisely to avoid the suffering and financial loss that I endured.

[planetary-wolf]

you need to put your foot down and tell him that if you can’t get more pay you will have NO choice but to quit and get a full time job. start applying.

I worry about two factors that throw a teeeeeeny tiny wrench into this.

My dad is convinced that both jobs are paying for room and board and gas. This is secretly both factors, because one- I'm not parting with my mamaw unless absolutely necessary-- I love her and don't want to punish her for my dad's doing, especially with her level of dementia.

Two-- Dad has a particular..... personality, let's just say. He's so amiable and easy going until money or any implication that he's done wrong comes into play. This topic involves both those things. I'm trying to figure out how to carefully but firmly handle it, as well as bat away his usual arguments--

Bills paid; well how much would i be expected to pay for bills and how much would i be making for both jobs if we're pulling that

"You don't do anything"; I'm on call, which does have a set of laws even in Texas. I have set out a number of questions that generally get asked by courts when determining if and how much to compensate on call employees.

I guess I'm also deeply afraid of being abandoned but that's like....... based off my history with this very man.

He's a powerful speaker, I'm very not-that. I have to think of my stuff ahead of time.

[casuallyanidiot]

what do you think of yandere priest but in more of a cult vibe?

Like a mother and young adult reader came to the neighborhood and the mother joined the "church" and became crazy religious

Okay, here me out, yandere priest to a cult that's not really a cult, but some multi level marketing scheme.

Tw. for age gap, financial abuse, and religious themes

He's less motivated by faith than he is his own greed. He loves living in luxury scoffs at the notion that he should be more humble. He worms his way into a quaint, suburban neighborhood slowly but surely over several years and drips in bits and pieces of information about a company that's just guaranteed to make you money.

You get to work from home! Be your own boss! And the products themselves work miracles!

Yandere Priest who is calm, charismatic, suave, and oh so charming. Most of the flock he tends to don't even realize he's scamming them out of their life's savings. They're all just far too dumb to even think of him in a negative light.

You and your mom moved to the neighborhood after finally managing to improve your financial situation. You were enrolled in a local community college and had several low paying jobs along with your mother, and the two of you lived frugally until you could afford enough to live in a nicer part of town than the one you had been stuck in your entire life.

The two of you are welcomed warmly by the church, the community, and yandere priest. Your mom is happy to have found such a nice place to live, and she's instantly enticed by the promises of making money through joining the congregation. She gets a bit of success through it at first, and soon she's hooked.

You however, don't buy it one bit.

Yandere priest is intrigued by you. While your mother begins to zealously preach the word of the bible and the word of his money, you seem to have an inherent distrust for him. It makes sense, he thinks. He essentially just views your little family as another wallet in his collection. Still, as much as he understands you, a poor little lamb who wasn't joined his flock yet, he can't let you roam free lest you lead others astray.

It's then he really starts to lay the charm on thick. You remain unconvinced despite the fact that he begins to visit your home often (It's an honor by the way. Your mother knows her place. She graciously welcomes him in and shouts at you when you don't show him respect.), and he catches you scowling at him when you think no one is looking.

You're just so frustrating to him. At first you were like a little challenge to beat, something that he had to work to get for once, but you're proving to be a true pain in the neck. You cats doubt on his name to anyone who'll listen, argue with your mom and try to get her to quit his church often, and he's even caught you trying to snoop around in some financial documents of others around the neighborhood. He begins to think of you as less of a lamb and more of a vixen.

It doesn't help that you're pretty and cute. You're a young faced, rebellious spit fire who calls him out like no one has before, and even though he grits his teeth every time you glare at him, he can't help but love it.

For the first time in a life, he actually has someone he would even deign to call an equal.

Just like with all the money he's sucked out of these poor people, he didn't care that you're practically half his age, or that he could ruin your life with a few words. No, all he wanted was for you to finally just give up, to just set aside your pride and let him win.

All the while, your mother has been changing. She was once a sweet if not ditzy woman who would do anything to protect her child, though now she was wrapped up in the same greed that had been running through this neighborhood since he sunk his teeth in it. Your finances had been depleted despite the fact that she insisted that the church's company was legitimate and making good money. While the two of you had been close, she would yell at you for anything that went out of line from what the church and Yandere priest preached.

You were losing your mother, your community, your hope. If this habit of her spending all of your money on the church continued, soon you were worried that you wouldn't be able to pay for the house or your tuition. You were desperate to get your life back in order, and who but him would be there with a single, honeyed option left for you?

Yandere priest was certain that if he bled you dry just a little longer, you'd eventually accept his oh so gracious offer and finally fall into his hands.

[thebasedsaint7]

People make me so angry! I’m so sick of people taking advantage of my boyfriend’s mom & her money. She has a fixed income and it seems like everywhere she goes she gets manipulated out of her money for the month. Y’all belong in prison.

[applejongho]

glad everyone else is like 😃😃😃😃 with the tour announcement bc um

[rickybaby]

Is an RB podium bad for F1?

[benjaminallhope-fulltimemind]

Ron Desantis is a dumbass full stop, he cares more about the culture war then actually doing things that improve the lives of people within Florida. The legislation would make it easier for financial crimes and trafficking to occur which is ironic given his staunch stance on drug crime. It's almost laughable how often Ron's legislation blows up in his face like when he cracked down of migrants causing the primary workers in agriculture to flee the state? The there's his disastrous presidential campaign and all that happened, honestly he's a joke which is awful considering he's governor of Florida! I hope he gets voted out sooner rather than later, but then again as long as Ron Desantis bangs on the drums of the culture war he can draw republican voters cause apparently being anti-woke is more important to the economy.