Fraud frenzy

We may be on the cusp of a fraud frenzy.

According to criminologist Donald Cressey, the conditions which enable and encourage fraud are pressure, opportunity, and rationalisation. And according to the Financial Times, these are all becoming more favourable.

In the past week, we’ve seen fraud cases brought on issues as diverse as luxury ghost cars (cars that do not exist, not a halloween themed Mercedes), livestock auctions (the accused is on baaaaail - sorry), and rigging NBA markets (a wild story involving  NBA luminaries and mafia families).

And that’s not even getting into the fact that the co-founder of 777 Partners, the company behind failed budget airline Bonza, was charged over a $750 million alleged fraud scheme.

Our favourite fraud story of the week, however, is the wild tale of Scottish tea grower, Tam O’Braan. 

O’Braan (real name Thomas Robinson) concocted an entire backstory - including inventing the bag for life and the most obviously fake Scottish name of all time - and ended up in jail for convincing luxury hotels and tea growers of a thriving tea industry in the icy cold of Scotland. He may also have accidentally inspired that industry to actually come to life.

Fraud, of course, is a serious problem whose victims are often vulnerable and desperate. But it also leads to some fantastic stories. We’re counting down to the inevitable six part Netflix series on Tam O’Braan.