Monday
Oct042010
The Lengths People Go To
Monday, October 4, 2010 at 2:47AM
Maybe it's a sign of the times. Maybe it's an indicator of the culture in which we live. Whatever the case, I have noticed an increasing number of stories about people trying to trick and to fraud insurance companies or big businesses/corporations. Or even just to cheat the good nature of generous people.
Two notable cases spring to mind, mainly because they indicate the lengths these people will go to; self harming lengths. The first was a story about a couple who ate glass particles. No, you didn't read that wrong. They smashed up glass and consumed it, and then attempted to sue restaurants, claiming they ate food contaminated with glass. What's worse, is that they may have gotten away with it, but for the frequency of their complaints. If successful, they could've made family-run restaurants go bust.
Worse still, was the case about a woman who threw acid in her own face. Why? Why would you do that? Well if you're asking how on earth someone could do that to themselves, I do not know! Her logic was in part to frame an ex-boyfriend I think, but mainly, to steal money from those who were horrified by her story, and generously gave what little money they could to help her recover and to subsidise healthcare costs. She ended up receiving thousands of dollars, and going on shopping sprees. Thankfully she has been found guilty of theft by fraud and has to repay the money.
Is it the economic climate which has caused this spike in fraud? Or has it always been present, and I have only just noticed stories about them? I think to a certain extent "cheating the system" has been a problem society has had to deal with. Perhaps its human nature. But I think in the minds of some people, desperate times call for desperate measures.
Two notable cases spring to mind, mainly because they indicate the lengths these people will go to; self harming lengths. The first was a story about a couple who ate glass particles. No, you didn't read that wrong. They smashed up glass and consumed it, and then attempted to sue restaurants, claiming they ate food contaminated with glass. What's worse, is that they may have gotten away with it, but for the frequency of their complaints. If successful, they could've made family-run restaurants go bust.
Worse still, was the case about a woman who threw acid in her own face. Why? Why would you do that? Well if you're asking how on earth someone could do that to themselves, I do not know! Her logic was in part to frame an ex-boyfriend I think, but mainly, to steal money from those who were horrified by her story, and generously gave what little money they could to help her recover and to subsidise healthcare costs. She ended up receiving thousands of dollars, and going on shopping sprees. Thankfully she has been found guilty of theft by fraud and has to repay the money.
Is it the economic climate which has caused this spike in fraud? Or has it always been present, and I have only just noticed stories about them? I think to a certain extent "cheating the system" has been a problem society has had to deal with. Perhaps its human nature. But I think in the minds of some people, desperate times call for desperate measures.
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