The Biblical Seven Activity Scam

Indeed, using religious believes to scam is utterly coward. I wish these people would be apprehended soon.

Unbelievable

You can ‘wish”…or you can help make it happen..

Things you can do to make it happen..

Send your emails to…

SEC
enforcement@sec.gov.

And…The scammers local FBI office..

FBI Boston
Suite 600
One Center Plaza
Boston, Massachusetts 02108
boston.fbi.gov
(617) 742-5533

You can also report them for MAIL FRAUD…

http://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/forms/MailFraudComplaint.aspx

Could also email the IRS since they make this claim on the site..
“The Biblical Seven activity does not offer Legal or Tax advice. We urge you to seek your own advice. We do suggest that you refer to the IRS publication #950 for their rules that educate on gifting activities. The Biblical Seven is in compliance with all rules in this publication.”

IRS contacts for that US State..
http://www.irs.gov/localcontacts/article/0,,id=98286,00.html

Hope this helps….:)

It is disgusting and disappointing that people will use scripture to rip people off. Whether intentional or not this misuse of scripture and the inability to rightly read and understand scripture leads to activities such as this. If each one of us would read the Bible daily and learn the study/art of Hermeneutics it would greatly enhance our knowledge understanding and true character of God. May God have mercy on this souls who perpetuate this scam in Christ’s name.

Thank you for all of your comments!

Thank you okosh for letting everyone know where to take action. I sent a letter to my local post office yesterday. Today I will send letters to each place you suggested. I urge everyone that is outraged by this to do the same.

Thank you GW for reminding us that we must seek God through His word, the Bible. Also, that we must ask God for understanding of His word and for guidance in using the scriptures properly in all aspects of our lives. I don’t know anything about Hermeneutics, but you’ve prompted me to go find out about it. What is the best source?

I concur and it is worth repeating. May God have mercy on this soul who perpetuates this scam in Christ’s name. May He provide understanding to him/her that what s/he is doing is evil. May God bless those who seek Him for love, understanding and guidance.

God Bless,
Sharon

Since the wide use of the internet the human ethical standard is down on its lowest level. A situation we can watch daily in the news. And we experience it on the internet in our daily action to make money. That sick Guy in Austria who imprisoned his daughter for 24 years and she never have seen sunlight, the clear signs of our mental and spiritual conditions in global terms.
Dejager

I called the local FBI in Boston. They asked if people would submit the information to www.ic3.gov It is the FBI’s internet fraud complaint site.

- Sharon

You poor sheep are pathetic…anyone who thinks this activity is a scam is certainly mentally challenged. It smacks of “sour grapes”, irresponsibility, and I believe whoever started this “scam” rumor obviously is immature and incapable of following simple rules.
Continue to drudge away in your mundane jobs (if you even HAVE one) until you retire at the age of 70, then drop dead of a heart attack one week later…hmmm, some retirement, eh? In the meantime, my wife and I will retire at the age of 40 and 48 respectively next month because of this “scam”. We will certainly pray for you and your misguided perceptions of this activity.
We will be praying for you while we do what we WANT to do, rather than what we HAVE to do, for the rest of our lives.
Enjoy!
Blessings,

Marty Oberman
Maryland state director
Admin volunteer
The Biblical Seven Ministries

I was disgusted the other day after reading about this Biblical seven scammers and only left the one word comment. Thanks Sharon for the heads up on this mob. I have passed your request on far and wide

There are so many other scam hyip’s that you could be going after. Why don’t you do that?

Time to turn up the heat folks and “pile on”….
We need as many emails as possible to be sent…
You already sent??…SEND AGAIN!!

Marty Oberman…Say your prayers boy cos the feds now know!!

The Biblical Seven Activity is 100% legal. It has been thoroughly vetted by attorneys, complies with all USPS and IRS regulations. With each GIFT we send we include a GIFTING STATEMENT that states in no uncertain terms that we are sending this money as a GIFT to the person named in the statement and that we do not expect anything in return, from that person or anyone else. Those GIFTING STATEMENTS are to be used when filing our taxes the next year so that we follow the legal guidelines as far as the IRS goes. The statement also allows us to be legal as far as the USPS goes. We are not mailing anything asking for money from anyone with any promises of wealth in return.

A chain letter requires a letter be written and sent asking folks to send the writer of the letter money with the false promise of money in return. We do not send any letters to anyone asking for money to be sent. We simply tell people we know about the program and invite them to take a look at the website. Then they can choose to participate or not, their choice. There are no threats of dire consequences for not participating or any pressures to send money to one person who then distributes the money to others. In our activity the money goes directly to the participants themselves. No portion goes to the founder or administrator or volunteers except as is GIFTED to them as part of their involvement in the activity.

There is a support system built in to provide accountability for everyone who joins. When someone joins our activity they promise to abide by the rules of the activity and to send out the gifts as required by the activity. If someone fails to send out their gifts as promised they are reminded about their commitment and then if they still fail to keep their promises, they are removed from the activity and replaced. That keeps the activity moving for everyone. We only send out 1 very small gift out of pocket. There is no need for investing huge amounts over and over as there is in other programs.

Report us to whomever you choose. I won’t lose any sleep over it because I know that this activity is 100% legal. For anyone who is interested in joining or looking at the program more thoroughly and can do so with an open mind, please feel free to visit our website. We have nothing to hide.

I do have a question though. From the tone of your posting I wonder if you are maybe a former member who refused to follow the guidelines of the program and were removed so the rest of us could continue.

This program is filled with good, honest, hard working, CHRISTIAN folks who all want the same things in life as the rest of you. We want to be able to bless our families, our friends, our churches, our communities and to reach out through missionaries and mission groups to bless others around the world. We want to be able to be debt free and relax and take vacations with our families. We want to be able to afford to send our children to college or pay for medical treatments that a family member might need. That is why we joined this absolutely wonderful GIFTING program. By sending out our GIFTS as we promised when we joined we start that blessing cycle for ourselves and others. Only SATAN would want to bring this program down. Because by doing so he accomplishes his goal of keeping God’s people downtrodden and under the control of others.

Jenni Hale
Biblical Seven Activity Member and Volunteer
Chat Room & Forum Moderator

Report us to whomever you choose.

I did so already but happy to oblige and report again.

Special thanks to TD who told me about this scam…:))
Nothing us Aussies hate more then a scum bag who hides behind a bible to scam….

Progress has been made…
Good news is that these scammers have changed their home page and gone private…Hopefully means less victims..

“The Biblical Seven Activity is a private by invitation only activity.
Please enter your User Name to gain access to The Biblical Seven Activity.”

But I thought you lot said it was all legal??….
Jeni Hale…Why all the sudden secrecy??
What you got to hide??..
Getting scared of the Feds moving in??…HAHAHA..LOL…

Too late for you to hide now…the feds KNOW!!

okosh

We are not trying to hide from anyone. Rev Rick, who created this wonderful opportunity for us, has been contacted by the attorney general of a couple states and has complied fully with their requests for information each and every time. We have nothing to hide because we are doing nothing wrong.

We are simply trying to keep our activity private as it is by INVITATION ONLY! There is no need for outsiders to be able to access our website unless they are interested in joining our blessed activity.

Our website changed from a GoDaddy.com domain several months ago to a private domain owned and run be a member of the activity in an attempt to keep it all “in the family”. Our members support the activity through their commitment to send the gifts to the person they are instructed to send it to. The founder of our activity does not make a penny off of any of it.

Why can’t you folks just leave us alone? Why must you attack an activity that is such a blessing to so many hard working Christians? There are so many true scams out there today, go after them and do some real good.

Jenni Hale
Biblical Seven Activity Member and Volunteer
Assistant Chat Room & Forum Moderator

There is no reason to report us to the SEC. We are not buying, selling or investing in anything. So they have no interest in us at all.

Why send anything to the IRS? No we do not give any legal or tax advice. We are not attorneys or accuntants and are therefore not qualified to give that sort of advice. We do urge our members to seek that advice if they feel the need to do so. We do urge everyone to check the IRS publication 950 for the laws pertaining to cash gifts and to hold onto all gifting statements to be used for tax filing purposes so we are breaking no laws in that regard.

The FBI has real crooks to chase after, serial killers, kidnappers, drug dealers, etc. Why would they care about a bunch of folks who are willingly and freely sending GIFTS to each other?

The USPS has no laws or regulations against sending cash through the mail. We do not send any requests to anyone asking for them to send money to anyone else, so we are not in violation of any of their rules, regulations or laws. Mail fraud only applies if there is any fraud happening. I am simply sending a gift to a friend, willingly, freely, with no expectation of return.

Jenni Hale
Biblical Seven Activity Member and Volunteer
Assistant Chat Room & Forum Moderator

Ladies and Gentleman,
I admit to have made a judgement error. I informed myself and confirm that the biblical seven activity is real and honest.
Now think about it what a chain of reaction was set in motion to inform the Authorities about it, without doing some background work. More easy to do from you the ones who are living in the USA, then it was for me who has made that check from Asia.
Not the first time that things like that where happen where honest and reliable opportunities where brought down regarding to false information published - while the scammer gangs are laughing and people lose heavy - in some cases even everything. Instead of forming an alliance where honest systems are checked and People who want to earn can be sleep more relaxed as the possibility is dropping that they will lose again.
Nobsinvest could be that place where investment options are tested and operators verify themselves and People can start to earn, building up a reliable and honest option who would benefit many.
Maybe it is picked up I would be more than happy about it.
Yours
Fred

Hi Fred.
How can an honest and reliable “private” opp be brought down?

Your background checks were ?

Save your stories, excuses and explanations for the Judge…
Hope you got a good lawyer cos you gonna need one…

You shifty Christian scammer you, changing the home page like that in an attempt to hide the evidence…
naughty, naughty…

BTW….Changing the home page won’t help one little bit in saving you from the Feds cos THIS is the linkey I’ll be sending in my emails from now on…hehehe….
http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:9y0oe_L7fmEJ:thebiblicalsevenactivity.com/leftframe.htm+thebiblicalsevenactivity&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=au&client=firefox-a

Luke 6:38 may be your twisted excuse to scam that you use on your site…
BUT…
Okosh 6:38 says, “I’m gonna have you fake Christian scammers busted by the Feds”….

okosh

A lot of comments since yesterday! Let me try to address some of them.

First, I am not now nor was I ever taken in by the biblical seven scam. I am not a former member.

Second, what makes me an expert on scams is years of studying them. Yes, I have fallen prey to several of them. It is what sparked my desire to really study them and the laws surrounding them. I am no longer a victim. However, I am not a lawyer or government employee. I am just an ordinary US citizen that is writing about what I know so that others aren’t sucked into scams. Some people will listen and some will not. I can’t help those that do not listen. Not all of my blogs are negative, but this one deserves it. So, before you bash me, please do your own research. Start with Jude’s, Leo’s, Mbongwe’s and my other articles. “Ponzi Scheme - Pond Scum” is a good place to begin.

Next, yes, there are plenty of other scams out there. I’ve reported on more than I could count. If you look back through the history of nobsinvest’s sister site www.nobshyip.net, you’ll see my name on plenty of scam warning articles. You’ll also see my name on older articles where I reported opportunities that I believed were legitimate, legal and honest. Guess what? Those sites were brought down and/or are being investigated. Many of the administrators are in jail now. I was wrong, but I learned through trial and error and years of research.

I haven’t reported on any sites in a long time; mostly because they weren’t worth my time. Why this one? Because, wrapping Christianity around a scam is worse than the scams that use other methods to hide. It is a sin. My outrage comes from my love of God and from righteous justice. Why did I report it here instead of nobshyip.net? I’m not sure. It should be reported on both sites and I will take care of that today.

What makes this a scam? First of all, it is a chain letter. I realize that it isn’t one in the traditional since, just like HYIPs and Autosurfs are not ponzi’s in the traditional since. However, disguising it as a “gift” does not make it any less of a chain letter and/or mail fraud. Removing the forwarding list of names does not make it any less of a scheme to send money to someone in order to get more money back.

The USPS says this, “The Internet is teeming with fraudulent schemes, and swindlers find it easy to exploit innocent victims online. Fraud on the Internet results in mail fraud when “cyberscammers” receive payments and ship items via the U.S. Mail.” Calling a payment a “gift” does not make it any less of a payment.

Wikipedia says this under pyramid schemes, “Such schemes may try to downplay their pyramid nature by referring to themselves as “binary systems”, or “gifting circles” with money being “gifted”.”

Here are some other signs that it is a scam… When a site includes language claiming that it is legal, that means that it has the appearance of being illegal and they need to convince their victims it is legal. It isn’t! Legitimate opportunities do not have to claim they are legal. If the opportunity was honest and legal, they wouldn’t have to demand that “gifts” be hidden in a greeting card and have some bogus “I certify that this is a gift” document with it. When I send a true gift through the mail, it is a check, which can be traced, and I don’t have to include some mumbo-jumbo that resembles a legal document. When light is shone on a scam site, it goes into hiding or “private.” They send flunkies to protest loudly and try to discredit whoever is shining the light on them. They can make all of the false claims and disclaimers that they want, but it doesn’t make it legal or honest.

How does the administrator make money from this type of scam? Well, the site stated that names are “randomly” drawn to receive “gifts.” Hmmm… think about it… “random” is most likely weighted towards the perp, his family and friends. I feel sorry for Jenni because moderators are usually the last to find out that it is a crime.

Even if we give this “Rev Rick” character the benefit of the doubt and assume he is trying to do something good, why in the world would he have to try to skirt around laws and create something so shifty looking? If he is a reverend in real life, then that makes it so much worse. He is tempting Christians and non-Christians to sin and commit a crime. And he’s trying to say that God told him to do it! Baloney!!!

Jenni, you are being lied to. Take for example your comment that the website was changed from godaddy and went private a couple of months ago. No, it didn’t. When someone researches a domain name, the information is current. When the information changes, it is reported and the old information is archived. It doesn’t take months. Also, why would a “legitimate” site have to have private contact information?

The last thing I want to address is the statement on the site and in a comment above that people “gift” without any expectation of return. Hogwash! It is not a missionary site where you’re gifting to the poor. The sole purpose of being a member and gifting is to get a return 3 times greater. So, members are expecting a return on their “investment.” Just read Marty’s comment. He says so. “Gifting” amounts are in 7 increasing amounts. Members have to pay out more as time goes on, from $37 up to thousands!

I have some questions, though. Why are “gifts” that are given freely in specific amounts with specific cash? Why not chose how much you want to give and to whom? Why not pay for the gift in the form of a personal check, certified check or money order? Why cash? I can only think of one answer. It is because the scheme is illegal!

I read everything on the site, before it went private. I know that I am human and may be fooled by a scam. However, this one is so blatantly a scam that I didn’t have to go very far past the surface. I do not know if “Rev Rick” is a scammer on purpose or not, however 99% of scam administrators are scammers on purpose. I can not and will not judge “Rev Rick.” God is the only one that can do that. However, I can judge this one action, because it is illegal.

OK, now that I’ve blown off more steam. I’d like to thank all of those that have stepped forward with information on how to report this crime and all of those, both vocal and silent, who have actually taken the steps. The more people that report a crime increases how fast authorities act on it.

I’m doing my part to try to bring down internet/mail fraud, are you? May God bless everyone and may He provide knowledge and understanding to those being suckered into these scams.

God Bless,
Sharon Frye

Still not convinced? Here is the invitation e-mail letter…

Hello All Participants:

Thanks for Being On The Journey With Me…….

okay…..so you got here but you don’t know quite how it all works. Well, I’ll try and explain it in simple terms so you all understand how it works. Now remember I’m clergy and not a mathematician. But I will tell you this-it only takes 3,279 people to get you through Step Seven on The Biblical Seven Journey. Not 400,000, Not 300,000, Not 200,000, Not 100,000, Not even 50,000. Not even 10,000. Don’t believe everything you read or hear unless it comes from a reliable and official source. As I am instrumental in starting this activity, I guess I’ll consider myself official.

Our organization is comprised of 7,777 positions who each will become a Receiver and a Gifter sometime during your Journey of Seven Steps.This is important to understand as everyone must be both to acquire a Friends List so as to gift as a Giver but also to Receive as a Receiver. For the purpose of this explanation, a successful Journey for this activity is when all 7,777 have successfully completed Step Seven.

The first action to become a participant is to complete and successfully submit your Participation Form to become eligible to participate. Once you have successfully done this, the computer assigns you a unique customer I.D. number. These numbers are assigned on a first in basis. Let’s assume for this explanation that 7,777 of you have successfully submitted your Participation Forms and have received your I.D. numbering 1-7,777.

The next step to occur is that computer needs to assign Receivers. Now because a Receiver needs to be assigned to 3 different applicants, it is done sequentially in groups of 3. For example Receiver #200 goes on 3 different applications. That means that when a spin is completed of all 7,777 numbers, a receiver has been assigned to 2,592 applicants but because a Receiver is assigned to 3 different applicants, 864 New Receivers are used from the Receiver pool. This spin also required 7,777 Gifters so the Gifter pool was used up. So now we have 0 in the Gifter Pool and 6,913 left in the Receiver pool. How are we going to continue?

Simple the program assigns all 7,777 positions another re-entry number. Now we have 7777 more available gifters in the pool and still have 6,913 available Receivers.

So now we spin the wheel a second time, the same things occurs-2,592 Friends List are issued using 7,777 Gifters and using up another 864 New Receivers. We have now issued a Friends to 2/3 of our Activity of 7777. The Gifter Pool is empty again and we are down to 6,049 available Receivers. Again the computer assigned another Re-entry number to all 7777 so there is now full pool of Gifters. We still have 6,049 available Receivers.

So we spin the wheel a third time, the same thing occurs-2592 Friends Lists are issued using 7,777 Gifters and using another 864 Receivers. We have now issued a Friends List to all 7,777 participants. The Gifter Pool is empty and 5,185 Receivers need to be assigned.

So the math says we spin 6 more times so the very last (7,777) Receiver is assigned to a Friends List and can make it through Step Seven-that is a successful Journey for everyone.

Each original entry gave 3 Re-Entries for each Seven Step Journey.
You obtained a total of 27 positions. As it requires 3 spins to acquire a Friends List, you will have acquired
9 new journeys. 9 spins

9 x $37 = $333
9 x $15554=$139,986

As I’ve said on the conference calls, your one original entry can be worth over $500,000 per year simply repeating the above entire process 5 more times. Using 10 day spin ex.: 9 spins x 10 days = 90 days 365/90 = 5x $139,986 =$699,930

obviously if you hold multiple positions, these figures can be modified to your circumstances.

Hope this helps.

Rev. Rick Atwell
The Biblical Seven

[…] wrote an article about this scam at nobsinvest.com. I should have included it here. Actually I should have written […]

That “letter” is not anything that is mailed out to anyone. It is a post on our forum which NON-MEMBERS have no right to be going to.

The Gifting Statement is what folks are supposed to use when they file their taxes next year. That way we stay legal with the IRS.

The card is simply a nice touch, a sweet gesture, but not required and not everyone sends one.

Cash is what the activity says to send so no one has to deal with a check that bounces or cashing a check in order to send out the next round of gifts.

The only out of pocket expense for anyone in the activity is the initial gift of $37. The rest of the steps are sent out of the gifts that we receive. So if after I send my gift of $37, no one ever sends me anything, then that is the luck of the draw and I am out that $37.

Yes, we have an accountability side to the activity to help make sure that everyone does receive a gift, but no one is ever coerced or threatened to send the gift. They are simply reminded that they agreed to send the gift when it was time and given the opportunity to either send the gift out or get out of the activity.

Jenni Hale
Biblical Seven Activity Member and Volunteer
Assistant Chat Room and Forum Moderator

Jenni,

Why can’t non-members visit the forum? Where is the forum?

The letter above is what I received in an email as part of an invitation to join the opportunity.

My dear, you have been brainwashed into believing that a gifting program is legal and that it pays. It is illegal and while it pays some people, many more never receive a thing and are losing money.

Besides the deplorable hiding behind Christianity, the sad part about illegal money schemes is that when a person “wins” money they are not winning from the administrator or from the program, instead they are taking money out of the pockets of the many more that do not “win.”

I really hope that you do not lose too much money before this scheme is shut down. If you are a “winner”, I hope that you think seriously about the thousands of people that weren’t winners. While $37 may not seem like a lot of money to you, it does to others. When someone doesn’t “win”, they will most likely spend that $37 over and over trying to win.

I urge you to read the article I wrote, read the USPS guidelines on spotting mail fraud, www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/pubs/pub300a.pdf, look up pyramid scheme and ponzi scheme on wikipedia, read http://www.crimes-of-persuasion.com/Crimes/InPerson/MajorPerson/pyramid_clubs.htm, or google gifting program scams. There is a lot of information about the crime.

God Bless,
Sharon

Sharon I know one thing, you need to go play with someones marbles and get out of our backyard… You have no idea what is going on are how the Biblical 7 even works.

Get a life…

Cameron

You didn’t have to post that Marshell the comments here in last 24 hours show just how much Biblical 7 are hoping those marbles get a workout.

This blog article has shown a great many people who is out there preying on others. Thanks Sharon

I am sorry for you Sharon. I am sorry that you are so full of pain and anger that you feel the need to hurt others so deeply in order to make yourself feel better. I am praying for you, Sharon. I pray for your healing. I am asking Rev. Rick and all in the Biblical Seven to pray for Sharon. Please forgive her.

Dear God, please heal our sister Sharon. Please bring her peace and love. Light up her life. Surround her in Your everlasting love to ease the pain and anger that has taken over her heart.

In Jesus’ name, we ask You this, God. AMEN!

I would like The contact information for sharon I would like to see here facts because this is Libel Slander And I have a nice lawsuit that I will serve her with please let me know.

Bib 7 Totally Legit

@Leslie…
My cat is more of a Christian then you’ll ever be..

@Fred…
You idiot!!…I suppose you also gonna sue me??..
BRING IT ON YOU SCAMMER!!!

@Jenni Hale…
(For the third time)…Why has your scam suddenly gone “private”??…
Why did you change the home page??

And…Why did you lie about your domain??…naughty, naughty..

okosh

Sharon, your something else gal. You have taken out bits and pieces from their website and tuned them around to say something else that suits your cause which seems to be getting back at someone or something that you think harmed you in some way. As they say, hell hath no furry as a woman scorned. I invite anyone to go to this website and find one thing that is illegal or wrong or bad in any way. It is a ministry that’s sole purpose is to help those that are financially strapped to get out from under the debt that can and does ruin lives and families. If that is a scam my dear, then please, we need lots more of them. You would think that the mindless would check out the site before they posted to this. I invite everyone to check it out from end to end and then see what you think of it. Don’t let someone else do your thinking for you. This person obviously has a big chip on her shoulder. Judge for yourself.

Steve Lacasse

Okosh, You are just sick and you show your mental sickness on whatever Forum you are , never did I read anything from you with value and quality. The names you give others are just the reflection of yourself.

I can never work out how to trackback
Help!

http://tdinoz-td.blogspot.com/2008/05/gods-action-plan-yeah-right-biblical.html#links

you people are seriously disturbed. grow up already.

What i have read in here about the b7 or whatever, I didn’t see anything that said they had to pay to get in. If someone want to give money to someone else, who cares what they do with their money, its theirs. do you think its yours? I send birthday, graduation gifts, so does that mean I am scamming my family. I sent out a gift. and by reading the post, thats all they are doing.
I would be so upset, if someone was trying to tell me what i can and cannot do with my money.
if its a scam, you’ve made your point. and if its not a scam, then someone in that group needs to sue all of you, for defimation of character. one other thing, if you are not and never have been, a member then who do you know, that has given you all the info. Maybe they were not understanding it fully. all i am saying, is before you go hopping on that bull, you better have everything 100% correct. Cause if not, it can bite you in the ass. Cause if you are putting up false information,
the gov. doesn’t take kindly to that either.

If this is a scam, Its the best scam ever, I made new friends and it sends me gifts. If I never received anything else I would still be satisfied. So if you have not participated in this activity how can you call it a scam when you do not know all the facts. The Fact is you are making an assumption to something you know nothing about. If you fully participate you will be spiritually uplifted just like the rest of us. If he(God) is withus who can be against us. So no matter what you do. There is no stopping us. I will continue to pray for your spiritual healing.

You do all seem to be a tad worked up over this blog article.
I could muse on why that. I wouldn’t be shocked to find out that you are all the same person (or couple) leaving these comments. MPD maybe…

Gifting programs are an illegal money making pyramid scheme. “Rev Rick” is in Massachusetts. Here is a link from a similar case http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=cagopressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Cago&b=pressrelease&f=2007_10_24_dorchester_lottery&csid=Cago. The “opportunity” names may be different and they list variations on the money making scheme, but it is a gifting program.

When money is transfered to someone, be it an individual or a company, with the expectation of earning more than was sent, then it is an investment. When that entity operates in the US and is not registered with the SEC, then it is illegal. When many people participate in transferring money with the expectation of earning more than was sent, but the reality is that the money goes to a few, then it is an illegal money making scheme, also called a pyramid or ponzi scheme.

Gifting programs are illegal money making schemes. Let me take this scam as an example. (By the way, notice that rounds and spins are used in the actual explanation and are words of games/chance.) You gift $37 in round one with the hopes of being picked as a winner. You do not gift to a needy family, instead you gift to another participant, whom you do not know whether they are needy or not. You are also instructed on exactly how much to “give”, instead of choosing how much you want to give. Oops! You didn’t get picked, so you “gift” another $37 and then another and so on through 7 rounds. If you do happen to win and you receive more than $37, then you move up and you are required to “gift” a larger amount in order to stay as a participant. You’re running around giving money to each other. In order for some to get back more than they put in, then many more have to lose. Instead of giving to needy families, like you claim, you’re actually taking money from needy families. Only the program (game) participants can receive in this set up. IF all participants are just giving without any expectations, then why are you sending money to each other? How do you know which participants are “needy?” If some members are needy, are they selected to receive, rather than being put into the random pool? Why not take the money and give it to an organization or send it directly to a family in your community that really needs it?

The example of sending a monetary gift to a family member or close friend is a false one. When you truly give a gift, you do not expect anything in return. You give it to celebrate something, because you’re thinking of them or because they need it.

Rev Rick’s own letter is not about the joy of giving, instead it lays out how you can win money. It fails to mention all of the people who lose.

Gifting programs and other illegal money making schemes are rampant on the internet. You will see thousands of them. Just because they exist does not make them legal. They are ALL illegal.

I chose this one as a deplorable example of an illegal scheme, because the scam is being done in the name of God. Quoting scripture does not make it right or legal. Picking one verse out of context does not allow for understanding of that verse. My understanding of Luke 6:38 comes from Jesus’s complete teaching. If you believe in God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, live according to God’s laws, live according to God’s will, which includes giving freely, then God will reward you with abundance. Your free will must be in alliance with God’s will. It does not, nor will it ever, mean that you give with the expectation of receiving. That is a false interpretation. Read all of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, instead of pulling one verse out of context and applying your own meaning to it. The rest of the text explains the meaning. I only mention this, because I do not want to give non-Christians the impression that Jesus wants anyone to be greedy. If your interpretation is accurate, than why aren’t gifting programs part of churches?

I have said nothing libelous or slanderous. The only term that I used for the administrator of this scam is “scammer.” A scammer is one that scams, whether it is intentional or not. “In law, defamation (also called vilification, slander, and libel) is the communication of a statement that makes a false claim, expressively stated or implied to be factual, that may give an individual, business, product, group, government or nation a negative image. Slander refers to a malicious, false, and defamatory statement or report, while libel refers to any other form of communication such as written words or images.” In order for this article and my comments to constitute libel, they would have to be false.

I didn’t include sources of what makes this a scam at first, because my assumption was that it was obvious. However, the article at http://www.crimes-of-persuasion.com/Crimes/InPerson/MajorPerson/pyramid_clubs.htm lists many sources from many states.

What makes this mail fraud is that the “gifts” are being sent through the US Mail. I called it a chain letter, because it is one with a few variations. People are more familiar with the illegality of chain letters, than they are with gifting programs.

I’m very curious as to why I’ve been stating the reasons and the signs that this is a scam, yet what I’ve been getting back are attacks on me personally. Instead of attacking me, show me where it says that this is not illegal, please.

By the way, you’ll notice that I’m not defending myself other than the reasons why I know this is a scam. I see no reason to do that. Anything personal is beside the topic of this article. That being said, Leo, you are welcome to email me with all the information and I will be happy to publish it. Legal opportunities do not have to hide what they are doing. For example, when I make an investment with a legal opportunity, I can get full disclosure in a prospectus.

Why do I report on how to spot a scam, like this one? Because, I care about people losing their hard earned money to scammers. I’ve read thousands of stories about people losing money that they really needed and/or had hopes/dreams for the money they would have “won.” The stories touch my heart and make me cry. It is those stories that prompted me to start issuing scam warnings.

- Sharon

Sharon,

You’re obviously NOT in tune with this program. You’re reading cases of “gifting program” scams on the Internet and automatically associating them with the B7. You pick and choose the facts you wish that benefit your perception of the B7, without first ASKING appropriate questions. Since you have no thorough knowledge of the activity, you make assumptions, and disguise them as facts. Any literate person can see that. Re-read your posts. There are no words such as “allegedly”, which would expunge you from any defamation, slander, and/or libel cases that could be brought against you.
You of all people should know how to pick and choose your words carefully. Do not make a big mistake by submitting false information, especially if you plan to involve certain authorities. It could most certainly come back to haunt you. Just as you know our domain, so we know yours. Please be careful and don’t do anything rash.
Blessings,

Marty Oberman
State Director
Admin volunteer
Biblical Seven Ministries

OK, let me see if I can reply to a bit of this nonsense.

First of all in our activity there are Steps, not rounds. On Step 1 you do send a GIFT of $37 to a recipient. Then if everyone gifts as they promised to do when they joined the activity, you receive 3 GIFTS of $37 and you move onto the next Step. Yes the Steps have ever increasing amounts required to be sent but none of that money is coming out our pockets. It is coming out of the gifts we receive. And if we don’t receive any gifts, then we don’t send anything else out. Thankfully this activity is full of Christian folks who understand what it is to keep your word and commitments.

Second we do have additional entries that are produced by the spins or cycles and we will have to send out an initial GIFT of $37 on those entries, but we can choose to stop accepting entries after we have a total of 4 entries. That is simply a way of ensuring that the activity does continue and EVERYONE gets blessed.

Third, we send the GIFTS with no expectation of return. That is clearly stated in the gifting statements that we include with the GIFTS that we send out. And we all do fully believe that statement. We do NOT EXPECT anything in return. Hoping, wanting and praying for gifts to be sent to us in time is not the same as EXPECTING them to be sent.

Fourth and most important, the true blessings of this activity are not financial and never will be for me. That is not to say that I am or ever have been financially secure. But the amount of money I have sent as GIFTS to my new friends pales in comparison to the invaluable friendships I have made in this activity. The fellowship and community spirit I feel every time we have a conference call, or visit in the chat room or via phone or e-mail or even in person is worth more to me than any amount of money ever could.

I will pray that God will open your eyes to see what you are doing to good, honest, Christian folks and that you will cease and desist all these fruitless efforts.

Jenni Hale
Biblical Seven Activity Member and Volunteer
Assistant Chat Room and Forum Moderator

Making new friends is wonderful. So, why is the group a money group, rather than a prayer or other type of group? Why are people required to spend money (the amount is immaterial) in order to remain a member of the group?

How in the world do you think that given X amount of dollars in pool will magically turn into more money for EVERYONE in the pool? Money does not magically multiply.

By the way, the word “round” was used in your comment above to describe what happens. Calling it a round or a step, just like calling it a gift or a payment or investment, doesn’t matter. It is what it is no matter what name is tagged to it. It is an exchange of money with the expectation/hope/chance/wish (see how many words apply?) to receive more than you put in. Some win and in order for those to win, many more must lose. It is an illegal game/lottery/chain letter/pyramid/ponzi (hmmm… many more words) money making scheme. Whatever name you call it, it is against the law to protect those that lose.

- Sharon

P.S. I dare anyone to file suit against me for exposing this crime. I would love for the program to be scrutinized by a court of law. It would be wonderful to report the results so that others won’t be taken in by this or similar scams.

if everyone claims that they are christians in this. whether it be sharon or those in the biblical seven, then how and why are you all fighting, I thought that Christians were to be loving and forgiving. I do not see or hear any of that. which then makes me wonder do I even want to be one.
how sad it is for all, that all of you are attacking each other, in the name of God, May God Forgive all of you.

GE,

I agree with you. I am not fighting against others. I am only fighting against this scam. It is not the people involved; instead it is this one action. I really did not intend for this to turn into a religious debate. I had hoped that comments would be limited to discussion concerning scams, but we do not censor comments.

Please do not judge Christianity by the comments that attack another in this stream. Instead, please attend church and read the bible to learn what Christianity is about.

I apologize if any of my comments appeared as if they were a personal attack on anyone. However, the one that originated the scam is called a scammer, which is not a judgment on who they are or what other activities that they may or may not do. I believe that all other participants are victims, which is not a judgment on their beliefs, intelligence or any other activities.

To everyone else: It would be nice if we heeded GE’s comments.

Thanks,
Sharon

I didn’t see personal attacks from the author, all I got was more education on this type of scam Thanks.

Can we all just forgive each other and drop this whole discussion? This is not how we should be acting. Just let everyone decide for themselves if they want to participate.

As always, don’t take the action of a few and try to determine that is how it is for all. Don’t be mislead either with the concept that being a Christian means rolling over and playing dead. My Lord said that I would be in a battle until He came again. I don’t believe He meant for us to fight this battle with our hands tied behind our backs. But we are also supposed to have the character of a Christian and not be backbiting and attacking someone for what they believe to be true. Fight the belief, not the person and you can not do that by a personal attack on them. Show them your beliefs and why you have them and let them decide for themselves. Many, many men and women have died for this freedom of being able to speak out about what they believe. No one has the right to take it away.

@ GE..

Not all here have claimed to be Christians….
I am NOT a Christian nor did I ever claim to be one..

No TRUE believer of ANY religion could ever condone the use of G-d’s name in the pursuit of financial gain…

This Biblical Seven cult and their activities give ALL religions a bad name…

If anyone wants to continue this discussion then please sign up to the forum and post in this thread…

http://nobsnetwork.net/no-bullshit-investment/2991-biblical-seven-activity-scam.html

Ladies and Gentlemans,
What are all the fuse here. Gifting the way it is done at the BS site does nowhere ask or force to gift anyone so your comment Sharon is wrong and I am well aware that as the one here was saying so you could be in for legal trouble. If someone asks me to gift and I do gift then this is a private action as long as there is no force behind it to make you pay. Nothing wrong with that! To send money through mail should not be done for any purpose or reason.
By the way who has the right to say if a person is needy or not! Giving a private gift I can give to anyone I want.
Who stays it that God did not want us to be rich? God is the whole Universe and beyond it, God is pure abundance available for everyone. It is the Satanics who are saying to be poor is a blessing. In which way does Biblical 7 damaged the religions. There own believers of the religions and there self claimed leaders doing the damage by themselves, How can I claim I am follow the teachings of Brother Jesus, while on the same hand I have him on my fighterjet and kill People? Brother Jesus does not like that action.
How can I claim I am follow the teachings of Brother Mohammed, when in the same time I tortur, I bomb, and Rape People of all rights? The Koran in his contex is a perfect schientific work which has proven during the first 500 years of its existence to be correct and great Construction and economical changes as well have taken place. Frankly where does any of the religions of today follow the spirit of God? A clear message in all religions that we are children of God, we have his spirit and we have as well the freedom to decide to do the right thing or the wrong thing, and to be in that position has lead to it that we are of today living on the brinks of Chaos and anarchie, the problems we are facing where not made in and by the wish of God, but made by the Wish of the Devil!
Our actions against each other, our society and the planet has nothing to do with the wishes of God.

Leslie, that was an AWESOME response! Thank you for the chuckle.

Jenni Hale
The Biblical Seven Activity Member and Volunteer
Assistant Chat Room and Forum Moderator

Sharon, there is no “pool” that the money goes into, and no selection process for a “winner”. The money goes directly to each member through the mailing of a GIFT, not winnings or jackpots or anything else.

Please at least get your FACTS straight before you embarrass yourself any further.

Jenni Hale
Biblical Seven Activity Member and Volunteer
Assistant Chat Room and Forum Moderator

One thing I have learned over the years is to not bother trying to reason with pyramid participants or religious fanatics. It appears that Sharon has managed to stir up a hornet’s nest containing both.

I have covered scams and consumer fraud issues extensively for the past eight years and written two books on the topic.

It is my qualified opinion that this particular operation has all the characteristics of an illegal pyramid scheme.

All pyramids rely on a never-ending supply of gullible people to feed the greed of the recipients. Most structures require seven or eight losers for each winner. So, no matter how many eventual winners rake in some cash there will always be that astronomical number at the bottom of the pyramid who lose out when it implodes, is shut down by authorities, or fizzles out.

The only way this one can continue ad infinitum without such a meltdown is if they figure a way to enroll the dearly departed who had the foresight to take cash to heaven.

The first pyramid actually started in Hell but, when even they ran out of players, they started enrolling the mortal souls they hope to one day possess.

God’s work. I think not.

A couple more links related to church related pyramids and gifting scams.

http://www.crimes-of-persuasion.com/Crimes/Delivered/pyramids.htm

http://www.crimes-of-persuasion.com/Crimes/InPerson/MajorPerson/gifting_overseas.htm

http://www.crimes-of-persuasion.com/Crimes/InPerson/MajorPerson/affinity.htm

By the way, no government agency or state’s attorney will investigate and then endorse any business, program or process. They only come in to try to clean up the mess long after it is far too late. The lambs will already have been slaughtered and the wolf will have moved on to greener pastures.

Instead of sheep’s clothing, I see that this particular wolf happens to prefer a clown suit.

I used the term “pool” because Rev Rick used the term in his description letter. He says “Gifter Pool” and “Receiver Pool”. He also says that with each “spin” the receivers are selected randomly. That is a game with winners and losers.

According to the Massachusetts Lottery Commission church and other charitable organizations are allowed to hold bingo games, casino nights, etc. because the proceeds go to a charity. They are exempt. However, each one must registered locally and must remain local. The MA Lottery Commission is looking into this scam and will report their findings to the Massachusetts Attorney General office. The employee I spoke to told me that this is illegal. She also pointed me to the exact laws in Massachusetts, MGL chapter 10, section 22-40 and 961 CMR 2.00-4.00. MGL is the Massachusetts Government Law and CMR is the Code of Massachusetts Regulations.

I’ve been doing my best to answer the questions that pertain to this topic. The one question that I don’t quite understand is why I don’t ask pertinent questions. I’ve asked many questions, but I don’t see very many answers to my questions.

Les, thank you for your considerable work! Your articles are extremely informative and I’m glad I found your site. Thank you for your comments and providing the relevant articles.

By the way, there is a picture of Rev Rick online at http://www.payasos.com/master.htm. Scroll down to WANDERING WILLIE the clown from:Greenfield, MA) Phone: (413)-774-2875. (The phone number is identical to the domain contact phone number. Thanks to Les for finding this information.)

Thanks,
Sharon

Sharon,

If you had heeded GE’s comments before you began this vicious and un-Christian attack on the Biblical Seven Ministries, you would not be subjected to the current repercussions of your accusations from not only the members of the B7, but, as it seems, quite a few followers of your “blog” (read: opinion).
Why would that be? Is it because the more intelligent followers such as Fred don’t swallow what you’re feeding them? I’m sure it’s a very satisfactory feeling to know someone is jumping on the “Sharon” bandwagon and taking your accusations a step further. However, beware…YOU are ultimately responsible for the actions taken by the more, er…”fervent” members of your cadre in this forum, whether it be legally or socially.
You quote that you are “fighting” against a “scam”…I find that more and more difficult to believe the more I read your posts here. Like I said before, if you were conducting a TRUE “scam-busting” venture, you would gather all the information necessary, not just the “facts” you wish to pick and choose, and present your case in a fair and unbiased manner. You have chosen not to do so, so I really can’t give your effort any amount of credibility. I’m VERY certain the authorities who you and your cohorts have supposedly notified will not do so, either. You’re basically wasting your time. I have personal connections with the FBI, NSA, and the U.S. Secret Service. I have taken the time to show these folks the Biblical Seven website, forum, and chatroom links. All three of my connections assured me there was absolutely NO basis whatsoever for the type of accusations you allege. I also provided them with your website as well as domain information.
My dear Sharon, we are not to be trifled with. I have said to you time and time again…be careful. You don’t seem to wish to respond to ANY of my posts. That tells me you HAVE no answer to my challenges. Oh, and by the way, did you complete your homework assignment I gave you? Hmmm…I suppose it’s easier to hide behind a monitor screen than to do the Christian thing. You DO call yourself a Christian, right? Or are you just hiding behind the Bible? Remember one thing…religion is man-made, while spirituality is God-given. Food for thought.

Marty Oberman
State director
Admin volunteer
The Biblical Seven Ministries

My dear Mr. Henderson,

With all your eloquent ramblings, I’m afraid you’ve left out one very important issue…and that is, what ACTUALLY happens in the Biblical Seven. Continue to use your college education (and you seem to be quite educated), but you only need to attend kindergarten to learn how to have an open mind. By the way, I’ve never heard of you nor read any of your books. Thanks for saving me the money I would have wasted on them otherwise. I wonder if you and “Sharon” are in fact the same person.
Oh, by the way, Les Henderson has a rather interesting past: if you Google “Les Henderson”, you’ll find some VERY interesting FACTS about Mr. Henderson/Klaas Devries/MikeFlowTech…yeah, same person.
Check out this site to find out more about our resident “expert”: www.les-henderson.com

Blessings,

Marty Oberman
State director
Admin volunteer
The Biblical Seven Ministries

Yes Marty, I am actually Sharon as well as those other characters that other disgruntled scammers have set me up to be on their smear sites.

In fact, I might also be several of those officials that you know from the FBI, NSA and the Secret Service. I am all knowing and all seeing, in all places at all times.

What I see right now is that you are convinced of the virtue of your actions. I would applaud your conviction but for the fact that many scammers I have dealt with over the years have hidden behind the cloth of righteousness, oblivious to the suffering of their victims, intentional or otherwise.

So carry on your merry way, head held high, vain glorious. Be sure of your actions though, for the monetary losses that will be felt by your followers will pale in comparison to their loss of faith in their brethren should I be proven right in the end.

Open-minded kindergarten children often get lured away by sexual predators pretending to have lost a puppy.

As long as there is misguided faith in one’s fellow man there will be victims of fraud. If only you were as supportive of your faith and charity as you are your financial schemes I suspect you could do no end of good deeds in the valley of many falls.

I agree with you that the authorities will likely fail to act against your operation, not because what you are doing is legal or sanctioned, but because they just don’t have the resources or will-power.

You may also wish to know that I have trifled with some of the richest, largest and most powerful criminal fraud organizations over the years and emerged largely unscathed. Lou Pearlman played the threat game and just this week received a sentence of twenty-five years in Federal prison for a $500 million fraud scheme that ran for twenty years.

You are but amateurs in the game you play, so it currently holds no real interest to me. Escalate my desire to defend Sharon or myself and you may be seeing more of my ramblings, this time in the Recorder.

Out of respect for Rev Rick and his request of all Biblical Seven Activity members, this will be my last post to this site.

I know that what we are doing is legal and is a blessing to everyone involved in it. I have no reason to continue defending it to the likes of Sharon, Okosh or anyone else on this blog.

While I am being blessed and fellowshipping with my fellow participants, I will also be praying for the rest of you as I do for everyone on this planet daily.

Jenni Hale
Biblical Seven Member and Volunteer
Assistant chat Room and Forum Moderator

I just tried to absorb all of these attacks and accusations over half an hour and came to a conclusion.

Nope I’m not a Christian, but I do not condone acts upon people who blames or misuses their religion for their own gain and profit.

Whatever Biblical Seven does, is rightfully none of our business. Again, what Sharon does is a matter of fact, a service to people. If Biblical Seven has nothing to hide, does it matter that this is reported to authorities for stringent checks on the operation?

What’s wrong with that?

Through similiar experiences gained for the past 5 years for scams, we can, and rest assure, we’re pretty intuitive when it comes to scams. Ask people around who hung out with us pretty much often. Though we’re burnt not knowing we’re being scammed, we picked up from there, learn and share with people who’re clueless about online scams.

Again if Biblical Seven has nothing to hide, Sharon didn’t do anything wrong either. If the authorities can declare Biblical Seven isn’t doing anything wrong and does a public statement.

Congratulations.

Else stop firing and bickering. It’s ashame I see some quotes and scorning from people who believe in the same God, and to some instance, seemingly using God to criticize someone.

Period.

Make no mistake.

They have use God’s NAME in VAIN.

God will punish them in no time.

They will get their just rewards soon.

I will not stand 10 feet from them lest thunder strikes on them.

LOL………….

Once again you have people that talk of something they no nothing about but an accusation of a ridiculous scam. I have reviewed all of the Biblical Seven’s program and gifting society and that is a precious thing that they are doing. If any one person can tell me or anyone that they know of people not receiving their gifts or the gifting is being sent to anyone but the members, then speak now or forever hold your peace. I applaud the founders of Biblical Seven and would like to be a part of your organiztion.

Joe Porter

Yet another Cristian scammer…
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/0527fraud0527.html

hi! I want to be a member and send gifts to anyone too. Please show me how to become a member. email me mario2mas@gmail.com. Im waiting.

The willingness to give a gift to a stranger is usually considered a random act of kindness. I choose to give gifts to people on the street that are homeless or raising money for their soccer team, political campaigns, friends whose children have had birthdays or graduated, etc. I truly believe that is why I get blessed so abundantly in my times of need. It’s funny that it never comes from the person to whom I’ve given. God works in mysterious ways. If giving and receiving is a scam, I’ve been scammed my whole life and I really don’t mind. For all of you who think the Biblical 7 is a scam, I challenge you to give random gifts to total strangers and find out how good it feels to give.

Wishing you MANY Blessings,

Sharron
Blessed 24:7

There have been many scams wrapped in beautiful words. Having studied communications management I can say that it takes a lot more than sweet words to prove the innocense of a cause.

I am not a member of the Biblical 7 activity - however - I am watching my husband and his uncle as they attempt to plod their way through it. These are my observations:

My husband was contacted by one person through email, who told him he was a replacement for somebody else who had decided not to do the B7 activity. He sent out his $37, figuring he could easily throw away at least that much money at Wal-Mart. That was approximately one to two months ago.

Since that time, he has been told the computers had gone down and been “fixed” again. He was given a generated list of receivers and givers and promptly contacted everybody. The ones who responded back to him had “never heard of him” and told him he was not on their list - but might be on another (future)generated list.

I have PERSONALLY contacted our state’s (MN) Department of Commerce and was informed by them that this type of activity is indeed illegal! They also referred me to the US Postal Inspection services where I was told that regardless of the fact that this activity is perpetrated through “personal contacts” and e-mail - it is still an ILLLEGAL activity.

I have not called the IRS yet, but if my husband continues to pursue this activity, I will.

The fact that they use God’s name and twist scriptures to manipulate people is utterly outrageous to me!! I can only pray for my husband that he will be given the mind of Christ and the wisdom of God in any future endeavors.

There IS such a thing as biblical prosperity - but it involves much more than just money. It is PEACE of mind and joy in knowing your Saviour and the God who created you.

Judge a person (or activity) by its fruit. This activity has brought NOTHING to our home but false hopes, frustration and turmoil!!

I strongly encourage ANYONE who is considering it to back off immediately!!

Switch your brain on Freddie….

Freddie,

They actually tell you that they are a scam. In one paragraph they say, “No, this is not a pyramid. A pyramid is associated with levels or positions.” A little farther down on the page they say, “You can join at any level. $500, $1500, $3500, $5000, or $10,000. You can also upgrade to a higher level at anytime after you join.”

Make no mistake about it. They have levels/positions and if you are joining near the collapse of the program, you will lose money. Pyramids need a constantly growing base of new members to join. As the base grows, the number of prospects dwindle until the vast majority have lost their money to those that got in before them.

They are not selling anything, nor are they providing a service outside of just marketing the program to more and more people wanting to make money for doing/contributing virtually nothing. They are illegal.

- Sharon

So I hear that the B7A has just re-started. Looks like everyone that was in it so far can kiss their cash goodbye. It’s too bad cause those priority and express mail fees get quite expensive. When will people close their eyes and look at the big picture. I could’ve named this program the Crazy Seven and ran it myself, but I’m not a criminal. It’s not too long b4 the feds come in. Anyone who was in this program should get out NOW! Final warning folks. All these gifting programs crash and this one’s not to far away.

HA HA HA HA Its Totally legit And you fools who think different are suckers I already have made money HA HA HA You Ignorant fools

I am an actrive particapant in the B-7 activity. I am a christian!!! Sharon, You are absolutly correct to indicate that bible verses can be taken out of context very easily. I teach a bible class and that very thing is one of my “pet peives”. The luke 6-38 verse, however is clear and complete statment. You could even call it a “law”. When you go back a few verses you see that the same law is aplicable in matters of “JUDGEMENT” Your view of the bible seems to be that once we are perfectly in the will of God and following all his commandments and being perfect little christians, then he will bless us with abundance! WRONG!! Granted, somthing like that was true in the “old testament” when people were living under the “law” of God. They had to have the ten commandments (and 613 others) and try to obtain perfection that way. THEY DIDN’T HAVE JESUS!! And thank God we do and that we are living under his “grace” in the “new testament” We no longer have to “be” perfect, we are “made” perfect when we except JESUS as lord and savior in our lives. Then God can see us as perfect because he looks at us through the screen of his only begotten son. No, excepting Christ doesn’t mean we “can” get away with being bad, it means we “want” to be good!!! That being said, let it be known on this “blogasphere” (is that what these comment listings are called) that the biblical seven activity is a ministry. IT BLESSES AND ATEMPTS TO PEOPLE In the mist of much prayer about my personal finances I found this activity and I am still glad I did. I do not believe it is a scam because I am convinced that no one in the admin is trying to sacm me. I am also convinced that if it last long enough, it is a ministry that will bless a lot of good christian folks and will, no doubt, bring people to Christ! 1

Very odd how everyone posting negatively was never involved with the activity. Can anyone post a negative comment that was in the activity???? No? How odd!!! So all these people getting “scammed”, over 7000 according to sharon and not one has posted on either of the forums/blogs that she bashes the activity. Seems very odd sharon that you are “standing up” for people that don’t want you to and never asked you to. Get a life! Go outside and make a real friend!

Funny… because I watched my friends pay excessive shipping fees for their first $37 gifts just to have the program stop and then re-start. This program is a real waste of time and money. I’d rather give to my church where I can see what my ‘gift’ is doing.

Nihil curo de ista tua stulta superstitione

For anyone who still believes this activity is legal:

On 7/12/08 members received an email which states that the USPS is no longer to be used as a carrier for mailing “gifts.”

Here is a small portion of that email:

“A participant in our activity was served a Cease and Desist Order yesterday in the late afternoon to refrain from using the USPS for mailing her gifts as the USPS has deemed our activity what they call “The Biblical Seven Steps” as a lottery. She was threatened with 2 years jail time if she did not sign this order and the Postal Inspectors had 2 law enforcement officers with them prepared to take her immediately to jail if she did not comply with and sign the order. She did sign under threat to avoid immediately going to jail only because of the financial inability to seek legal counsel.

Through this process it was also gleaned that these same Postal Inspectors and their Judicial Officers from the Texas Judicial Office are preparing charges against me as Pastor of The Biblical Seven Activity with charges of running an illegal lottery and a pyramid scheme to defraud the public in addition to many other charges.”

Today’s email announces that the “Rev” Rick Atwell is stepping down as the activities “spiritual leader” and volunteer. Here is another portion of that email:

“Effective immediately, common carriers ie, Fedex, DHL, and UPS must not be used for the delivery of your blessings in this activity.”

To the “Rev” I pray that you would find a good, bible based church and get some grounding in your faith - if that’s what it really is - and not use it as a means of manipulation and control of others. I have read your emails to your members and they often border on verbally abusive. (I am NOT one of your members - I called this what it was from the very beginning - an elaborate version of the illegal chain letter) Your anger and condescention is very evident and a poor witness of the truth of the bible. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ would bring you to HIS truth and grant to you the GIFT of repentance!!

Interesting though I see the website is still up

A comment from those who claimed that this scam is “legal” would be welcome about now….
Won’t hold my breath waiting…LOL..

FTC Consumer Alert

The Gifting Club “Gotcha”
When is a gift not a gift? When it’s a “gotcha.”

In a scam spreading throughout the mid-Atlantic states and the Pacific Northwest, people pay to join a “gifting club,” billed in promotional materials as a private club with members eager to help new friends — often from within their own neighborhood or church group.

In reality, the clubs are illegal pyramid schemes. New club members give cash “gifts” to the highest-ranking club members, with titles such as “captains.” And they’re promised that if they get additional members to join the club, they, too, will rise to become captains and receive money – far more than they initially paid to join the club — from newer club “friends.”

The problem is that, like most pyramid schemes, illegal gifting clubs must continually recruit ever-increasing numbers of members to survive. When the clubs don’t attract enough new members, they collapse. Most members who paid to join the clubs never receive the financial “gifts” they expected, and lose everything they paid to join the club.
Don’t Get on the Receiving End of a Gifting Club “Gotcha”

Promises of quick, easy money can be a powerful lure – especially when it comes with the additional benefit of new friendships.

If you’re approached about joining a club but you aren’t sure if it’s an illegal gifting club, the Federal Trade Commission reminds you to:

* Consider that a legitimate gift has no strings attached and is not an “investment.”
* Avoid being misled into thinking a gifting club is legitimate because the ads say that members consider their payments a gift and expect nothing in return. This is an attempt to make an illegal transaction look legal.
* Be wary of success stories or testimonials of tremendous payoffs. Very few members of illegal gifting clubs or pyramid schemes ever receive any money.
* Take your time. Don’t buckle under to a high-pressure sales pitch that requires you to join immediately or risk losing out on the opportunity. Remember, solid opportunities – and solid friendships – aren’t formed through nerve-wracking tactics.

To File a Complaint

If you’ve been victimized by a gifting club promoter, contact your local consumer protection agency, state attorney general and Better Business Bureau.

The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/giftalrt.shtm

The FTC (Federal Trade Commission) have a handy secure online complaint form available at: https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/

All submissions are privacy protected and all the relevant information regarding names, addresses, phone numbers etc of Biblical Seven is available in this thread

well i was a participant with the biblical seven and I was on my 5th step receiving gifts from everywhere in the mail(CASH)!!!! If it’s such a scam then why was it working for me my sister my momma my boyfriend his friend and everybody else??? but thanks to a-holes such as yourself the site is down….I am a mother with 4 kids who was in need very badly of a job and finances but thanks to the B7 my problems are over…and thanks to the a-hole who got the site taken down for people that were receiving blessings in the mail…..you know it feels very good when a total stranger who becomes your friend see that you want to be in the activity but don’t have 37 dollars to get in it and pays it for you so that you can start your journey into financial freedom and it also feels good when you can go to your mailbox or p.o. box and its more money than bills……but special thanks to the moron that messed it all up….the moron(s) on this particular site…By the way I was A NEEDY PERSON but the B7 helped me and you screwed it all up…

people make me sick ASSUMING THINGS WHEN THEY REALLY DON’T KNOW THE FACTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’M A LIVING WITNESS THAT THE B7 HAS WORKED FOR ME AND MY FAMILY…IT’S IRONIC THAT ONE OF MY FRIENDS LIVED A COUPLE BLOCKS FROM ME SO WE MET UP WITH OUR GIFTS…NOW IT GETS NO REALER THAN THAT

Thank you Kane25 for the GREAT news that this scams website is off-line….

This is great news and proves that there IS a G-d in the world!!!!

B 7 the dumbest most ignorant people were here U receive and gift But all the Holy rolling ignorant broke fools made there own rules asked to many stupid question and some old dumb broad was receiving mail in other peoples name SHE RUINED THE PROGRAM YOU STUPID IGNORANT OLD LADY and were all praying damn I know people who lost 3 or 4hundred dollars because the had to keep starting over a ll these reveren knuckle heads are scams they think god will alow them to prevail there all full of shit The B 7 is gone good

Ah, good. I’d taken some action against B7 months ago, but only managed to terminate some forums and alert law enforcement, but was never certain if they’d listened.

Here a few links to legal precedents, for the gifting nuts who didn’t see the damage coming, to help them understand the WHY of B-7’s illegality.

“Gift” status in the eyes of the law is neutralized when there is a clear profit motive or lack of donative intent. Read http://www.vid.uscourts.gov/territorial/06sc0016.pdf for why your “gifting statements” are worthless in court, and read post #87 in the thread http://www.scam.com/showthread.php?t=40980&page=3 regarding profit motive and gifting.

Rev. Rick is hardly the first religious leader to get burned in such schemes in Texas. Read http://bulk.resource.org/courts.gov/states/Tex.App.14/83666.html and read the case of another such man who fought tooth and nail, only to go to Hell because, in the end, he truly was in the wrong.

Despite the “biblical” name and trappings, it wasn’t Christian. Read PianoLady’s surprisingly eloquent essay about another, falsely-Christian gifting program and how it failed to even come close to standards. http://www.moneymakergroup.com/lofiversion/index.php/t197138.html

Here’s a BBC report about a related scheme that wrecked havoc in the UK, http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/audio_video/programmes/inside_money/transcripts/pyramid.txt , and the legal response to that damage a few years later, http://www.opsi.gov.uk/Acts/acts2005/ukpga_20050019_en_4#pt3-pb3-l1g43 .
As you can see, England’s reaction was such that merely inviting someone to a gifting program can result in the inviter being imprisoned for nearly a year.

Thanks for this - we will be adding this to the Cash Gifting Fraud Alerts of our site section shortly.

Sorry for the double post - just forgot to add that we appreciate any “tips”, links, or user submitted content regarding specific cash gifting scams like this, whether it is in regard to a specific person, organization, or technique.

Cash Gifting Watchdog is the name of the site.

What does Paul want to make known to these believers?  Simply . the Gospel. I used to think that the Gospel was this one time event…it saved me around 5th grade, and I no longer need it, that it belonged on the timeline of events in my life, alone with basketball games and girlfriends.  That I need to get into deeper, heavier things.  While in a way – yes, that is true .  However, we cannot forget or move from the Gospel, the central message of the Bible.  Paul clearly wants to teach the Gospel.  And he illustrates the necessity for the presence of the Gospel, they heard it (I preached to you), they got saved (you received), they are Christians (stand), their eternal destiny is secure (saved).   He shows how dependent our lives are on the Gospel.

In troubled times I believe all kinds of strange actions are happen to try to make a living out of it, that seems to be one of them.
Pedro

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