'Faith-Healing' Brothers Charged in Scam

DataPacRat · 30th May 2007, 07:13 PM

Via hosted . ap . org /dynamic/stories/O/ ODD_FAITH_HEALER_SCAM?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=HOME&TEMP LATE=DEFAULT

May 30, 8:04 PM EDT
'Faith-Healing' Brothers Charged in Scam

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- Two brothers claiming to be faith healers were charged with grand theft for allegedly convincing clients they were cursed and would die unless they paid for expensive cleansing rituals, authorities said.

Carlos Salazar, 34, and John Salazar, 23, who called himself "Master Alexander," are accused of scamming hundreds of clients through their San Jose business, which they advertised exclusively through Spanish-language newspapers and radio stations.

The pair wore robes and performed sleight-of-hand illusions - such as turning water into a red substance they pretended was blood - to fool customers into believing they were possessed, said San Jose Police detective Manuel Jurado.

They then allegedly instructed clients to pay for cleansings to avoid further consequences, including death. Police began their investigation in August, after receiving reports that a woman had paid John Salazar $10,000 to remove a curse from her infant daughter.

The Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office has charged the brothers with five counts of grand theft and one count of attempted grand theft.

Carlos Salazar was arrested last month after returning to the U.S. on a flight from Colombia. John Salazar remains at large and may be working as a faith healer in the San Francisco Bay area, police said.

PastBrowneFan · 30th May 2007, 07:20 PM

Just another example of scam artists from the San Jose/Campbell area.

Zep · 31st May 2007, 01:06 AM

Isn't this PRECISELY the same game as Benny Hinn?

Questioninggeller · 31st May 2007, 09:00 AM

Quote:

'Faith-healing' brothers charged in scam
May 30, 2007

SAN JOSE, Calif. --Two brothers claiming to be faith healers were charged with grand theft for allegedly convincing clients they were cursed and would die unless they paid for expensive cleansing rituals, authorities said.
...

Full: Source

Related to this, the "money washing" scam is one of the oldest. A person collects "cursed" money (cash, not a check) and appears to burn it thereby ridding the money of the demons. Meanwhile the money is slipped away and the only thing that is really burned is worthless paper.

One of Randi's old TV specials explained this. If anyone is interested, its a 2-hour A&E Special hosted by Randi called "Scams, Schemes & Scoundrels." Here is the Amazon.com listing.

30th May 2007, 07:13 PM	#1
DataPacRat New Blood Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 11	'Faith-Healing' Brothers Charged in Scam Via hosted . ap . org /dynamic/stories/O/ ODD_FAITH_HEALER_SCAM?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=HOME&TEMP LATE=DEFAULT May 30, 8:04 PM EDT 'Faith-Healing' Brothers Charged in Scam SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -- Two brothers claiming to be faith healers were charged with grand theft for allegedly convincing clients they were cursed and would die unless they paid for expensive cleansing rituals, authorities said. Carlos Salazar, 34, and John Salazar, 23, who called himself "Master Alexander," are accused of scamming hundreds of clients through their San Jose business, which they advertised exclusively through Spanish-language newspapers and radio stations. The pair wore robes and performed sleight-of-hand illusions - such as turning water into a red substance they pretended was blood - to fool customers into believing they were possessed, said San Jose Police detective Manuel Jurado. They then allegedly instructed clients to pay for cleansings to avoid further consequences, including death. Police began their investigation in August, after receiving reports that a woman had paid John Salazar $10,000 to remove a curse from her infant daughter. The Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office has charged the brothers with five counts of grand theft and one count of attempted grand theft. Carlos Salazar was arrested last month after returning to the U.S. on a flight from Colombia. John Salazar remains at large and may be working as a faith healer in the San Francisco Bay area, police said.
DataPacRat New Blood Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 11

31st May 2007, 01:06 AM	#3
Zep Banned Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 26,699	Isn't this PRECISELY the same game as Benny Hinn?
Zep Banned Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 26,699

31st May 2007, 09:00 AM	#4
Questioninggeller Illuminator Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 3,048	Scams, Schemes & Scoundrels Quote: 'Faith-healing' brothers charged in scam May 30, 2007 SAN JOSE, Calif. --Two brothers claiming to be faith healers were charged with grand theft for allegedly convincing clients they were cursed and would die unless they paid for expensive cleansing rituals, authorities said. ... Full: Source Related to this, the "money washing" scam is one of the oldest. A person collects "cursed" money (cash, not a check) and appears to burn it thereby ridding the money of the demons. Meanwhile the money is slipped away and the only thing that is really burned is worthless paper. One of Randi's old TV specials explained this. If anyone is interested, its a 2-hour A&E Special hosted by Randi called "Scams, Schemes & Scoundrels." Here is the Amazon.com listing.

30th May 2007, 07:20 PM	#2
PastBrowneFan Critical Thinker Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 373	Just another example of scam artists from the San Jose/Campbell area.