Is the police responsible to investigate when they get a notice about a large scale fraud or is selling a product, get paid with a non-standard currency and never deliver anything legal in the US? Will there be an official investigation?
I doubt local police would get involved, but an agency like the SEC might if the value is large enough. I don't think it matters whether that value is in USD or not.
I may have to beg to differ on this, SS.
I'm sure we've all seen, heard, read, etc., accounts of scams taking place via phone, now net, preying mainly on the elderly, but other demographics apply. The local paper does a little write-up on said scams, advising its citizens to contact the local police department, anonymously, if anybody has information. There hope is to nap the guy(s)/gal(s) before further damage is done in the respected community.
Likewise, if you see a theft committed of some other person, the police will not decide to not investigate because it's not your property at stake. Furthermore, if you know of a person who has stolen property, even though it's not your property, you're obligated to inform the police department. This is true even if the thief hasn't yet been reported, let alone not yet in the court systems, regardless of what jurisdiction the items were stolen from. In this case, it's documented and trackable wealth stolen from citizens from across the globe.
An example, to possibly drive the point home. I go to Indiana and visit a fellow Bitcoiner. During the visit, I stealing something from his home he yet has discovered missing. Back in Illinois, another fellow Bitcoiner visits my home and somehow notices that I have stolen property in my possession belonging to the other Bitcoiner in Indiana. The Bitcoiner in Indiana is now currently on safari in Africa, and will remain out of pocket for at least a couple more months. Meanwhile, it's a known fact, I'm moving soon.
Given the above, the Bitcoiner who visited my home is obligated to contact the police, stating his case. At this point, the police may take possession of said stolen item, informing me that I will get it back once the safari guy returns and proves that this is all a misunderstanding. No real harm for all parties occurred, and all are protected.
In Tom's case, the proof is overwhelming, and for the police not to act accordingly would not bode well for their department.
Bottom line, real wealth was transferred via wire under false pretense, and the scam is continuing to this day, but now incorporating identity theft, a felony.
To me, if convicted, Tom Van Riper may not see his children grow up, and all the college degrees he's earned would be for naught. Now, imagine being in his shoes. You think you pulled the perfect crime, but compounded it, and now you're scared to death. Personally, if I pulled such a stunt, not a single family member would come to my rescue, regardless of what I may have done for them in the past. I can't see anybody having 100% support from their family if they pulled such a ruse.
Tom Van Riper is not in a happy place now, for he inevitable knows that his perhaps once good name is forever tarnished.
~Bruno K~
