Man to return millions to people for online prayers

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Man to return millions to people for online prayers
Mar 17, 3:44 AM EDT
By LISA BAUMANN
Associated Press

SEATTLE (AP) -- A Seattle man running a so-called Christian prayer website and other businesses will return millions of dollars to consumers nationwide who paid for prayers, the Washington state attorney general said.

As part of an agreement, Benjamin Rogovy will pay back as much as $7.75 million to approximately 165,000 customers who were victims of Rogovy's deceptive business practices in several companies he ran, Attorney General Bob Ferguson said Wednesday.

Rogovy used systematic deception in his operation of the Christian Prayer Center, creating fake religious leaders and posting false testimonials on its website to entice people to pay from $9 to $35 for prayers, Ferguson said. The attorney general says Rogovy collected over $7 million from consumers between 2011 and 2015 and that his actions violate the state Consumer Protection Act.

"What I will not tolerate is unlawful businesses that prey upon people -taking advantage of their faith or their need for help- in order to make a quick buck," Ferguson said in a news release.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_CHRISTIAN_PRAYER_SITE_SHUT_DOWN?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-03-17-03-44-05

[snort]

1. I'm stunned to hear this.

There are genuine religious leaders?

[Helen Borg]

2. I assume he did not deliver the prayers after receiving the money?

...

[rusty quoin]

3. Let that be a lesson to him.

Don't mess with religion. Leave it to honest billionaire preachers like Pat Robertson who have direct contact with God.

[jpak]

4. Bless his heart

[rurallib]

5. it was fixed - he never had a prayer

[sinkingfeeling]

6. Why are there 165,000 people in this country who would willingly pay for a prayer? If one

believes in the Christian god, don't they know how to pray for themselves? It's right there in their holy book.

[Blue Dalek]

9. There's an old saying....

"a fool and his money are soon parted." IMO, christians are the biggest fools.

[dbackjon]

13. There are 100's of millions of Americans that pay for prayer

[jdadd]

7. Good!

Now Ferguson can go after the Mega Churches....

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. Apparently it's the false names and testimonials that are the problem, not the charging for prayers

From just a month ago:

Washington Assistant Attorney General Shannon Smith has this advice: "What I would recommend people do, is spend some extra time, and look at the terms and conditions." Records indicate the Attorney General's office has also received complaints, 18 so far, from prayer seekers across the country and one in Singapore.
...
It may look that way, because Christian Prayer Center is really a for-profit corporation, charging for prayers is perfectly legal. So if you're looking for free prayers, stay off the website. If you don't mind the initial cost, make sure you click the "No Thank You" button when you're offered continuing prayers , to avoid any automatic monthly charges.

http://komonews.com/news/consumer/online-church-offers-prayers-for-a-price

Rogovy’s actions violate the state Consumer Protection Act, which forbids businesses from making false claims, and the Charitable Solicitations Act, which prohibits churches and charities from using misleading or deceptive statements in any charitable solicitation.

“I believe in the power of prayer,” said Ferguson. “What I do not believe in and what I will not tolerate is unlawful businesses that prey upon people — taking advantage of their faith or their need for help — in order to make a quick buck.”
...
CPC also stated, “One of our pastors . . . is also happy to assist with any religious ceremonies . . .” This statement gave the impression CPC had multiple pastors who regularly consulted on religious issues. In fact, it had none. Rather, the websites were a for-profit corporation with multiple employees and independent contractors.

The deception didn’t stop there. The websites contained fictitious testimonials from consumers using stock photos that claimed they successfully prayed to avoid home foreclosure, deliver a healthy baby, win the lottery, obtain negative results on an HIV test and put cancer into remission.

http://kbkw.com/washington-ag-halts-deceptive-practices-online-prayer-consumer-complaint-service/

Imaginary god to pray to: fine (in fact, explicitly endorsed by the Washington Attorney General). Imaginary person doing imaginary praying: fraud.

[Ducksworthy]

12. Did the "No Thank You" button link to a "Now Burn In Hell" page?

Rewriting the Bible in HTML would seem to have endless and fascinating possibilities.

[freebrew]

10. Crap!...

I guess that puts the whammy on my plans to sell tickets to heaven.

I could have used a couple $million.

[valerief]

11. 165,000 people????? WTF is wrong with these people?

Sometimes, I wonder how humanity survives with all its stupidity.

[yellowcanine]

14. He clearly preyed on those people.

Seriously my first inclination is to say that anyone who pays for prayers probably deserves to lose their money.
OTOH, he created fake religious leaders and false testimonials so that is fraud.