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#1
09-18-2005, 10:02 PM
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God Wants you to Roll
In this B&M thread on dealer abuse, someone mentioned a guy named Buddha that had the reputation of having made every female dealer in L.A. cry, and a book that talked about it, "God Wants you to Roll." Buddha was a very skilled pai gow player, but the book is not about gambling. See, Buddha also had a knack for selling cars that did not exist, to the tune of $21 million over 7 years.
Most of that money wound up in the cage of the Bike, the Hustler Casino, or Crystal Palace, where Buddha would play pai gow and have swings of hundreds of thousands of dollars. The money came from a scam that seems ludicrous when paraphrased: Robert "Buddha" Gomez claimed to be the heir to an estate that was giving away cars as an act of charity, but since the estate was in probate, the estate could not pay title and transfer fees itself. Therefore his friend James R. Nichols, excutor of the estate, required payments for those fees well in advance of the unspecified date when the estate would come out of probate. This sounds so unbelievable, so flimsy a premise, that I red the book expecting to learn how cleverly the boys established their con. Instead, as the details emerged in the book, it only became more ludicrous that this ever worked. It worked because of the charisma and social engineering of Buddha and Nichols. Almost the only thing the boys established to make their con work, was their own belief in the stories they were telling. Author John Phillips III originally came into contact with the story when Car & Driver asked him to write about the trial. He came away so impressed that he wrote a book, interviewing law enforcement, victims, and the perpetrators He does seem to cross the line all true crime books must toe: dramatizing the actions of criminals without lionizing them. I was left fascinated with Buddha and Nichols, impressed with what they accomplished. I could see how so many were taken in with them, even as I laughed at the outrageousness of what they were doing to them. 
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#2
09-19-2005, 09:38 AM
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Re: God Wants you to Roll
The sad thing is that people fall for this kind of stuff all the time. Howard stern regularly gets calls from "Sweepstakes Winners" who wired money to pay the transfer costs of their "winnings." Here's one that I got recently that made me laugh.
My dear, Good a thing to write you. I have a proposal for you-this however is not mandatory nor will I in any manner compel you to honour against your will. I am COLLINS OGA,23years old and the only Son of my late parents Mr.and Mrs. OGA. My father was a highly reputable busnness magnet-(a cocoa merchant)who operated in the capital of Ivory coast during his days. It is sad to say that he passed away mysteriously in France during one of his business trips abroad year 12th.Febuary 2000.Though his sudden death was linked or rather suspected to have been masterminded by an uncle of his who travelled with him at that time. But God knows the truth! My mother died when I was just 6 years old,and since then my father took me so special. Before his death on Febuary 12 2000 he called the secretary who accompanied him to the hospital and told him that he has the sum of Six million,seven hundred thousand United State Dollars.(USD$6.700,000) left in fixed deposit account in one of the leading banks in Africa. He further told him that he deposited the money in my name,and finally issued a written instruction to his lawyer whom he said is in possession of all the necessary but legal documents to this fund and the bank. I am just 23 years old and a university undergraduate and really don't know what to do.Now I want an account overseas where I can transfer this funds. This is because I have suffered a lot of set backs as a result of incessant political crisis here in Ivory coast.The death of my father actually brought sorrow to my life. I am in a sincere desire of your humble assistance in this regards.Your suggestions and ideas will be highlyregarded. Now permit me to ask these few questions:- 1. Can you honestly help me as your Son? 2. Can I completely trust you? 3. What percentage of the total amount in question will be good for you after the money is in your account? Please,Consider this and get back to me as soon as possible. Thank you so much. My sincere regards, COLLINS OGA
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#3
09-19-2005, 09:44 AM
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Re: God Wants you to Roll
Then why didn't he make me round?
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#6
09-19-2005, 09:15 PM
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Re: God Wants you to Roll
[ QUOTE ]
People who fall for these scams don't deserve the money they have, and it brings to mind how they made that money in the first place. [/ QUOTE ] When I started reading the book, I felt the same way you did. I already believed that most people who get conned are looking to get something for nothing, and it stings them. Plus, this scam was so seemingly obvious that only greed or stupidity would allow one to believe it. After reading the book, though, I did gain sympathy for some victims. Many of those duped first learned of the scam from their church, and in a lot of cases their church leaders. Not that this is the first time religion was used to hustle someone, but this was not a case of a holy roller or faith healer. The religious leaders were fooled first and then used as an instrument in the fraud. Imagine if your accountant came to you with a good investment deal. Buyer beware, of course, but you've worked with this guy for years. He's never steered you wrong. I think you might be convinced, and understandably so.
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