News and Commentary: More Information on Team Diabetes' Question About Missing Money

"Where's the missing 100,000 Linden dollars that our supporters were told would be going to us?" That was a fairly simple question asked by Team Diabetes about a month ago. The issue has become one of the more controversial issues the Newser has written about after we first reported on it on January 8. Since our update on January 22, two more people came forward with statements, and I finally had a chance to talk to the man accused of swindling the donors and got his side of the story. Unfortunately for him, his alibi didn't quite match the evidence I had.

Read more in Extra.

Update on Team Diabetes' Question About Missing Money

On January 8, the Newser reported on Team Diabates in Second Life stating someone had spammed their group chat during a fundraiser event on December 30, saying he was doing an event of his own for charity and that the money would go to Team Diabetes. But none of this money, over 100,000 Lindens according to the man, never made it to the Team. The Newser had messaged the man in question, Oenneo Resident, but never got a response.

Shortly afterward, Oenneo's partner ϮŁσrίŁуηη ŞŧαrşíđєrϮ (LoriLynnGrimes Resident) sent the Newser an angry message, one  that I won't go in detail other than it was an outpouring of anger and a claim that the American Diabetes Association was investigating Team Diabetes in Second Life. But when I contacted the American Diabetes Association, they answered this was not true and there was no investigation. When I was online, she contacted me, being more cordial, but still upset with one of the groups she had mentioned, and insisted the money raised had gone directly to the American Diabetes Association rather than through Team Diabetes.

A few days ago, LoriLynnGrimes would sent a message of apology to Team Diabetes and OYO Breedables, saying Oenneo had confessed to lying about the money he raised from the chat spamming going to charity.

I want to first apologize to you all. I will explain. I had no reason to doubt neo. He was my heart and I loved him and ultimately trusted him. I sadly trusted the wrong person and it was not only you two whom were hurt in the process. He never paid a charity I am finding out now. I gave him the earnings from the raffle we had and he did not do as he said. But what he did do was pay for a massive building to be made called "The Ark."  He plans to open it up in March called "Galaxy Enterprises presents the Ark Experience."

I am so disgusted and ashamed and would somehow like to do what needs to be done to make it better. I am heart broken he took all that money. Even if I have to pay every week to square the promise donation I will. I am so very truly sorry. I am just so sick and so humilated in what he did. I will also do whatever needs to be done to make things right. I am so devasted and feel so used and exploited. I wanted so badly to help people and he took advantage of me and also my patrons. He disclosed to me this evening he did not give the money to the american diabetes. I felt my whole world crumbled just then. I was so so devasted. I broke up with him instantly and also closed the business I shared with him. I cannot be with such a vile heartless human being. I am so sad he did this and hurt so many people. I hope to hear from you soon in how to make things right.

My son ******* was killed this past October and I was not really complete when I began really trusting Neo. I was destroyed by my sons murder. I have no accuse for my mouth other then I truly felt Neo was being honest. I was at sucha weak point in my life and allowed him to control every aspect of my business and I did not see what he was doing.

Anyways I am truly sorry for everything and I will make this right. Just need to know how.

So it seems there's finally an answer on what happened to the money in question. How LoriLynnGrimes will "make things right" with Team Diabetes remains to be seen.

Bixyl Shuftan

Man Pleads Guilty to Second Life Land Fraud in Real Life Court

While the goings-on in virtual worlds are beyond the understanding of many in real life, the court system found a scam involving thousands of dollars done online clear enough to bring to real life court. In this case, a man plead guilty to swindling a woman in a Second Life real estate deal.

In April 2015, Joshua Bills was arrested and charged with fraud. The crime: a virtual real estate scam, "In the complaint, it stated that a loan agreement was made with Bills for $53,500 for the purposes of expanding his online real estate company. Bills was to use the money to purchase land that he would manage through his company, within the game Second Life, in exchange for a promissory note that would pay $10,000 for the investment within 24 months."

The woman whom was targeted had been renting a home in Second Life from Bills. Then, "He suggested she invest with him to buy more land within the game so he could manage it and make both of them money." But instead of investing the money as promised, the majority of it went to his E-Trade investment account.

Indiana Securities Commissioner Alex Glass commented in a statement, "This was certainly a unique case in that it dealt with online, virtual real estate. However, upon examination of the facts, this case is very similar to a conventional real estate investment scheme. Con artists are always finding new and unique ways to scam trusting individuals out of their hard earned money."

Bills plead guilty in Marion County Indiana court. He was sentenced in late July to three years probation, and ordered to repay the woman he defrauded in full.

Hamlet Au of New World Notes, which also wrote about the case, commented, "this conviction helps establish a legal precedent for future prosecution of other virtual scams."

Sources: Business Weekly, ind.gov 

Bixyl Shuftan