One of Florida's biggest Ponzi schemes sees $80 million lost, hundreds impacted
Вставка
- Опубліковано 15 тра 2023
- Charismatic, wildly successful and spouting investment jargon like a pro. That’s how federal agents and victims of a Sarasota-based Ponzi scheme describe the man at the center of one of the IRS’s biggest fraud cases of 2022.
The FBI said Michael DaCorta convinced investors his company, Oasis International Group based in Sarasota, was reaping huge profits through foreign exchange trading.
DaCorta appeared to have the Midas touch. He owned two mansions in Lakewood Ranch, drove exotic vehicles, and chartered private jets for luxury vacations in Europe and the Cayman Islands.
When are people going to stop falling for all the fancy cars, parties and big homes? Those are props!
they never will. what's really sad, is that the ppl. giving him their $ have prominent careers, etc.
never
Answer: Never
never
I think it is like doing crack or something.
We put the petty criminals in prison, and we put the big ones in office.
Well said!!
Yep
ronny D disapproves of this comment.
Especially in Florida
Narcissistic megalomaniacs are definitely rewarded in modern day society. Even when caught, they immediately bond out and start over... all while having learned more about how to make the scheme more airtight. 💪😎✌️
This is why financial literacy needs to be taught in every high school in the country. Absolutely no one would be falling for this scam.
In China this guy would be executed for this crime
You wrong, greed clouds the smartest minds too.
Lol I'm in business school but what they teach as investing is speculation. People need to be thought the real meaning of investment
They can’t do that because African Americans would get it too
Yup, get away with geography class. What use is that. We have google maps. Teach finance, money management etc
He invited us to Christmas parties that were very elaborate. Yeah, they were the most expensive Christmas parties you ever paid for.
American Greed has made me highly suspicious of everyone.
You shouldn't be. Trust me I know. If you want me to teach you why just give me 10k now and I can show you how to increase your income by 5000 percent
It was founded on greed…it’s the American way 🤷🏾♂️
@@MyMelanin FACTS!!
@@MyMelaninno, America was not founded on greed.
😂😂 Greed is a human trait! Americans don't have a monopoly on it.
No such thing as free cake. If he was truly successful, he wouldn’t need small time investors. He would get banks or venture capitalists. People are so gullible.
I've said it once, and I'll say it again.....NOTHING is FREE!
AAAH!!! But nothing like being called "investor"... Vanity is a bitch...
Fraudsters are salesmen. They probably tell the small-timers we're doing it because we "know how it is" and want to help. The high-rollers get a different lie.
Not true. Successful hedge funds start with individual investors then work their way up to institutional investors. Every fund has to start somewhere. You sound like a noob
All rich people are liars since they're afraid to use their own money they use other people's money and then act like they're smart or intelligent
Instead of investing with a reputable company that manages retirement funds every one of these people thought they were going to get rich quick. They are victims of their own greed.
The "reputable" companies are often no better.
@@robertwilber1909 Nonsense.
@@beneg417 a most childlike viewpoint on your part
There was a time the absolute most reputable firm on Wall Street, in fact the founder was once president of the New York Stock Exchange, was run by a guy named Bernard Madhoff.
You could not get more "reputable" than Madoff's fund.
Successful people don't become that way overnight. most people see at a glance-wealth, a great career, purpose-is the result of hard work and hustle over time. I pray that anyone who reads this will be successful in life too 🙏🙏🙏
Starting early is the best way of getting ahead to build wealth, investing remains a priority. I learnt from my last year's experience, i am able to build a suitable life because I invested early ahead this time.
you've remind me of what someone once said "The mind is the man, the poor is in it and the rich is it too". This sentence is the secret of most successful investors. I once attended similar and ever since then been waxing strong financially, and i most tell you the truth..investment is the key that can secure your family future.
I urge everyone to start somewhere now no matter how small, this is literally the time for that, forget material things, don't get tempted,i became more better the moment i realized this.
yeah investment is the key to sustaining your financial longevity but venturing into any legitimate Investment without a proper guidance of an expert can lead to a great loss too
exactly! That's my major concern and what kind of profitable business or investment can someone do with the current rise in economic downturn
“We have a friend, he’s not gonna screw us over.” 😂😂😢
it's never your enemies
@@kabeblak3606 48 laws of power #2 “never put too much trust in friends”
I almost peed my pants when I heard her say that😂😂😂😂
@@kidb1998 exactly 💯
She was obviously enamored by him.
A fool and his money are soon parted!
True that. Some people are just to trusting. Can't say I feel sorry for the people that lost $$.
@@gangoffour6690 Well, the government is ripping you off and I dont feel sorry for you.
@@gangoffour6690 Just go Index Fund. These 'beat the market' fraudsters are always out there. But the indexes are there too.
@@timewa851 Vanguard Indexer and a true bogle head. Started at 30 and am now 75. Slow and steady wins the race. Always paid myself first with a bi weekly investment. 3 funds, all index, Invest and live your life.
I just wrote the same thing. I can't feel one bit sorry for these people
It is difficult to feel sorry for those who invest in such things.
Not difficult at all , they are stupid
My uncle bought land in FL in 1950 that's still a swamp and will always be a swamp.
@@2pugman My wife’s grandfather bought land in Florida and planted pine trees in it. A few years ago he sold the lumber for $3 Million.
You think you’re smarter than them lol
@@Mandelasmind some people ARE smarter than others.
As someone who was a part of an mlm when I got out the service, I feel so bad for them. I wish they would shut down all those sneaky companies who prey on vulnerable people.
But this is not a MLM at all & you can't generalize all MLM either. These are ponzi schemes involving investing money. Do you say the same about banks & Wall Street, ah the IRS too. Theft can happen anywhere even purchasing a car or something of value. Did complain about serving in Wars Uncle Sam has no business in, how much life or money wasted in Afghanistan for nothing just like Vietnam.
That’s not mlm that is a Ponzi scheme. Mlm have products that people choose to buy or not. This was invest to get return in the financial market. Two different things
@@urtheboss1 mlm's are still horrendous. All of them are. And if you are in one. I feel sorry for you.
Anytime an investor group ‘guarantees’ you a certain return, it’s a scam. There are no guaranteed returns of 20% or for that matter 10%. Only guaranteed returns are on certificates of deposit (CDs) and these are all currently under 5%.
Correct! It's illegal to guarantee an investment - if they hold a 7 license etc. Those who guarantee are sleazy. Run! Run!
And even those aren't guaranteed if the bank you hold the CDs with fails. There is no "100% safe" investment.
This!!!!! Anything hovering around 10% should be the red flag you need.
In recent months in Sri Lanka certificate of deposit, term deposits, fixed deposits what ever you name it high as 20% in leading banks, those are relatively safe, only few bankers have fallen in history. I don't know about internal sustainability.
Greedy meet greedy.
I almost find this comical. Never trust anyone with all the money you have.
I know, like the banks
that’s how i feel…but there are obviously a lot of very dumb people with money that can be taken advantage of - and that part is sad.
There's nothing comical about it! These people aren't dumb, they're trusting because there are legitimate companies. It's tthe scammers that are to blame, people don't often realize what's going on until the money stops coming in.
@@allegorx58 They're not dumb, shame on you.
@Michelle Adams nope pretty sure they're dumb🤦♂️
It’s crazy how people can go this far before they get caught. 80 million? Something’s wrong
Not much money honestly, for me,.
They give the definition of a Ponzi scheme and how it’s unsustainable; then you realize that’s Wall Street and the US economy😑 so essentially the legality of running a Ponzi scheme, is whether you’re paying off the government or not🤷🏻
You're reaching 😂😂😂 These people weren't even investing in any thing. They just got seduced by a man. Wall Street win or lose you're at least investing in a company/industry
If Ponzi Scheme company is located in the Cayman Islands, run like hell in the opposite direction 😎
Or Delaware lol
The company was not located in the Cayman Islands, but in Floriduh! The clip just said "trips to Europe and the Cayman Islands", you just imagined something that was never said.
@@herlandercarvalho His company was Oasis and their sign even says "A Cayman Islands Company".
@@herlandercarvalho It was based in Florifa, but wad claiming Cayman Islands for tax purposes.
I feel for the vet and his family.. this scam
Artist who swindled their money and many others should never be let out of that prison sentence.
Me too. Very sad.
Their money should be returned. That guy had enough assets to liquidate.
Whether it's your medical care, home purchase/repair, car purchase or especially investments, YOU MUST ARM YOURSELF WITH KNOWLEDGE SO YOU CAN RECOGNIZE A FRAUD.
Anyone who admires people because they own big mansions and lots of fast cars deserves to lose their money.
Absolutely correct. I don't feel one bit sorry for these people. When you let your common sense fly out the door oh well............
Fantastic comment and I agree 100%.
They admire them and just care about making more money themselves.
as they say money talks but walth whispers. smart people with money dont share secrets or brag
Facts
This happens over and over again, it's despicable!! Shame on these con artists and may they get what they deserve in prison.
They have no shame.
@JoozdontliketheTruth true that; looking to make quick buck and willing to trust someone else you don’t know, with all the money you ever saved. What could possibly go wrong?
@JoozdontliketheTruth No they're not, as you've stated they're "victims". Many of these scammers are well known and well thought of in their communities and they are charismatic and convincing. Most people (victims) don't know they've been had until the money stops coming in.
ummmmm and who is despicable. the morons that believed this and wanted more for less. well served up.
Greed & stupidity are a fatal combination.
Seems the common denominator in all of this is the GREED from both the scammer and the scammed.
But Elizabeth Holmes is still NOT in prison?
Can’t seem to shake “Florida Man” from the news. Always Florida
Scam capital of the world
The forced focus on Florida is intentional. To try to create a pall, but everyone should realize that corruption and greed know no state, or political party.
My fave 'Florida Man' broke into Wendy's, 3 A.M., fired up the grill, started making doubles w/cheese. May or may not have been bacon involved. lol. Couple of years back.
Scammers are everywhere. It is as easy to scam the family of a veteran injured in the Iraq war from any state as it was to scam Rupert Murdoch, Larry Ellison, Betsy DeVos and the Walton (Walmart) family, Tim Draper venture capitalist, Partner Fund Management and Fortress Investment Group, to invest in Theranos. Also check out the big name investors who invested in Sam Bankman Fried FTX fraud where he diverted customer money to his anither company's invesrments.
@@timewa851 😂😂😂😂😂😂
Hey, that’s exactly how banks work. Why aren’t we going after the bankers? Oh, wait 😂😅
This scam is so old that I don't know how ppl keep doing it so successfully.
Just like these old Southern religious channels🥸🙏🥴
If you see the words “Cayman Islands”, that says it all and they are not to be trusted 🙄 😂
Facts!!!
Bravo to the Investigators and Agencies that discovered and irradicated the fraudulent innovative schemer ...Bravo
Many items are "irradiated" before allowed through customs to properly "eradicate" pests/diseases from one country to another.
@@Dobviews what an erregular response
@@TheRobWay1 eradicate- implies the driving out or elimination of something that has established itself. a campaign to "eradicate" *intentional ignorance.*
I thought it was the Situation. I was like Mike's back at it again 😂😂😂
"A Cayman Islands Company" c'mon how does that not send up red flags?
This guy has snake written all over him. Be careful who you trust. If you lost $$ you are also partially to blame.
One would think that after Bernie madoff, these people would have learnt a lesson
Sadly I think most people don't even remember Madoff nowadays.
Greed
Bernie madoff with a lot of money til he got caught
Or FTX…..
They deserve to loose their money, pure greed.
America is such a money mad country. No wonder our morals and human decency have been on the decline for decades.
Countries can't be anything about money. Did you bother reading what you wrote? People in Countries are mad about money and as an fyi, you might want to broaden your horizons, because people and their love of money is World wide..
I know so corny & immature everyone is today! I can't wait to leave NY! People are so jive ass ,insecure. I was more mature in kindergarten 😌
@@nunya2954 thanks for the deep insight. I’m going to go up on a tall mountain and ponder your deep insight.
@@erock736 - You do that, because and hopefully you will figure out what I wrote is a fact. Land masses are not mad for money. People that live on land masses are.
@@nunya2954 righty o man, righty o.
My question is, why give all your life savings? If u have $100k, why not give $20k just see, check it out and see what kind of returns u get? No one is protected against losses. Is it just pure greed?!? Idk. Not trying to blame the victims… but that may have been a much better strategy to protect yourself and assets against these criminals… 🤷🏼♀️
Cause you are smart, ahhh they were not.
He probably wouldn't take them as clients if they just gave $20K
The Veteran and his wife were stupid AF for investing 100K.
They were just being greedy instead of being grateful for what they already had!
@@kelj4517 So you saying investing money is stupid AF? What else are you supposed to do with a sum of money like that?
@ David Preston
Pay off household bills and put the rest in the bank! The veteran got a big settlement and also received full disability benefits! They had it made but wanted to “invest” and be greedy. Now they don’t have shit!
These people let greed override common sense. Then they cry to the same agencies they want to defund or eliminate.
Bingo!!!
Exactly!!!! $100,000 is not mega rich but its enough for me. And If i wanted to invest, i certainly would not fork over the entire sum. Satisfaction(being Satisfied with what you have) is the only guaranteed investment.
I let greed screw me as well. Had over 500k worth of crypto and didn’t sell. It dropped 90 percent smh. Now waiting and praying it goes back up
Right. These dingbats don't want oversight or regulation, until they get BU.. f u.. E d and lose everything. Whoops
@@jamesball8519 it's not gonna ever go up it's over with bro just cash out
Can’t believe this happened in Florida. So many bright people down there.
Florida Man knows all!
😂
That post is truly hilarious 😂
Sounds like you are projecting your own intelligence
Scammers are everywhere. It is as easy to scam the family of a veteran injured in the Iraq war from any state as it was to scam Rupert Murdoch, Larry Ellison, Betsy DeVos and the Walton (Walmart) family to invest in Theranos.
Why do people fall for charlatans like this. We are in 2023, no one should fall for this after Elizabeth Holmes and SBF
Because they want to believe “their guy” is different. Of course they never are.
Why is Scam Bankman Fraud not in prison yet? Corruption?
What's done in the dark always comes to the light
When looking for places to invest my money I always look for the publicity pictures with garish mansions and expensive cars.
😃❤😃💋
Our entire economic system is pretty much just as irrational as a typical ponzi scheme. The reason I say this is that, just as one example of many, our banking system takes in money, loans out much more than it has which creates far more currency in digital form than any other currency creation mechanism, bets on tiny profits over extremely long periods of time but takes those profits now, and then when that house of cards eventually falls the end users of the currency end up having to carry the burden. We live in this insane society where many seem to think they, and others, must justify their existence by working for some currency that is fundamentally worth less tomorrow than it is today but most people get paid days or weeks after working. Instead of thinking of time as the base currency most people use their native currency and then value their time in that, which is completely backwards since the currency is basically infinite and their time is for sure without a single doubt finite. I have personally seen that over time even with salary increases the amount of stuff I can get per unit of time spent working has decreased despite me having gained decades in real world practical experience. My time now should be more valuable than it was 10 or 20 years ago but when I think in terms of actual things I can do or buy it clearly isn't worth more now. As an example, in 2006 my rent was roughly 10% of my monthly income and when I left the US it was about 35%. Similar increases happened in cost of food, clothes and basically everything except electronics.
☝🏽
tell em again!!!
Bingo! 💯
Stop all loans and frivolous lending then watch as banks must earn an honest buck...
Banks are friendly but they are not your friends !!!
There are plenty of strangers that want to help YOU make MILLIONS of dollars.🤣
Greed is a catalyst for stupidity.
Don’t trust anyone please. And especially don’t trust someone who has many mansions and wealth with your money…because chances are he’s just using your money to fund everything he has.
Is it crime when your government is doing it?
totally agreeeeeeeeeeeeee.. jaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa The biggest ponzi schemes is United States of America. people from usa, LOW IQ
Unless you are part of the government doing it, yes.
Nope 😂
Funny they call it quantitative easing when I call it a Ponzi scheme
Lol right
It’s so many more of these companies in Florida that needs to be exposed
OH, and you really should look up the 400 million Ponzi scheme that suckered San Diego, you uninformed Lemming. Such ignorance for so called adults. LMAO, hope your kids turn out with better brains, and more common sense, cause you MISSED the MARK. You really should focus more on national and international news, you might learn a few things.
Still waiting on our government to investigate FTX lol.
How are people still falling for MLM's/Ponzi schemes?
Greed.
@@steen20a Fresh Batch Theory.
Like drivers, how come so many bad drivers?
The old bad drivers age out, new batch rotates in.... cycle continues. lol. semi-Tragic.
@@timewa851 no, greed.
Greed
Go to many churches especially nondenominational ones, MLMs are plenty and many stay at home moms are sort of coerced into joining them, and if they don't, then they may be ostracized. Happened to my neighbor and she eventually had to leave the church (in addition to other reasons).
I bet those who came in early and gave him their money weren't complaining when they got their hefty ROI even though it was from other members whom they recruited. This is comical.
This is what Grant Cardone and Joel Olsteen does 😂😂😂
The love of money IS the root of all evil. Sickening!
It’s the lack of money is the root of all evil
@@GUAPOslifeyep 😢
I thought this was for sure Grant Cardone as well. I suspect the FBI has a long list to work on these slime buckets!
Oh darn, I was hoping this would be about Michael Walding and NXTLVL. Maybe the IRS will examine his scheme next? Any business that claims you can't leave any negative reviews about them on BBB or social media isn't on the level and probably knows they're up to something sketchy.
I live in a little condo that's 840 square feet and paid off. I've no student loans and starting this fall 30% of my income goes into retirement. I have long stopped being jealous of people who seem to have so much more. And this story is one of the reasons why.
I don’t understand why people think they need to give their money to an individual to grow it when you can get help through a legitimate fund manager from firms like Charles Schwab or Fidelity. I’ve never understood it.
People want to get rich quick
he has money stashed away..probably Switzerland...
It's a real shame that some people are so despicable. What's wrong with people?
The root cause: why are people so stupid to donate everything
It's never enough for some people until they get caught.
It's a real shame that people are so gullible.
Your right! It's shame. Greedy people over money. Money is not everything. He's in big trouble now. Some of that money can be traced.
Anybody can do this. Just rent an exotic car, drive around for the day and you will get people coming up to you asking what are you doing to buy this?
You can get them that very day to just hand over money.
I wonder how many rappers used this same concept and rented cars for their music videos 🤔
I thought this was going to be a story about the Insurance Industry in the U.S.
It's almost as if rich people are as stupid as poor people.
Lots of things are trashy if you’re poor but fine if you have money just wild
People are stupid period! Whether rich or poor.
No just greedy, those of you who lost your money didnt learn a dam thing.
Its been said " history repeats itself " and " a sucker is born every minute ".
You don’t say? Many are lucky to be born into to riches. A bunch of worthless humans walking this earth
@@darrelmesteth4801 ?
Lol these people really overlook the essence of due diligence
All those believed to be financial genius starting from Ponzi himself to Madoff turned out to be financial scammers. I will never never let those financial gurus mismanage my financial affairs. I will manage or mismanage it myself.
so he had mansions, cars, planes............first question what do the people have that invested with you??????
So sorry for the families, great investigation tho! Super awesome journalism 😊
This keeps happening …unbelievable
I believe it. We live in an Idiocracy nowadays
Exactly it's the norm
Only 23 years? Wow. I really feel all of his victims who probably will never see a dime of that money returned.
How this works in reality is the people think the fraudster is exploiting some loophole or has access to opportunities other people dont have. And of course they must ask themselves... how? And they suspect he has some nepotistic or political connection, maybe some legally questionable things. Then they decide to go with that instead of a qualified financial advisor. Why? Greed. Then this happens. Shocking. 🙄
A friend in business? Oh ok. Rule of thumb, NEVER invest in a business you don’t understand well especially if you don’t have experience in it.
Trust no one with your money, not even your greed.
If you had contacts like SBF you'd be free , chillin, hiding the money and laughing
He'll be out in seven years and somebody will be buying his life story and turning it into a movie.
Florida and scams actually go hand in hand 😂🤷🏻♀️
Indeed. The Marx Brothers had a scene about the very scammy Florida real estate market nearly 100 years ago. "You can have any kind of a home you want. You can even get stucco. Oh, how you can get stucco!"
OH, and you really should look up the 400 million Ponzi scheme that suckered San Diego, you uninformed Lemming. Such ignorance for so called adults. LMAO, hope your kids turn out with better brains, and more common sense, cause you MISSED the MARK. And do check out Melisa Caddock that ran a great Ponzi scheme in Australia. Narrow MINDED much? I would say you are sorely lacking in the ability to read international new papers. LMAO. With your mindset, you gonna need to work hard to be successful hon.
If it has a tip it’s a pyramid scheme 😂
Money does not just appear from thin air. If someone is making a lot of money, then someone is correspondingly losing a lot of money
“Who we have a friend who’s not gonna screw us over “. 😂😂 famous last words 😂
Resembles our banking system 😂
Never, ever put all your eggs into one basket.
The question is why this is allowed to get so big. How do you not know? Ridiculous.
The money is not lost, but it now owns someone else. 😂
People that dont understand the markets or finance need to stop giving money to shysters and crypto bros
Driven by get rich quick greed.
At first I thought it was Grant Cardone looking at the thumbnail. Got excited for a moment there.
So now he spends the rest of his life in federal prison, for what? What was his exit strategy? How do people like this think they'll get away with it?
reporter : "700 victims lost their life savings."
me : "700 greedy people got the life lesson they deserved."
Shame 😢 this folks should never be allowed out again.
I luv when it ppl scam other yt ppl
@@phoenixbrazil5266 You're an idiot.
I went to 1 of these seminars! Years ago!! It just felt like a setup!! I walked out!!
The first requirement to be scammed is greed. Greed blinding these idiots into falling for this con artist.
When my business partner stole hundreds of thousands of dollars and illegally sold my business these guys didn't care, the DA didn't go after them and they told me it was a civil matter.
He Invited us to Christmas parties that were very elaborate...
Sarasota's first AI robot
Theres always a catch to "getting rich"
Sometimes it's not a way to get rich but they see it as away to invest their money for the future of their family and retirement
What is the difference between this and companies operating at a loss year after year while constantly seeking new investors and getting loans to keep their businesses running? Aren't those basically Ponzi schemes as well?
Too true. Similar to insurance companies and social security.
With all of the examples of this we have and people still fall for it. 🤦🏽♂️
Interesting. We also lost a considerable amount of money to investment group called OASIS. Ours was run out of St George Utah.
Anyone stealing from the Vet should get the death penalty.
I don't know why one wouldn't ask for audited financials when dealing with private investments. These vehicles can be quit nebulous. Worst case is you can sue the CPA firm as they have malpractice insurance
Because the majority of people are uneducated & this Finance 101 needs to be taught in high school
Has no one ever wondered that if a genius is able to have so much free time, toys and overseas holidays on private jets; 1 how wise is this person and 2; when does this person actually do anything that generate an income stream that is visible and not obfuscated and opaque?
And he would of gotten away with it if it weren’t for those meddling kids ..🤣😝😅😂. Throw the 🖕er in State penitentiary….
So, what happens with the proceeds, after items have been auctioned off? Do the people who have been scammed receive some of it?
They can sell all the property, gold, silver and give everyone most of their money back. They need to find a way for criminals who cause victims to lose money to be able to work it off and actually pay people back while in prison.
This is why questionable businesses don't advertise. Not many will believe their grossly exaggerated sales talk. Beware of scammers who come disguised as expert internet marketers.