Yesterday, Scientology and the Aftermath participant Aaron Smith-Levin posted a notice on Facebook about a Reuters reporter who was looking for recent examples of Scientology fraud.
Here’s what he posted…
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— There was the case of Efrem Logreira, a 75-year-old man who, within a year of joining Scientology in 2017, was nearly homeless because of the interest payments on credit cards the church had taken out in his name and used them to spend tens of thousands for courses he would never need. You might remember the amazing image Efrem snapped of three Sea Org women who took him out for ice cream while hitting him up for $20,000 in unnecessary charges that you see at the top of the page. Thankfully, attorney Graham Berry was able to make Efrem whole by pointing out that the church was in violation of several laws, including elder abuse statutes. And besides getting his money back, Efrem also spoke with federal investigators (although not from the FBI).
— After that we told you about a woman from the midwest who, at 82 years of age, had to sneak out of her Los Angeles hotel at 4 in the morning to escape from Scientology’s staffers who had been hounding her for more donations. They had already convinced her to open new credit cards and put tens of thousands of unnecessary charges on them, just like with Efrem. She too was made whole by Graham Berry, and she too spoke with federal investigators.
— Graham Berry helped another man, Sean Henderson, who was similarly rooked by Scientology’s high-pressure tactics. Henderson was convinced to fly from Hawaii to Los Angeles and was then charged so much money, he didn’t have the funds to return home. In April Graham allowed us to print the demand letter he presented Scientology, which made Henderson whole.
— And in May, Graham once again helped another man, 69-year-old Louis Stephen of Mesa, Arizona, get his money back after Scientology treated him outrageously. In his case, once Scientology thought they had him on the hook, they sent a female staffer to fly to Mesa and get him to take her to his mobile home for an all-night session of pressuring him to buy more courses.
We believe that in each of these cases, federal investigators were informed and did interviews. And not only did they all occur in the last two years, some of them we reported on while they were happening or within weeks of being resolved.
So, Reuters, what’s taking you so long to call?
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Bonus items from our tipsters
Remember what we said about Grant Cardone? That his success at the Hollywood Celebrity Centre might be only the beginning of him barnstorming for the church? Well, look who’s appearing at the Sydney church this Sunday…
For those of you having trouble maintaining your position in space…
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Scientology’s celebrities, ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and more!
We’ve been building landing pages about David Miscavige’s favorite playthings, including celebrities and ‘Ideal Orgs,’ and we’re hoping you’ll join in and help us gather as much information as we can about them. Head on over and help us with links and photos and comments.
Scientology’s celebrities, from A to Z! Find your favorite Hubbardite celeb at this index page — or suggest someone to add to the list!
Scientology’s ‘Ideal Orgs,’ from one end of the planet to the other! Help us build up pages about each these worldwide locations!
Scientology’s sneaky front groups, spreading the good news about L. Ron Hubbard while pretending to benefit society!
Scientology Lit: Books reviewed or excerpted in our weekly series. How many have you read?
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THE WHOLE TRACK
[ONE year ago] Colombian senator cites Xenu, ‘the Hole,’ in wild televised hearing about Scientology scandal
[TWO years ago] Tonight on ‘Aftermath’: Suicide in Scientology, where sympathy and compassion are outlawed
[THREE years ago] Trump is drawing comparisons to L. Ron, but will Hillary favor Scientology as much as Bill did?
[FOUR years ago] A revealing look inside the warped ‘kingdom’ of Scientology leader David Miscavige
[FIVE years ago] Scientology skates (so far) as OK grand jury says “keep investigating” Narconon Arrowhead
[SIX years ago] Report From the Fringe: Underground Bunker Night at The TomKat Project
[EIGHT years ago] The Top 25 People Crippling Scientology, No. 18: Amy Scobee
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Bernie Headley has not seen his daughter Stephanie in 5,546 days.
Valerie Haney has not seen her mother Lynne in 1,675 days.
Katrina Reyes has not seen her mother Yelena in 2,179 days
Sylvia Wagner DeWall has not seen her brother Randy in 1,699 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his grandson Leo in 719 days.
Geoff Levin has not seen his son Collin and daughter Savannah in 610 days.
Christie Collbran has not seen her mother Liz King in 3,917 days.
Clarissa Adams has not seen her parents Walter and Irmin Huber in 1,785 days.
Carol Nyburg has not seen her daughter Nancy in 2,559 days.
Jamie Sorrentini Lugli has not seen her father Irving in 3,333 days.
Quailynn McDaniel has not seen her brother Sean in 2,679 days.
Dylan Gill has not seen his father Russell in 11,245 days.
Melissa Paris has not seen her father Jean-Francois in 7,164 days.
Valeska Paris has not seen her brother Raphael in 3,332 days.
Mirriam Francis has not seen her brother Ben in 2,913 days.
Claudio and Renata Lugli have not seen their son Flavio in 3,174 days.
Sara Goldberg has not seen her daughter Ashley in 2,213 days.
Lori Hodgson has not seen her son Jeremy and daughter Jessica in 1,925 days.
Marie Bilheimer has not seen her mother June in 1,451 days.
Charley Updegrove has not seen his son Toby in 977 days.
Joe Reaiche has not seen his daughter Alanna Masterson in 5,540 days
Derek Bloch has not seen his father Darren in 2,680 days.
Cindy Plahuta has not seen her daughter Kara in 3,000 days.
Roger Weller has not seen his daughter Alyssa in 7,856 days.
Claire Headley has not seen her mother Gen in 2,975 days.
Ramana Dienes-Browning has not seen her mother Jancis in 1,330 days.
Mike Rinder has not seen his son Benjamin and daughter Taryn in 5,633 days.
Brian Sheen has not seen his daughter Spring in 1,739 days.
Skip Young has not seen his daughters Megan and Alexis in 2,141 days.
Mary Kahn has not seen her son Sammy in 2,013 days.
Lois Reisdorf has not seen her son Craig in 1,596 days.
Phil and Willie Jones have not seen their son Mike and daughter Emily in 2,091 days.
Mary Jane Sterne has not seen her daughter Samantha in 2,345 days.
Kate Bornstein has not seen her daughter Jessica in 13,454 days.
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Posted by Tony Ortega on August 22, 2019 at 07:00
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Our new book with Paulette Cooper, Battlefield Scientology: Exposing L. Ron Hubbard’s dangerous ‘religion’ is now on sale at Amazon in paperback and Kindle formats. Our book about Paulette, The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, is on sale at Amazon in paperback, Kindle, and audiobook versions. We’ve posted photographs of Paulette and scenes from her life at a separate location. Reader Sookie put together a complete index. More information can also be found at the book’s dedicated page.
The Best of the Underground Bunker, 1995-2018 Just starting out here? We’ve picked out the most important stories we’ve covered here at the Underground Bunker (2012-2018), The Village Voice (2008-2012), New Times Los Angeles (1999-2002) and the Phoenix New Times (1995-1999)
Other links: BLOGGING DIANETICS: Reading Scientology’s founding text cover to cover | UP THE BRIDGE: Claire Headley and Bruce Hines train us as Scientologists | GETTING OUR ETHICS IN: Jefferson Hawkins explains Scientology’s system of justice | SCIENTOLOGY MYTHBUSTING: Historian Jon Atack discusses key Scientology concepts | Shelly Miscavige, ten years gone | The Lisa McPherson story told in real time | The Cathriona White stories | The Leah Remini ‘Knowledge Reports’ | Hear audio of a Scientology excommunication | Scientology’s little day care of horrors | Whatever happened to Steve Fishman? | Felony charges for Scientology’s drug rehab scam | Why Scientology digs bomb-proof vaults in the desert | PZ Myers reads L. Ron Hubbard’s “A History of Man” | Scientology’s Master Spies | The mystery of the richest Scientologist and his wayward sons | Scientology’s shocking mistreatment of the mentally ill | The Underground Bunker’s Official Theme Song | The Underground Bunker FAQ
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