I thought i could spot a rip-off artist a mile away, but after spending a couple of months working in Mary Ann Fordyce's office I learned first hand that there are malevolent people that prey on the vulnerable with no conscience
She is very persuasive and could sell a bikini to an eskimo while completely convincing them it's a mink coat.
I watched in shock while she promised professional services to everyday families who then received nothing in spite of an up front payment
I experienced intense embarrassment seeing her promise scores of people including my friends that a payment was in the mail, while in fact she avoided payments and moneys due.
In all transactions she by policy required the money for services up front, then if the clients did not receive the services she did not refund the money and in many cases would take months to pay the staff, meanwhile using the upfront payments for her personal use.
I was there and very uncomfortable as victim after victim would call, come by with the police, mary ann fordyce having complete lack of empathy for the victims pain-keeping their money unfairly.
Pre-meditated fraud of this kind finally gets to a boiling point and this happened with mary ann fordyce in dec 04—she closed up shop owing possibly as much as 6 figures to countless clients and independent contractors
Those who escaped with only a few hundred dollars owed to them were lucky, she owes me almost $3000 an owes similar amounts and more to many other people reportedly
There are aspects of this story which are scary—
1. The premeditated aspect of the fraud. It was not a mistake or ignorance. Taking the public's money in questionable faith was policy.
2. The choice of vulnerable victims—her two primary victims in this case were children and independent contractors. The babies and their families had emotion and trust tied up in a beautiful event and party which frequently would be destroyed, with her keeping the upfront payment. The clowns, agents need work in a slow economy and grasp with need at opportunities to make money.
Mary ann fordyce brilliantly manipulated the emotional needs of these two groups, she has no empathy or remorse
3. I understand her next scam may involve stocks. This person must not be allowed access to other people's money, who will be her next target, old people? The handicapped? She goes for the vulnerable
Many of us are trying to do something about this unconscionable scam but it is surprisingly hard. Thank you for the venue.
0 comments