Why arrest them?
The scammers are actually doing some good for once.
Chechen rozzers have reportedly arrested a trio of jihadi-baiting women who flirted with ISIS fighters online before conning them out of money they sent to pay for a non-existent rendezvous in Syria. Terrorists pledging allegiance to the self-declared caliphate – almost as contentious in name as deed – have made a concerted …
@ChrisW
It's only a short step away from this to claiming Peter Sutcliffe was doing some good
That's actually a pretty bloody big step right there. Sutcliffe tortured, raped, and murdered people. These women just stole some money from people who torture, rape, and murder people.
The British were more than willing for anyone who could rob the Spanish to get out to sea and do so ASAP, so long as they promised not to attack our vessels. A similar principle could apply.
Also, I'm pretty sure the Chechens are fighting very hard to AVOID being Russian.
Go back far enough and there is probably a precedent for most things.
As we all seem to have descended from Africa, or at least our ancestors interbred with Africans, who you going to blame now?
How far back do we go with the blame game?
@LucreLout
As far as I recall Sutcliffe didn't rape nor torture people he killed prostitutes, or at least in the beginning those he thought to be. The analogy which seems to have flown over your head is the apparent justification of one criminal (sutcliffe, these women) committing a criminal act against another (prostitutes, ISIS).
@Chris W
Prostitutes, in all civilized countries, are not defined as 'criminals' though.
And even in countries where they are labeled as criminals, I suspect most people draw a line between criminals who rape&kill and the criminals who were caught in a speed trap going 85 kph in a 70 kph zone. People tend to be funny that way.
What you consider criminal behaviour and what is law are two different things, get over it.
Well, at least in the UK, there is no law against prostitution. None. It's not an offence.
So what he considers "criminal behaviour" aligns exactly with the Law of the Land.
Your jurisdiction might differ, particularly if you are in the Land of the Free.
Vic.
As far as I recall Sutcliffe didn't rape nor torture people he killed prostitutes, or at least in the beginning those he thought to be.
The OP is probably confusing Peter Sutcliffe (The Yorkshire Ripper) with Ian Brady (The Moors Murderer).
Either way, the leap of logic required to equate a series of brutal attacks on women with a hammer and knife to defrauding a group of the words vilest murdering terrorists is pretty big.
The only problems I could foresee the police having with this activity are:
- Any contact with a terrorist organisation should always be investigated as a matter of course, no matter how innocuous it seems.
- The women profited from this, so arguably are receiving the proceeds of crime. They probably should not be officially allowed to keep the money
- Their activity was unsanctioned.
I wouldn't be surprised to find out that various international covert agencies (CIA, MI6, FSB, Mossad, etc.) were doing the same thing, but in a sanctioned and 'officially' controlled way.
Unfortunately, I _would_ be surprised to hear that the CIA etc was doing this sort of thing.
Earlier today I read on the BBC that this bunch of ****** get paid $40m a day for the oil that they sell - in which case whoever is buying this oil has a LOT of explaining to do.
@ChrisW
As far as I recall Sutcliffe didn't rape nor torture people he killed prostitutes
Oh, ok, that's all right then. ???!!!!
One is an offence of honesty involving trivial sums of money from wholly repellent and amoral people and their dark ages death cult. The other, by your own words, murdered mostly peaceful women who were just trying to make some money.
That this flies over your head can only prov.... oh... wait... The schools are out, right? Sorry everyone - I've done it again. Every sodding year.
Ok, look Chris, when you grow up, you'll realise that the world isn't perfect. You may have moral issues with women selling their bodies, but that doesn't make it ok to kill them. No, really, it doesn't. Grand Theft Auto is Play Station not play book.
@ LucreLout
Aren't you clever with your snide churlish remarks. I'm deeply upset, or maybe not.
Anyway back on topic. Where did I say I have issues with anybody selling their bodies? Take your time and look closely I'm sure you´ll be busy for quite a while because it isn't there. However displeasant you find any particular group does not make it open season for criminal activity towards them. If you condone these women then you are condoning any illegal act by one criminal towards another (the Krays would have loved you) and are well on the way to being a rabid DM style vigilante.
Soooo - anyone, who in my judgement is a murderous scumbag, is fair game to be scammed and I should not be prosecuted but encouraged. Let's see, that could be a really good list:
Daesh (or IS/ISIS/ISIL whatever they are called this week)
Putin and Russian Oligarchs
Organised Criminal groups - e.g. the Mafia
CIA
MI6
US Marine Corps
the Paras
Sri Lankan military
Armed Forces in general
US Police forces
Police in general
abattoirs and butchers
pharmaceutical companies
manufactures of chemicals
that old lady who gave me the evil eye...
Scamming most of these will be dangerous - so, I will stick to companies and old ladies.
I wish I could downvote all the downvoters here. If someone else is a criminal that doesn't justify you also becoming one. These women chose to break the law (assuming scamming is illegal in Chechnya), so the consequences should be applied fairly to them as they would to anyone else. If you permit some lawbreakers to escape prosecution, you encourage them to take the law into their own hands. If we all did that a crime wave would spiral out of control. Law enforcement exists to maintain order and prevent this happening, it does not serve to enforce one particular moral viewpoint.
One-size-fits-all law enforcement is as silly as one-size-fits-all sex toys.
Scamming near-as-objectively-evil-as-can-be-found-on-this-Earth terrorists out of cash may violate the letter of the law, but frankly it's absolutely heroic, and ought to be treated as such.
Even if those women did profit off it, they stole from people who are objectively horrile, and $3,300 almost certainly buys a hell of a lot of 7.62 Soviet in the middle east. They have, in a slight but meaningful way, impaired ISIS's warmaking ability, and in doing so have made themselves targets of interest for ISIS. I see nothing wrong with allowing them to keep the proceeds of their time and risk.
Because if someone is entering into a relationship with a terrorist organisation and is observed making overtures towards joining or aiding that organisation, they should be picked up. If the police let off everyone who turned around and said "oh but I didn't mean it" they'd be a laughing stock. Ironically these women may need to admit they were trying a con job to avoid much more serious charges.
For their own safety. Them ISIS guys are probably really pissed off now.
Letting the women disappear with the money would have kept them safe. Arresting them tells ISIS exactly who they are and where to find them. The women are probably wishing they hadn't messed with terrorists now.
"The scammers are actually doing some good for once."
A group of scammers doing much good are the Scam Baiters by wasting the time, attention and resources (including money) of scammers who target innocent victims.
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I came home to find that the dog had turned the feather pillows into a roomful of "snow": on one hand I needed to be the Stern Parent and provide negative consequences for getting into things, but OTOH I was laughing too hard to be convincing. "Bad dog! *giggle* Don't EVER do that again! *snort* Bad dog!" -- yeah, right. I imagine the cops tasked with cuffing and jailing these criminals (or "criminals") also had to choke back laughter while sternly reading the charges.
From: Chief of Police, Chechnya
To: Caliph Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, ISIS
Subject: Restoration of Proceeds of Fraud
Your Excellency, following the regrettable incident of criminal elements in Chechnya defrauding members of your esteemed organisation of "travel fees", I am pleased to report that we have arrested the perpetrators and will be arranging restoration of the funds as soon as possible.
However, to proceed with the case, we do need to take statements in person from the victims and verify their standing in your organisation. Please can you assist in contacting the victims and providing documentation of their atrocities and beheadings glorious work in your organisation, and ask them to report, in person, to any Chechen Police Station to make their statements.
We will, of course afford them every hospitality they deserve, and, in addition to the restoration of the fraudulent funds, refund their incidental and travel expenses if they are ever released when they leave.
Yours sincerely,
Chief of Police
P.S. - Please note, we have a relaxed dress policy at our Police Stations, weapons should be checked with the desk sergeant and suicide vests must not be worn.