| I have been struck many times that it is because of | | | | connections, taking the lives of those that oppose |
| the term 'FRAUD' which is not easily or correctly | | | | them, etc. As a result of this, for most people to |
| defined to the larger society that makes it be | | | | survive today, they must live above their legitimate |
| responsible for the decay of our societies these days. | | | | incomes/salaries and that suggests that they must |
| Most cultures and all sane religions preach the | | | | become fraudulent, too.c. In many societies, life has |
| commandments: "There is only one God, Do not | | | | been made so difficult for the lower class and for |
| commit adultery, Do not lie, Do not steal, Do not covet, | | | | them to survive and enjoy life, they must engage in |
| Do not kill, Respect elders (mother and father), etc". | | | | one or two sharp practices or corner-cutting. The rich |
| Seldom do we contemplate that because fraud is | | | | are fighting harder to keep themselves at the top while |
| considered a smart procedure, it is left out of societal, | | | | doing all they could to suppress the poor to the |
| cultural and religious laws, statute, rules, regulations and | | | | poorest state. Examples of this can be seen in the |
| commandments. In addition, that this could be | | | | government's uncaring and unperturbed attitude |
| responsible for societal decay and most of our | | | | towards the sufferings of the masses - lower class of |
| problems. | | | | the society. In many places, governments of nations |
| In the Bible, there is Godly injunction on fraud as rightly | | | | allowed the Shylock upfront payment of House Rents |
| stated in Mark 10:19: "do not defraud". If we use this as | | | | by surviving tenants, sometimes from one to five |
| a starting point and define fraud, it will help us in our | | | | years at cut-throat prices. In a Country like Nigeria, the |
| objective. To defraud means to 'deprive by fraud' | | | | activities of some agencies like the Power Holding |
| while fraud means: deceit, imposture, a deceptive trick, | | | | Company of Nigeria (PHCN) is constantly remaining |
| a cheat, swindler, a fraudulent production, by | | | | unchecked. Customers are made to remain without |
| concealment or otherwise. From this, we can see | | | | their services for long periods without apology; those |
| immediately those most modern tricks for gaining | | | | that were disconnected from using their light as a |
| power; money/wealth and other material gains are | | | | result of default are forced to pay for the periods |
| clearly fraudulent. | | | | without light. Government's action to help by providing |
| Typical fraudulent procedures and practices are | | | | the Pre-Paid Meters to check fraud has been ignored, |
| enumerated in the following:a. The most common | | | | as the meters are no longer available. |
| fraud is the use of office and administrative tools | | | | It will be right to state here that despite the fact that |
| recklessly and carelessly. Rather than consider their | | | | people are so much involved in fraud today, does not |
| positions as an avenue to serve God, people use it for | | | | remove the punishment for same. Fraud has some of |
| blackmail. They also use it for suppression, oppression, | | | | the most deadly implications that if we pondered |
| intimidation, sabotage, anarchy, self aggrandizement, | | | | deeply, will cause us to denounce it. It is not just an |
| corruption, envying, hatred, emulation, wrath, strife, | | | | uncivilized way of life but, evil in God's sight. Civilized |
| sedition, heresies, nepotism, self-elevation, pride | | | | and structured societies punish fraud for them to |
| arrogance and many other parallel evil processes.b. | | | | survive systematically. Probably this is why you, and I, |
| Those in power can be fraudulent by denying others | | | | can be proud that we went to school in England, |
| of their rights and privileges, often including murder of | | | | America, Russia, Canada, Germany, Australia, etc. This |
| the less-privileged. An example is well presented in the | | | | is, because, they operate structured societies that |
| book of 1 Kings 21:1-29, where the King, Ahab, using | | | | frown at and punish fraud. We also emulate their social |
| Queen Jezebel's deceptive tricks, killed Naboth | | | | habits, technology, technological standards, as well as |
| innocently in order to take possession of his vineyard | | | | political and economic styles. We call them developed |
| fraudulently. Another form of fraud recorded, is in Acts | | | | world, as opposed to our own under-developed world, |
| 5:1-10, when Ananias and his wife Saphira denied the | | | | because of their superior societies, cultures and virtues. |
| disciples of God of the necessary and much needed | | | | In fact, fraud can be used as a measure of |
| assistance. They concealed their possession to | | | | development as well as advancement because we |
| DEFRAUD GOD. In modem/recent times, fraud tends | | | | can classify the 'Third World' as the most fraudulent |
| to take the form of various uncivilized deceptive tricks | | | | countries and the 'developed' countries as less fraud |
| in our work places, in our professions, in voluntary | | | | infested. The decaying societies of the 'Third World' |
| organizations, societies, unions, etc., to falsify and to | | | | countries are a perfect example. Some leaders are |
| defraud. We defraud God, the Saints, Government, | | | | attempting true reformations in national conduct, |
| colleagues, parents, pupils/students, the needy and | | | | orientation, and discipline. In the other articles in this |
| less-privileged of property, rights, equipment, materials, | | | | series, we will be discerning some very plain, obvious |
| money, advise, counsel/help, etc. For example, the | | | | and common implications of fraud that have brought |
| case of public office holders who hang on to power | | | | the following untold problems/punishments to our land |
| by falsifying records, declaring false election results, | | | | and the ways of escape, hence our future depends |
| lying and cheating, persecuting sincere opposing staff, | | | | on it. |
| over-turning unfavorable decisions, using cult | | | | |