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An Animated Ponzi

This animation was commissioned by Warner Bros. as part of the bonus features on their ‘Ocean’s 13′ DVD release. Concept and animation by Wes Ball and Justin Barber, with work in After Effects and Lightwave 3D.

Source: Strike Anywhere Films and Oddball Animation

Comments 1

  1. Guzzo wrote:

    It never ceases to amaze me how people will so easily empty their pockets and give their life savings to anyone who promises them guaranteed returns.

    I just finished reading the following news release at StopFraud.gov -

    Tickfaw Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison for Operating a $20 Million Investment Ponzi Scheme

    What amazes me about this Ponzi scheme is that the perpetrator was only 21 years old when he started his schemes, and that his victims were mostly retirees.

    According to excerpts from the article:

    During this time period, PIZZOLATO operated an investment Ponzi scheme targeting older investors, specifically retirees. He admitted that he lured his potential victims through advertisements in the local daily newspapers in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Hammond by promising rates of returns that were higher than market rates for CDs or U.S. Treasury Bills. These advertisements described PIZZOLATO’S investments as “guaranteed”, “safe”, “conservative”, “insured”, and “no-risk.” In many cases, PIZZOLATO would assure investors that they were invested in U.S. Treasury Bills, CDs, or another government-backed securities.

    PIZZOLATO admitted that used the investors’ money to build a new half-million dollar home in Ponchatoula, Louisiana; to purchase luxury items such as a BMW 750LI, a Mercedes Benz S430V, a Range Rover Sport, and a Chevrolet Corvette, and a $35,000.00 engagement ring; to make payments totaling millions of dollars to friends and family; to make invest in high-risk futures trading and/or commercial real estate; and to provide lulling payments to investors in an effort to conceal the true nature of the Ponzi scheme.

    Would you hand over your life savings to a 21-yr old kid based just on his word? Especially a kid owning a half-million dollar home, driving multiple high-priced vehicles, and living a much more opulent lifestyle than you? Wouldn’t you be suspicious in the least bit?

    Logically, many of us would think that after reaching a certain age, we would have gained a better understanding of the world we live in, and blew-off this kid’s sales efforts without giving it a single thought.

    But, the victims in this case trusted this kid without giving it any thought and handed him their savings without blinking an eye. It’s hard finding empathy for these victims. It’s almost like they deserved to lose their money. Amazing!

    Posted 28 Jul 2010 at 11:41 am

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