Well, if I was running a scam, I’d first register a company it as a 501c.
For a name, I’d choose some convoluted word-jumble that almost sounds like an existing charity or one that might exist. One that preys on the patriotism of people who pay first and think later.
Patriotism, Religion, or pictures of some kid dying always make Cons and Grifting easier.
Then, I’d talk some company into donating a large prize that would seem great to my target audience… one that they’ve jacked up the price on before the donation… like say 100%? One that they can write off fully on their taxes.
I’d then make a hand-shake deal for paying the dealership an “honorarium” for using their name (free TV advertising and money back under the table? What dealer would say no?).
I’d hire a star (who gets payed, but its payment deferred so I can collect the money first to pay them) and talk a TV station into donating their air time. Maybe they’ll donate midnight airtime at prime time rates, because that’s less taxes they have to pay.
I’d make sure it plays between old reruns of popular shows and old movies on later at night… sometime between after the news and just before the bars close for maximum audience participation.
Then, after all the money is collected, I’d pay the stars, cut checks for the [del]kick-back[/del] “honorarium”, carve up 98% of the rest as “fund raising fees” … and mail a check to the charity for the $1.98 left over.
From there, its just a matter of pulling the Bubba’s name out of the hat who gets the prize & tell them they have to pay the tax on it up front to collect it.
Or.
They can choose $500 cash instead and the car will go back to the charity. If Bubba signs off, he thinks it goes back to the charity to be raffled again… but that is when I’d stencil the charity’s name on the side and call the truck a ‘company car’ to be used by me for fundraising.
When all the assets are played out, I’d declare the charity insolvent, dissolve the charity, and drive home in my new truck, which was my golden parachute.
(It’d be in specified in my employment contract that if I meet my goals, I’d get to keep my ‘company car’, so it’d look nice and legal.) And when I register it, I’ll show the $500 sale paperwork… so I’ll only pay sales tax on that.
Maybe I’d even pay Earl Scheib to paint it back to a nice sporty color… and while I’m waiting for the paint to dry, I can complain about my taxes and talk-up my favorite candidate in the waiting room.
Then again, I’d make a horrible scam artist, so I’m sure this is all 100% wrong and that there are no Grifters and Con-Men who operate like this in the world…
"I’m Proud to be an American! And My VISA, it ends in ‘A’… Won’t You Give…?"
