Real Estate Scam in the Name of Religion

by undercover 4 Replies latest watchtower scandals

• 

  undercover

  There was a thread I saw yesterday about how the WTS loans money to congregations to build halls and then receives the deed to the hall. I layed awake last night thinking this through, trying to understand it....

  A congregation needs to build a hall. They go to the WTS for a loan. The money for this loan comes from donations from the worldwide brotherhood. So in effect, the congregation is borrowing some of its own money back. The WTS loans this money with interest. A good interest rate compared to banks, but interest nonetheless. The congregation uses this money to buy the materials to build the building. The congregation provides, free of charge, labor to build the building. The congregation then turns over the deed to the property back to the WTS. And now the congregation has a mortgage with interest that is owed and has nothing to show for it. They borrowed money from a lender so they could buy property for the lender and now have to pay the lender back. And on top of that the borrower pays for all the upkeep and maintance of the property for the owner/lender.

  What a scam. How did I never see thru this before?
• 

  garybuss

  
  Some are huge with apartments built on to the hall and used to house the Circuit managers who work directly for the benefit of the Publishing Corporation. Many, like the one here in Sioux Falls, Is valued at over $250,000.00 US.
  
  The one pictured here is at Arnpior, Ontario, Canada. Not sure what the story is on the bus.
  
  

  Enjoy!

  
  
  
• 

  bebu

  May I ask, does the congregation EVER get the deed after they pay off the loan? The WT is acting like a bank, and usually when a loan is paid off the borrower gets the title/deed. If the congregation doesn't get a deed, I think things are WAAAAAAY out of whack!!

  Also, I am aware of other denominations that make loans to churches for buildings and remodels, but the money does not come from donations. The denomination usually has a "credit union" style arrangement, where church members can start CDs or savings accounts and draw interest on those accounts. Funds are lent to chuches for projects at a very low interest rate. But members keep their own money (with interest).

  So, what is the need for donations, if the new congregation is actually paying for building? Shouldn't donors be reimbursed?

  Lotsa questions... Hmmmmmmmm. How strange....
• 

  Gerard

  http://www.netronline.com/frameset.asp?page=NewYork

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  View	Party Type	Party Name	Borough	Block	Lot	Partial	Recorded/Filed	Document Type	Pages	Corrected/ Remarks
  	1	WATCHTOWER					4/29/1997	UCC3 TERMINATION	0
  	1	WATCHTOWER					2/10/1994	INITIAL UCC1	0
  	1	WATCHTOWER					1/29/1993	INITIAL UCC1	0
  	1	WATCHTOWER					11/20/1992	INITIAL UCC1	0
  	1	WATCHTOWER B&T SOC/NY IN	BROOKLYN	245	12	ENTIRE LOT	3/17/1983	AGREEMENT	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER B/T/SOC/NY	QUEENS	11270	82	ENTIRE LOT	11/4/1993	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	0
  	1	WATCHTOWER BI/TR/SOCN/Y	BROOKLYN	63	1	ENTIRE LOT	1/25/1982	UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE 1	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIB&TR/SY/NY	BROOKLYN	87	5	ENTIRE LOT	1/13/1983	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIB/&TRAC/SOC	BROOKLYN	262	34	ENTIRE LOT	1/19/1989	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	0
  	1	WATCHTOWER BIBL&TRCTSOC	BROOKLYN	63	1	ENTIRE LOT	1/25/1982	UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE 1	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE & TRAC	BROOKLYN	54	4	ENTIRE LOT	5/20/1986	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE & TRAC	BROOKLYN	54	12	ENTIRE LOT	5/20/1986	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE & TRACT	BROOKLYN	41	44	ENTIRE LOT	7/27/1993	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE & TRACT	BROOKLYN	54	19	ENTIRE LOT	7/27/1993	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE & TRACT	BROOKLYN	54	22	ENTIRE LOT	7/27/1993	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	0
  	1	WATCHTOWER BIBLE & TRACT	QUEENS	166	40	ENTIRE LOT	1/4/1991	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE & TRACT	BROOKLYN	52	4	ENTIRE LOT	1/3/1991	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	0
  	1	WATCHTOWER BIBLE & TRACT	BROOKLYN	265	5	ENTIRE LOT	9/11/1990	STREET PROCEDURE	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE & TRACT	BROOKLYN	54	1	ENTIRE LOT	7/9/1990	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	0
  	1	WATCHTOWER BIBLE & TRACT	BROOKLYN	5126	21	ENTIRE LOT	1/5/1990	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	0
  	1	WATCHTOWER BIBLE & TRACT	BROOKLYN	87	5	ENTIRE LOT	12/22/1989	MISCELLANEOUS	0
  	1	WATCHTOWER BIBLE & TRACT	BROOKLYN	87	9	ENTIRE LOT	12/22/1989	MISCELLANEOUS	0
  	1	WATCHTOWER BIBLE & TRACT	BROOKLYN	87	5	ENTIRE LOT	12/22/1989	SUNDRY AGREEMENT	0
  	1	WATCHTOWER BIBLE & TRACT	BROOKLYN	87	9	ENTIRE LOT	12/22/1989	SUNDRY AGREEMENT	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE & TRACT	BROOKLYN	54	38	ENTIRE LOT	11/15/1989	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE & TRACT	BROOKLYN	248	14	ENTIRE LOT	9/12/1989	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE & TRACT	BROOKLYN	226	4	ENTIRE LOT	1/13/1989	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE & TRACT	BROOKLYN	235	37	ENTIRE LOT	12/13/1988	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE & TRACT	BROOKLYN	235	37	ENTIRE LOT	11/17/1988	CONTRACT OF SALE	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE & TRACT	BROOKLYN	87	9	ENTIRE LOT	1/13/1987	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE & TRACT	BROOKLYN	234	17	ENTIRE LOT	8/1/1986	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE & TRACT	BROOKLYN	224	20	ENTIRE LOT	3/10/1986	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	0
  	1	WATCHTOWER BIBLE & TRACT	BROOKLYN	63	1	ENTIRE LOT	10/19/1984	UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE 3	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE & TRACT	BROOKLYN	208	12	ENTIRE LOT	8/30/1984	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY OF NEW YORK INC	BROOKLYN	5110	1	ENTIRE LOT	10/29/1996	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	0
  	1	WATCHTOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY OF NEW YORK INC	BROOKLYN	229	6	ENTIRE LOT	5/9/1994	ASSIGNMENT, MORTGAGE	0
  	1	WATCHTOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY OF NEW YORK, INC					8/12/1993	UCC3 TERMINATION	0
  	1	WATCHTOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY OF NEW YORK, INC					3/24/1993	INITIAL UCC1	0
  	1	WATCHTOWER BIBLE &TRACT	BROOKLYN	52	4	ENTIRE LOT	12/28/1993	STREET PROCEDURE	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE &TRACT	BROOKLYN	219	1	ENTIRE LOT	5/14/1987	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE &TRSOC	BROOKLYN	226	8	ENTIRE LOT	1/5/1988	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE &TRSOC	BROOKLYN	229	21	ENTIRE LOT	1/5/1988	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE &TRSOC	BROOKLYN	234	24	ENTIRE LOT	1/5/1988	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE &TRSOC	BROOKLYN	234	29	ENTIRE LOT	1/5/1988	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE &TRSOC	BROOKLYN	234	39	ENTIRE LOT	1/5/1988	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE &TRSOC	BROOKLYN	248	15	ENTIRE LOT	1/5/1988	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE &TS/NY	BROOKLYN	265	5	ENTIRE LOT	4/14/1989	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE &TSOC	BROOKLYN	245	12	ENTIRE LOT	3/17/1983	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE ANDTRACT SOCIETY INC	BROOKLYN	224	3	ENTIRE LOT	7/20/1994	SATISFACTION OF MORTGAGE	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE ANDTRACT SOCIETY OF NEW YORK INC	BROOKLYN	234	28	ENTIRE LOT	10/11/2002	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	0
  	1	WATCHTOWER BIBLE ANDTRACT SOCIETY OF NEW YORK INC	BROOKLYN	5110	1	ENTIRE LOT	1/5/1998	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE ANDTRACT SOCIETY OF NEW YORK INC	BROOKLYN	41	42	ENTIRE LOT	9/23/1996	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE ANDTRACT SOCIETY OF NEW YORK INC	BROOKLYN	41	13	ENTIRE LOT	8/11/1995	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	0
  	1	WATCHTOWER BIBLE ANDTRACT SOCIETY OF NY					2/3/2000	INITIAL UCC1	0
  	1	WATCHTOWER BIBLE ANDTRACT SOCIETY OF NY INC.	MANHATTAN	2137	21	ENTIRE LOT	8/9/1996	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	2
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE ANDTRACT SOCIETY OF PENNSYLVANIA	BROOKLYN	6625	72	ENTIRE LOT	8/22/2000	SATISFACTION OF MORTGAGE	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE ETAL	MANHATTAN	2137	21	ENTIRE LOT	1/16/1976	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	2
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE ETAL	MANHATTAN	2137	21	ENTIRE LOT	7/3/1974	MORTGAGE	4
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE ETAL	MANHATTAN	2137	21	ENTIRE LOT	2/13/1974	MORTGAGE	5
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE ETC	BROOKLYN	5126	21	ENTIRE LOT	10/22/1984	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	0
  	1	WATCHTOWER BIBLE TRETAL	MANHATTAN	1947	57	ENTIRE LOT	2/8/1971	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	2
  	1	WATCHTOWER BIBLE _TRACT SOCIETY OF NY					5/26/1992	INITIAL UCC1	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE& TRACT	BROOKLYN	51	17	ENTIRE LOT	2/20/1987	CONTRACT OF SALE	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE&TR/SOC/	BROOKLYN	87	9	ENTIRE LOT	12/29/1986	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	0
  	1	WATCHTOWER BIBLE&TRACT S	BROOKLYN	219	1	ENTIRE LOT	4/13/1988	AGREEMENT	0
  	1	WATCHTOWER BIBLE&TRACT S	BROOKLYN	224	5	ENTIRE LOT	4/13/1988	AGREEMENT	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE&TRACT S	BROOKLYN	54	4	ENTIRE LOT	4/17/1986	CONTRACT OF SALE	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE&TRACT S	BROOKLYN	54	12	ENTIRE LOT	4/17/1986	CONTRACT OF SALE	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE&TRACT S	BROOKLYN	51	20	ENTIRE LOT	1/15/1985	CONTRACT OF SALE	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE&TRACT S	BROOKLYN	51	21	ENTIRE LOT	1/15/1985	CONTRACT OF SALE	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE&TRACT S	BROOKLYN	51	22	ENTIRE LOT	1/15/1985	CONTRACT OF SALE	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE&TRACT S	BROOKLYN	51	23	ENTIRE LOT	1/15/1985	CONTRACT OF SALE	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE&TRACT S	BROOKLYN	208	1	ENTIRE LOT	5/31/1984	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE&TRACT S	BROOKLYN	208	1	ENTIRE LOT	5/10/1984	CONTRACT OF SALE	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE&TRACT/	BROOKLYN	51	17	ENTIRE LOT	3/12/1987	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE&TRCT/	BROOKLYN	1258	21	ENTIRE LOT	7/30/1986	SATISFACTION OF MORTGAGE	0
  	1	WATCHTOWER BIBLE&TRCTSO	BROOKLYN	63	1	ENTIRE LOT	3/13/1982	UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE 1	0
  	1	WATCHTOWER BIBLE&TRSOC	BROOKLYN	63	1	ENTIRE LOT	4/13/1982	UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE 1	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE/TRACT/S	BROOKLYN	245	12	ENTIRE LOT	4/7/1983	AGREEMENT	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE/TRCSOC	BROOKLYN	51	20	ENTIRE LOT	5/8/1986	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE/TRCSOC	BROOKLYN	51	21	ENTIRE LOT	5/8/1986	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE/TRCSOC	BROOKLYN	51	22	ENTIRE LOT	5/8/1986	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	0
  	2	WATCHTOWER BIBLE/TRCSOC	BROOKLYN	51	23	ENTIRE LOT	5/8/1986	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	0
  	1	WATCHTOWER BLE/TRACT/SOC	BROOKLYN	63	1	ENTIRE LOT	7/18/1983	UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE 1	0
  	1	WATCHTOWER BLE/TRACT/SOC	BROOKLYN	63	1	ENTIRE LOT	7/18/1983	UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE 1	0
  	1	WATCHTOWER CORP.	MANHATTAN	1308	33	ENTIRE LOT	1/24/1968	DEED, 1-2 FAMILY	2

  For details, click on DET option for each propety. Note that some have scams scans of the agreements (such as property transfers) under the option IMG.

  Notice the third IMG document scan where the Watchtower loans $62,000 + interest to their "brothers" "New York Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, Washington Height Unit". Notice the fourth IMG scam scan for: $150,000

  The fith IMG scan (a title transfer) was signed by F.W. Franz himself.

  I wonder if the donnors knew their donations ware being used today to protect pedophiles within the WT ranks.
• 

  DJ

  I attended a convention for xjw's a couple of years ago and there was an x elder from a Spanish speaking congregation there. He spoke about how their Kingdom Hall was closed because the congregation was very poor and couldn't keep up the mortgage.