Justice Is Blind

Not an estate planning post, but more of a public service announcement in the financial arena. Lori Sattler is an acting NY Supreme Court Judge. In the process of selling an apartment and buying another one, she followed the instructions in an email supposedly from her attorney and wire transferred $1 million to a fraudulent account which then wired the money to a bank in China. The money is long gone.

Several points of varying interest:

1. When transferring $1 million, it makes sense to verbally confirm the instructions regarding the wire transfer.

2. It has been a tough month for judges in NY between this judge getting scammed and the Court of Appeals justice who died with an outdated will that contained deceased beneficiaries and ignored her husband.

3. Perhaps Judge Sattler can commiserate with John Podesta at a Democratic fundraiser about the travails of falling for a link in an email.

Photo Credit:  AP/File

License:  Fair Use/Education

And This Is a Bad Idea?

China's Ministry of Culture has vowed to crack down on the presence of strippers at funerals.  Apparently, strippers are used to bolster attendance at the funerals.  A well attended funeral is considered a positive sign for the after life of the deceased.

Three quick points:

1.  It is rare when "culture" and "strippers" are used in the same sentence,

2.   China might now be eclipsing the US culturally in addition to economically.

3.  Janice has permission to have strippers at my funeral so come one, come all.