Wisconsin woman charged with selling fake Facebook stock

[jnelsoninjax]

OSHKOSH, Wis. ? As Facebook announces plans for going public with a stock offering, an Oshkosh woman has been charged with selling fake shares of the Internet social networking company.

Marianne Oleson is charged with 33 felony charges in Winnebago County Circuit Court. Prosecutors say the 46-year-old woman claimed to own Facebook stock and duped at least four people into buying some shares. A criminal complaint said one man gave Oleson $28,000 in cash and $14,000 in concrete work in exchange for stock documents that appeared to be legitimate.

Authorities said Oleson obtained the documents from a Florida company that owns private Facebook stock by pretending she was interested in purchasing $1 million worth of shares. Oleson allegedly told the victims she had $1 million in private Facebook stock because her daughter had gone to school with the company's founders, the Oshkosh Northwestern reported.

The Northwestern also reported that Oleson also is facing drug charges. Police said they discovered a marijuana growing operation while executing a search warrant at her home in January.

Source

[Tekkerson]

Well, that was quick.

[Squirrelington]

Well, that was quick.

Thats what I said when I seen it in the Northwestern. I was like wtf? already?!

[Astra.Xtreme]

The really sad part was that somebody was stupid enough to fork over $28k in cash for a stock that everybody should know doesn't exist yet.

[threetonesun]

The really sad part was that somebody was stupid enough to fork over $28k in cash for a stock that everybody should know doesn't exist yet.

It exists, in some form. Employees at Facebook have stock, as do people previously involved with the company, and shares have been moved around.

[neufuse Veteran]

It exists, in some form. Employees at Facebook have stock, as do people previously involved with the company, and shares have been moved around.

yeah there is private stock right now, the public offering hasn't taken place yet though

[cork1958]

Only in OSHKOSH, by gosh!!

[Astra.Xtreme]

It exists, in some form. Employees at Facebook have stock, as do people previously involved with the company, and shares have been moved around.

Ahh ok, I didn't know that private stock could be resold to somebody besides back to the company. I learned something new today. :D

http://robdkelly.com/blog/wall-street-economy/buying-privately-held-facebook-stock-through-private-stock/

[choppa]

I feel bad for the people that this happened to, but these days you have to thoroughly research any type of investment.

[Kaemon]

I feel bad for the people that this happened to, but these days you have to thoroughly research any type of investment.

Why should u feel bad for them? If they are dumb enough to not research something like stock before throwing away thousands of dollars,they deserve to lose their money!