Gideon’s Story

"It is impossible for ideas to compete in the marketplace if no forum for
their presentation is provided or available." Thomas Mann, 1896

The Business Forum Journal

Gideon’s Story

By Tony Dalton

Gideon was a young Nigerian entrepreneur, based in the United Kingdom, who got an order that had to be manufactured in China and shipped to Nigeria for delivery to his customer.

It arrived from China in Nigeria on time three (3) weeks ago, but it is still in the port, it has not been released.

The shipper told Gideon that this was because they had not been paid.

Gideon explained that he had transferred the money on receiving the invoice three weeks before.

The shippers did not care, it could not be released until they were paid; so they sent him a copy of the invoice. When it arrived Gideon had a shock, it was half the price of the one he had received earlier and the bank details were different. He had paid the original money into a false bank account!

It appeared that someone had tampered with the e-mail and changed the invoice he had received.

He had been tricked and cheated, but he now had a another problem. You see, if he complained to the police they would quarantine his shipment while they sorted it out, hopefully find the perpetrator and then have a trial. The result would be that Gideon could not be able to deliver the order on time if that happened; and even more importantly, he would not get paid by his client.

Therefore he has decided to take it on the chin, pay the real sum due to the real shippers, get it out, deliver it and finally satisfy his client and get paid.

Gideon, being a young man, has learnt a valuable lesson, but the thing that really gets him worked up is that for perpetrator of this crime, the crime has paid off.

I know this is a simple story, sometimes described as a victim-less crime, as it is a financial one. It happens every day. However there has to be a way we can prosecute the criminals without making the victim suffer just for being the victim.

Tony Dalton is a Fellow of The Business Forum Institute and a consultant and Midlands businessman in the United Kingdom. He has led several businesses since the 1970’s. He was Leader of Warwick District Council from 1991 to 1995. Over the years he has learnt leadership, the ability to think strategically in the understanding of complex issues along with the values of accountability, probity and openness. Today he operates a marketing company and an educational publishing business. He is an advocate of creating positive cash flow and is the author of “Cash Management” and lectures on cash management to leaders of small and medium sized businesses. Among his major achievements - Creating the first screen based typewriter; Doubling the reserves of Warwick District Council while at the same time reducing staff by 40% and lowering taxes each year during his tenure; and, in leading the development of a new teaching aid for K-2 children, which has already benefited over 1,000,000 children in more than 40 countries.

Visit the Authors Web Site ~ http://www.think-cash.co.uk

Contact the Author: ~ Click Here

Return to

The Business Forum Journal

Editorial Policy: Nothing you read in The Business Forum Journal should ever be construed to be the opinion of, statements condoned by, or advice from, The Business Forum, its staff, workers, officers, members, directors, sponsors or shareholders. We pass no opinion whatsoever on the content of what we publish, nor do we accept any responsibility for the claims, or any of the statements made, within anything published herein. We merely aim to provide an academic forum and an information sourcing vehicle for the benefit of the business and the academic communities of the Pacific States of America and the World. Therefore, readers must always determine for themselves where the statistics, comments, statements and advice that are published herein are gained from and act, or not act, upon such entirely and always at their own risk. We accept absolutely no liability whatsoever, nor take any responsibility for what anyone does, or does not do, based upon what is published herein, or information gained through the use of links to herein. Please refer to our: legal disclaimer

The Business Forum
Beverly Hills, California, United States of America
Email: [email protected]
Graphics by DawsonDesign
Webmaster: bruceclay.com

© Copyright The Business Forum Institute - 1982 - 2015 ** All rights reserved.
The Business Forum Institute is not responsible for the content of external sites.

Read more