In these times when honest businesses are working hard to turn a profit, it never ceases to amaze us how such a large establishment as Ripley’s Believe it or Not! could leave themselves open for a scam that cost them over £116,000. Well, believe it or not, that’s just what happened.
It is reported that the multinational museum of oddities hired Scotsman John Ivory of Ayr to be their ‘financial controller’ for their London location. Oddities are displayed here from around the world and Ripley’s placed Ivory in charge of finances.
Oddly enough (no pun intended) Ripley’s didn’t have the foresight to check references it seems as Ivory had a long and varied history of walking away with former employers’ money. That’s an oddity they can add to their curious facts and artefacts.
Even in good times, businesses struggle to survive theft and losses but this, coming at a time when revenues are already down because of a stagnant economy is made all the more perverse. Ivory had been convicted just three years prior of sealing from a mortgage company to the tune of £43,991 and was only sentenced to 225 hours of community service.
If you think about this a moment, that makes for some fairly high wages as it works out to almost £200 per hour! Wouldn’t it be nice to earn that? In any event, it doesn’t look like Ivory will be trying this again anytime soon and if he does after all this notoriety it is just one more for the Believe It or Not! oddities.
In a statement released by a Ripley’s spokesperson, the organisation stated they were well aware of the situation and it is simply their policy not to provide public comments on ongoing legal dealings. They consider the matter closed.
