Regarding loan sharks and the mob (hypothetical)

Jack Bando · #1 11-01-2006, 12:41 PM

I was watching Heroes episode 1 with a friend where the loan sharks kick down Niki's door while Niki and her son walk out the back. Our argument is about this: Does the mob kill everyone who owes them money?

My friend says yes to show people who's boss.

I said everyone is already scared of the mob in mob areas, and how is the dead person going to pay them back?

bobman0330 · #2 11-01-2006, 12:45 PM

The mob doesn't kill everyone who owes them money. Those mobsters weren't intending to kill Niki, they were planning on terrorizing her.

Observe Chevy Chase's character in Dirty Work for a good primer on how loan sharks treat deadbeats.

econophile · #3 11-01-2006, 12:46 PM

jack,

i think there it depends on the mob boss. some are obv crazy and bloodthirsty so they just kill everyone. others are shrewd and realize a living debtor is more valueable than a corpse. compare sonny to michael.

WhineyPkrGuy · #4 11-01-2006, 12:48 PM

I think it depends on the situation.

Since I get all my info from Scorcese films and the Sopranos I would think that the mob would first try to get the person in on a scam. I.E. see the pilot of the Sopranos where they rough up the Medicare guy and then make him run an insurance fraud scheme.

Or in another season where a guy who owned a sporting goods store owed them a ton of money they just took his store and maxed out the credit on it till he filed for bankruptcy.

I think you're right in most situations.

dinopoker · #5 11-01-2006, 01:02 PM

It depends on the amount, and the mobster. Most of the gangsters that I used to know would much rather have a live guy who could payoff rather than a dead 'example'. However, they might knock a debtor around some.

Usually, once a racketeer has his hooks into you, he will never let go. They will find some way to get you to do all kinds of shady stuff for them so that if anything comes back it's on your head and not theirs. The Sopranos episode with the sporting goods store was bang-on with this one.

If you ever do borrow from a shylock, pay the money back fast. The interest will kill you in no time flat.

NT! · #6 11-01-2006, 01:07 PM

great thread. while we're at it, let's ask these guys about money laundering.

thabadguy · #7 11-01-2006, 03:37 PM

The way it works is....they hurt u to show you they mean business ..a lil bit at firtst like a broken finger maybe.... or just a couple punches to knock a couple teeth out...then ur knee or hand etc.
They dont want to kill you....they want you to pay them and they want to continue loaning you money so they can juice u to death.
Do you also know that mafiosos wont let u pay part of the principal back. Like if you owe them 5k at 2 points a week and at the end of the week u have 1k to pay them...they wont accept it.

guids · #8 11-01-2006, 03:48 PM

Thats still a better deal than the payday loan stores.

bcscott · #9 11-01-2006, 05:29 PM

[ QUOTE ]

Observe Chevy Chase's character in Dirty Work for a good primer on how loan sharks treat deadbeats.

[/ QUOTE ]

What I don't understand is... when you owe a bookie a lot of money, and he, say, blows off one of your toes, you still owe him the money. Doesn't seem fair to me. Especially when he's gonna kill me in four days anyway.