fraud, old style

     We all know that fraud isn't anything new--or do we? You can read about fraud in the Bible--yes, the Bible. Remember the part where Ananias promises the group the money he gets for selling something, but keeps part of the money?  The Annals of Imperial Rome, also about 2,000 years old, describes fraud and graft in detail. A whole section of Rome burned--while Nero fiddled, supposedly. After the fire was put out, all of the upper-class Romans who owned property in the burned section were voted money to build nice new villas in another part of town. Arson isn't mentioned, but it certainly is suspicious, isn't it?