Do I understand correctly, people who had never met/didn't know him personally gave him money?
This is correct. It is how the forum works everyday with one exception. To raise funds of that amount you would normally have to be a proven and fairly senior member as well a great player. ThePersonInQuestion was neither and investors paid for it.
So I could come on this forum you mention and claim to be "Phil Helmuth" or some named player and people would invest in me? Or am I missing something? surely you check these people out!
obviously they will check the databases of results but what ther members of the forum forgot is that having a bracelet doesnt = good player/ non-busto trustworthy guy.
Just seen wilson on pokertube on "£50 says you will watch this" and he comes across as a loud brash tool imo. As someone who has been rolled/hacked i hope the backers get their money back. Stories like this give these sites a bad name.
I agree entirely, and i am sure the person in question was who he said he was, but I was interested to know what checks were/are done to validate someones authenticity? The internet being "faceless" people can claim to be anybody if they think others will believe it.
I think He took pictures of himself holding up a sign saying Hi Tori (a mod at PTP). Hence he used his identity as a WSOP bracelet winner to steal money from people
By the way I am not here to flame the site, I intend to use this site properly - mainly for info etc on live tourney play in the uk