A Chabad shaliach asks a grieving widow for a donation in memory of her freshly-buried husband – $18,000 to pay for a new ark for the shul. She agrees and pays the money. In the end, the ark turns out to be a plywood and veneer armoir-like box worth in the neighborhood of $2000. The widow is outraged and sues. The Chabad rabbi says he has done nothing wrong. Whatever is left after buying the ark is used to pay for his living expenses and the programs he runs. I know this attitude is common among shluchim. I think this is a clear case of theft even under halakha. If you disagree, please tell us why.
[Hat tip: JWB.]