FOOLS AND THEIR MONEY

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 81, 5 April 1923, Page 8

FOOLS AND THEIR MONEY

A writer in the "Daily Chronicle" defines confidence tricksters as "gentlemen who are certain of getting.something for nothing from other gentlemen who .merely expect to get something for nothing." A man who parts with a few thousand pounds to an absolute stranger whom he has known for only a few minutes does not do so from any feeling of compassion or chanty, but because he really thinks in his own mind that he is on "a good thing," and that the other man is the "mug." The old, old story has been cleverly told to him, and he is fascinated by the lure of gold—and the apparent simplicity of the other man. A rich ifncle has died leaving millions for distribution . among realfv deserving people. The victim is .asked to assist in_ the distribution of this money. He willingly consents, and, just to show that he has implicit confidence in his newfound friend ho hands him over hundreds of bank notes—and friend and money promptly disappear. "I have never heard of a woman being swindled in this way," the writer 1 says. "I think it is a Chinese proverb which says that a man knows, but a woman knows better."