CONFIDENCE TRICKS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 17 July 1925, Page 5

CONFIDENCE TRICKS.

STRANGERS AND BUSINESS MEN VICTIMISED. BY CABLE—PRES- A 3SOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. LONDON, July 15. When not occupied trying to ensnare visiting Australians, London’s confidence tricksters do not scruple to impersonate Antipodean cattfe and sheep men. The latest exploit was at the expense of Mr. Cliaukour, an Egyptian of higii standing, who fell to the wiles of a bogus New Zealand cattle breeder, who joined the steamer at Marseilles and fathered th e Egyptian in London, He told secrets of his cattle export plans, and Mr. Chaukour handed over £7500 in bank notes as proof of his stability to join in a fictitious venture in the Dunedin district. He joined a taxi party to visit the V est. End, where all his companions alighted to transact business. They left Mr. Chaukour alone to discover that he had been fleeced. Another faultlessly dressed man with perfect manners victimised a number of West End antique dealers to the extent of thousands of pounds. Posing as Mr. David Gluckstein, of Messrs Lyons and Company, he purchased a large quantity of Queen Anne furniture and silver, allegedly on behalf of Lord Reading. In one case he paid for the silver with a “dud” cheque stolen from a tradesman’s cheque book, the dealer being satisfied with the cheque because it was drawn on his own bank. Another dealer was so delighted with the business done that he opened a bottle “of 1911 champagne and celebrated the deal. , . . Twenty detectives are now tracking the man, who has evaded pursuit.