“NEXT OF KIN” SWINDLES.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume III, Issue 11, 24 December 1912, Page 5

“NEXT OF KIN” SWINDLES.

For a number of years a rathe; neat swindle lias been in operatic; by some sharpers at Home. Thi modus operand! is as follows : —A letter is sent to person with whose family history the correspondent has some litte acquaintance Thi letter reads“We have received from London an advertisement which appeared in an English paper this year, stating that a certain person by the name of , or representatives. may benefit by communicating with a firm in Scotland. Should you think this may relate tc vou, upon receipt of money ordefor 20'- we will forward you a fuP copy of the advertisement, also date and name of paper in which i. appeared, which should enable yoc to form a definite opinion, and i! found to refer to you. the propel steps could at once be taken to establish your claim. M e are writini to you as the name is not a very common one ; but please note we di not wish you to go to this expense unless you have reason for thinking it may refer to you.' Numbers ot persons who have been communicated with m this form have alreadx sent considerable sums of inon.’V K

enable the necessary inquiries to b< made It took 20 - to open up negotiations, and every oilier stop cost £1 or £‘2. and it was not until on< man. with visions of suddenly acquired wealth, had part col .with : five-pound note that he realised In was being had. and tlie corrc-spnn dene? ceased. The lucrative schero has now extended to Australia, am the Now Zealand, mails have broitghi numerous-, letters of the nature in dicated. Of course ir is an easy matter for the authors to obtain a directory, and jm-t as easy for them, at a er.-st of a few -hillings tu instr an adv,it'-< n-nr m any now-p-ipe tlicy c'i< , m ,n the terms return'd to The app ’em atimmeness of the an vr rtis <n nt Erma- another 2* l - tc furt Inr investigation. and them having gene thus far. the would-b’ legatee thinks he might as well go o: and see it mi,, and the live pound are cajoled from one before h dreams of the- deception.