"A Spanish Swindle."

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 8052, 1 April 1905, Page 5

"A Spanish Swindle."

(Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, Thie a»y.,

The Government has received, through the Colonial Office, a warning .' from the Consular authorities in Spain regarding the operations of a gang who perpetrate a fraud known as the " Spanish swindle." The methods vary in details, but the principal features are always that some swindlers usually write to some person representing that a political prisoner in Spain, either dying or dead, has left, by will, valuables or property to his distant relatives. Sometimes' the prisoner has a daughter who is left with her property t<v the guardianship of relatives. If ths bait takes, bogus legal or official docu> ments are forwarded, followed by a request for money to enable, possession of the estate to be' gained. Needless to say, if the money is sent nothing more is heard of it. The consular authorities have reason to believe the gang is turning its attention to the. colonies and advise the public to be warned as the whole affair is a transparent fraud.