SWINDLERS' "GOLD" TRICK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18742, 23 June 1924, Page 7

SWINDLERS' "GOLD" TRICK.

BARONET LOSES £10,000:

.'..'■,;.;:'• :J> v: LONDON. June, 5. The Daily. Mail discloses an ingenious fraud by which ■ a gang of - American swindlers got £10,000 from a certain baronet, ; who 'is :engaged;in .business in the North of England. ! The baronet opened ,--; a, - letter •-f from Canada, addressed to his brother, who had recently died, in which >' the writer recounted his j; discovery ~of a remarkably rich gold mine, in which: the brother was: entitled to a share .bn account of his partnership with the "writer. The. letter enjoined the utmost secrecy in ; order to enable the discoverers to -peg. out as many claims as possible, '.' ■-v' -; ',* . ' The baronet, as 1 his brother's executor, replied ,by visiting America, 1 where he met one of the swindlers, in New. York/who produced samples of gold.-. The 'baronet parted vvith;,£lo,ooo for the- development of the mine. He received a. letter on. the following day, < saying, '■]■'"'• You hot-headed old fool! \, You're not the first that's been done by the gold strike gang! " .

■'■ The gang unsuccessfully tried 'to dupe other"English ,jv business ;■>•.- men; Their method <is to ■ address a ■ letter :to ■ some deceased ■ person, .explaining ■ that, a ■ fortune is awaiting Mm, iii the' expectation that fus relatives or executors • willv take the bait. ■ .- -"': '