TRADESMEN DEFRAUDED.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19663, 15 June 1927, Page 12

TRADESMEN DEFRAUDED.

VALUELESS CHEQUES USED

CLEVER METHODS ADOPTED. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CHRISTCnURCH. Tuesday. Several tradespeople in Sydenham are bewailing the fact that they have recently parted with various sums of money in return for valueless cheques. One instance which occurred in the case of a grocer was an exceptionally clever form of trap. Two men entered the shop. One, who appeared to be of the labouring type, went to one end of the counter and made a small cash purchase The other was a well-drfssed stranger. He made some purchases at the far end of the counter and tendered in payment a cheque for £5 on which was the signature " Owen Moore." The assistant, wJjo was not entitled to take cheques in such circumstances, referred the cheque to the proprietor, mentioning the name of the alleged drawer. The labouring man then entered into the affair. " Owen Moore did you say?" he remarked. " I wish I had his money 1 used to work for him."

That statement removed any doubts and the cheque was cashed, substantial change being given, but as events have shown the name of the alleged drawer of the cheque is not known at the bank.

In another instance the man approached and chatted for half an hour with a storekeeper. He said he was short of cash but had a cheque for £5 signed by his employer " Owen Moore." He asked if the storekeeper could advance £2 to enable him to go to the city. As security he would leave the cheque and call back for the balance of the change. He suggested that if the storekeeper doubted his cheque ho could telephone to (lie man whose signature purported to be thereon. The storekeeper did not attempt to do this. There is no " Owen Moore " on the telephone list as it turns out, but leaving the storekeeper to sep if ho could verify the cheque elsewhere, the stranger chatted with a policeman on the footpath. When the storekeeper returned he paid the stranger £2, although he had been unable to verify the cheque. He is still waiting for the stranger to return, and he has the' cheque on which the bank has inscribed '* no account." The police have not been able to discover any " Owen Moore."