HUGE “OIL” SWINDLES.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 November 1924, Page 9

HUGE “OIL” SWINDLES.

A SHILLING A SQUARE FOOT. •TLAT-CATOHEBS” IN BRITAIN. London, Nov. 1. One hundred American “flat-catchers” have landed in England, intending to repeat. the great oil swindle, winch yielded them millions of sterling in the United States. The ringleader, who ie nicknamed “Glimmers,” bought a. connection which had been established in Britain by a swindler who secured £1,000,000 ac the result of h>is operations. “Glimmer’s” lieutenant is nicknamed “Mr. Excuse Me,” owing to his oily politeness. The gang consists of Jew “Gyppers,” posing as Canadians, who receive a quarter of the money collected. The swindle consists in selling supposed oil lands in Arkansas and Texas, which had been purchased at 10b an acre, and which are offered in Britadn at a shilling a square foot. The “flat-catchers,” finding that, receipts in the United States had fallen, according to official statistics, from £100,000,000 in 19*20, to £5,000,000 in 1924, owing to the vigilance of the police, have invaded Britain, believing that the authorities will not attempt to ■protect the gullible investor.