MILLION POUND CAMPAIGN.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18613, 8 July 1930, Page 4

MILLION POUND CAMPAIGN.

CONFIDENCE GANGS ARE , ACTIVE. Confidence tricksters in London and in all the capitals of the world have launched a million-pound campaign (says the “Daily-Telegraph”). The total amount netted by confidence men last year was estimated at £200,000. That figure has already been# passed this year, and there appears to be little doubt that the £1,000,000 mark will be reached by Christmas. These clever and plausible criminals have formed themselves into organised syndicates, and, being shrewd students of human frailties, are now employing more women in furtherance of their plans than ever before. Their operations are world wide. They pick up their intended victims in Australia, Canada, North and South America, Africa, and Europe, and nurse them assiduously in their globetrotting expeditions. Then somewhere —it may be London, Vienna, Paris, New York, Berlin, Rome, or anywhere else —a financial wizard appears on the scene with a simple scheme whereby many thousands of pounds may be made out of horse racing, horse dealing, company promoting, Stock Exchange operations, huge bequests to charities —indeed, anything relating to high or low finance. Very cleverly the victim is lured into the trap. He is usually a keen and cautious business man who, thanks to his own thrift and industry, has a handsome balance in the bank. He now sees a chance of making money for nothing, and —he succumbs. He is told his share of the successful transaction is, say, £IOO,OOO. and that the money is waiting in the bank for him. There is one slight hitch. The principals will not pay out the money until they are satisfied that the parties to the transaction were in a position to pay if there had been a loss. The confidence men are able to produce their credentials, but what about the victim? He, too, must prove his ability to pay. He cables for the money, hands it over to his philanthropic friends, and—that is the end of his money. In order to gain time and get clear of danger the tricksters send him on a wild-goose chase to various parts of the world in pursuit of the phantom fortune. By the time it dawns upon him that he has been swindled the rogues have negotiated the tell-tale bank notes and have reached safe territory.