PLAUSIBLE STRANGERS

Waipa Post, Volume 48, Issue 3470, 24 May 1934, Page 3

PLAUSIBLE STRANGERS

OBTAINING MONEY BY FRAUD

Several instances of people being victimised financially by plausible strangers are being investigated by Sydney detectives. A man with an engaging manner inspected some real estate at North Richmond, which a Windsor resident was offering for sale. The potential buyer told the owner of the land that he was a doctor and had just arrived in Sydney from Brisbane. He conveyed the impression that he was wealthy. After the inspection the two men came to terms. The stranger agreed to pay the deposit on the spot. He produced a cheque book, and wrote out a cheque for £IBOO, which he handed to the Windsor man. Then the "doctor" asked the seller to do him the courtesy of cashing a cheque for £lO for him, as he was short of ready cash. The seller of the property cashed the cheque, and the stranger departed. Later, both cheques were found to be valueless. Another man approached the proprietor of a city tobacco kiosk, and said he was the brother-in-law of the proprietor's neighbour. He said the latter had just bought £7 10s worth of goods and was 80s short of the amount. The kiosk proprietor was asked to lend that sum until the neighbour returned home that night. The story seemed genuine, and the kiosk proprietor handed the stranger 30s. It was not until the neighbours met that the trick was discovered.