CONFIDENCE TRICKS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 143, 19 June 1931, Page 12

CONFIDENCE TRICKS

PLAUSIBLE STRANGERS OPERATIONS AT VANCOUVER AUSTRALIANS AS VICTIMS. VANCOUVER, May 27. On the occasion of every trip of the Aorangi and Niagara to this port an average of two cases is reported to the police here of Australian passengers being fleeced by confidence men when they come ashore. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Vancouver City Police would be glad it public attention were drawn to the matter in order that Australians might be warned against giving money tu plausible strangers they meet, on thu boats or to their principals ashore. Cases are becoming so regular that the police would be surprised if they were not summoned by some victim of the guileless practices of plausible gentry who ply a profitable trade at the expense of Australians. Of all travellers Australians arc regarded as the easiest, marks. Bank managers say they would also be grateful if the press issued a warning to travellers from Australia not to part with their funds except on the advice of a banker. It was hoped that the travelling public would be aware by now of its risks and dangers, but the proportion of victims is greater than ever. On the occasion of the arrival here of the Niagara on her present trip the manager of one of the Vancouver banks had the greatest difficulty in preventing an Australian traveller paying over £6OOO to a confidence man. Operations of t ie ‘ ‘ Steerers. ’ ’ The “game” has varied little from the time of its inception half a century ago. Confidence men, known as “steerers,” travel to and fro a’eross the Pacific from Vancouver and San Francisco, co-operating with groups working out of Sydney to and from the Far East. The “steerer” looks over the passengers, chooses his possible mark and wins confidence. They arc inseparable during the voyage and “do” Vancouver together. They then, apparently by accident, meet a “stranger,” and it is not long before the victim is relieved of his «cash, gen, erally in a turf or other betting transaction. I “Hauls” of £50,000 and £30,000.

One of the biggest hauls in recent years was £25,000, taken from the victim after the “steerer” accompanied him to Montreal and back. Flo returned here to telegraph to Australia for more funds. The bank manage i tailed to persuade the visitor that he was falling into a trap and another £25,000 was cabled for and passed over to the syndicate. A big indust rial man parted with £30,000 on the day after his arrival. The detectives have arrested 19 ot

these men this year, but to no purpose. They cannot be charged in any way except as vagrants, as the victim has no status in law if he is defrauded in a gambling proposition. The highest bail for vagrancy is £lO. They arc content to lose that and jump their bail. In one case bail was fixed at, £l6OO and £6OO for two men. The pair involved jumped their bail and fled across the border. This was a case in which a stockbroker’s office, complete with share-boards and tables and dummy ticket-tape, was fitted into a motor-car to impress the victim that their friends of a few hours’ standing could wield influence at Wall Street or other stock market, The police retained ihe broker’s office. The authorities hero say they believe I 'hat were it not for the open-handed > generosity of Australians the confi- | donee men would not include Van- i couver in their operations, as New I 1 Zealanders. Canadians and Englishmen ' do not succumb to their blandish- I m c n t s.