CONFIDENCE TRICKS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 189, 12 August 1931, Page 9

CONFIDENCE TRICKS

SWINDLERS IN LONDON NEW ZEALANDERS WARNED. HOW "PIGEONS’’ ARE PLUCKED A notice has been placed in a prominent position in the New Zealand Government offices in London warning visitors to be careful of strangers whom they may meet. “This has been done,’’ the High Commissioner, Sir Thomas Wilford, says, “because, in spite of the number of times the confidence trick has been exposed, New Zealanders visiting London have fallen victims. “We set apart in this building a room which those who wish to see New Zealand newspapers or to meet fellowcountrymen over here can use. It is impossible, of course, to check the bona-fides of all those who come in. and, besides, the happy atmosphere of welcome which we try to convey would be entirely spoiled if there were a lot of questions and restrictions. We have found, however, that people have been in the habit of making use of the room who are not New Zealanders at all. They have come for the express purpose of ( plucking pigeons.’ tc real New Zealander, seeing a man sitting there, reading a paper from his own land, does not readily suspect him. If the other speaks to him and is able to talk intelligently about New Zealand—as these tricksters can—he is accepted at his face value. There is an offer to show the ‘new chum’ around a bit and the rest is far too easy.

“An elderly farmer and his wife were taken in by one of these gentry by the old, old rosary trick. They lost £l6O and although the rogue was caught and punished, they never saw their money back. Another New Zealander was swindled out of £l2. The staff have instructions to watch closely for swindlers, but it is generally impossible to know them as such until it is too late.’’