The Confidence Trick: Latest Phase

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume IV, Issue 1158, 30 November 1904, Page 2

The Confidence Trick: Latest Phase

lah (old by n rooont arrival from Now Zealand (wrifos a London corrospoiident) that a gang of confidence mon " are posing in Sydney as representatives of the New Zealand Tourist Department, They evidently watch the incoming steamers from Now Zealand, and 1 shadow' a new arrival until they can ascertain his narno. My informant, who was one of tho gang's victims, says ho wis accosted by namo in tho street by a well drossed individual, who statod that tho New Zealand Tourist Department had sent himself mid others across to Sydney to put young NewZealandors on their guard against tho wiles of unscrupulous confidence mon, Tho department was wil ing, through its Sydnoy representatives) to lako chargo of any money thj New Zealnmler might havo in his posses?,ion, and return it to him on his departure from Sydney, making only a nominal charge for tho safe custody of the cash. Believing the man's story, and thinking the suggestion a very good one, my informant acoompnoied tho stranger to an office, over which was tho sign" Now I Zealand Tourist Company." The discrepancy between this title and the statement of tho man, who desoribed it as a Government offloo, does not seem to havo struck the unsophisticated young traveller. He lost three pounds in the bogus" Now Zealand Tourist Company," and was lucky in not losing more.