BAFFLED BY HOAXER

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 51, 18 November 1946, Page 6

BAFFLED BY HOAXER

HUNDREDS OF FAKED ORDERS FOR GOODS

An anonymous letter-writer who has sent hundreds of fake orders for large quantities of goods to traders in Burton-on-Trent has victimised dozens of people.

Residents in the Staffordshire town have found tons of gravel unloaded on their lawns.

Lorry loads of logs and straw have been dumped in private drives. Crates of live poultry have been delivered from firms a long distance away.

One man had a portable greenhouse put up in his garden. The hoaxer has spent many pounds and gone to great trouble to make his letters seem authentic.

Now the police believe they are on his trail. They say he is well educated and has a good knowledge of business correspondence. Some firms supplying the “oi’ders” have been put to great expense in making up the requirements of their supposed customers and in transport. They are being forced to make extensive checks on every order they receive in the Burton area. Mr J. E. Farringdon, Burton furniture dealer, said: “I received an order for 100 chairs and 50 tables to be sent to the Wyggeston Hotel for an imaginary whist drive.”