MONEY FOR NOTHING.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4545, 31 March 1923, Page 1

MONEY FOR NOTHING.

CONFIDENCE TRICKSTERS. . Confidence tricksters, who have been so busy in London recently, are gentlemen who are certain of getting something for nothing from other gentlemen who merely expect to get something for nothing. A man who parts with a few thousand pounds to an absolute stranger whom he has known for only a few minutes does not do so from any feeling of compassion or charity, but because he really thinks in his own mind that he is on “a good thing*’ and that the other man is the " mug.” The old, old story has been cleverly told to him and he is> fascinated by the lure of gold—and the apparent simplicity of the other man. A rich uncle has died leaving millions for distribution among really deserving people. The victim is asked to assist in the distribution of this money. He willingly consents, and just to show that he has implicit confidence in his new-found friend he hands him over hundreds of banknotes —and friend and money promptly disappear. How are the victims picked up? How is it known who has money and who has not ?

There are various ways of settling these points. No visitor to London fails to go to the Tower of London, the British Museum, or the National Gallery, or one of the other show places, and it is here that the confidence tricksters, who are, of course, well dressed and well spoken, lie in wait for their victims. They see at a glance who are the most likely ‘’mugs,” and by following them back to their hotels very quickly get to’ know all about them. A trap is laid. A confederate strikes up an acquaintance and the new-made friends go for a walk together. Suddenly a man walking in front of them drops a wallet, which they pick up and restore to the owner, who is so grateful (for the wallet contains hundreds of thousands of pounds and a will I) that he invites his friends to have a cup of tea and tells them all about his rich uncle. f have never heard of a woman being swindled in this way.