NEW KIND OF TRICK.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3415, 20 February 1920, Page 7

NEW KIND OF TRICK.

PREYING ON THE NOUVEAU RICHE. SYDNEY: Jan. 21. A very large number‘ of persons, mostly trades and fortull:lt:e specul:l~ tors. have made fortunes ill Austrailia ‘during the past two years, and a considerable proportion of them are at present headed for foreign parts, 011 globe-trotting intent. Every big P. and O. steanier th'at leaves is crowded with wealthy people—-and the confidence tl'icks‘l'el‘ has b(.‘Cil operating‘ zunongst them with a new kind of trick. In Australia——afid New Zealaxiders have no doubt encountered the same conditioll—it is difficult to obtain gold. The traveller going abroad, and anxi--0115 to avoid the. Inul'derolls exchange, is not at all satisfied with the small dole of sovereigns allowed him by the authorities, and will ezigerly snap at 9413' Offer of gold. The confidence men Wol‘kcd on this fact. iliere are two in—stances. HClll‘y O.\'ford, a lvaker, travelling on the» Ormonde to Engl-a.nd, went to the Colllmonwealt.ll B 11111: in Melbourne and drew £l4O in notes. He was accosted in the bank by '3. man whom he knew as a fellow passenger, and who said he knew where to get gold for notes. They had ‘ii drink together, and then went to the Safe Deposit. Oxford handed over the notes, and the Imlll wt‘-nt inside. Oxford waited :3, long time, l'>ll'~.‘ he ne\'el' s:lw the obliging Sil'al),*,§'Cl' again, Ri(:h:ll‘(.l

the deck of the Ormoude ill.MelboLll'll_e, when a man accosted him. They talked lcasll'a.lly togetller..l Davidson remarked that he ‘had £75 in 110tes,‘ou which he expected. to lose, and the stranger said he could get gold at ‘the Safe Depot. They went there. The stranger produced a. cheque for £IOO which he said Davidson could hold as security, and he took the £75 and disappeared info the Safe Depot. Davidson waited for 21 long‘ time, and then went uneasily’ round to ‘the bank indicated on the cheque. The bank did not know the siglla.tm'e-——tlle‘ cheque was no good vcllate.\'er. Neither of these eonfitleucc tl'icks‘te.v's wt-15 caught. All outward-bound passexigem have now been warned against tzhe latest trick.