A NOVEL SYSTEM OF SWINDLING.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 2510, 11 August 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

A NOVEL SYSTEM OF SWINDLING.

A London correspondent, Bays the editor of the Christian Leader, sends me in considerable detail some facts regarding a novel system of swindling carried on from .1 certain town in the east of Scotland. The field of operation is doubtless a wide one, but our informant is acquainted only with some of the eases carried through in the metropolis. Considerable ingenuity and patience have been expended on its working, and it has met with much success. This is the "plan of campaign." The opening move is to send to a large firm a registered letter on some trivial subject connected with their trade. Now the "first post," in which this letter comps, is delivered to the office porter or housekeeper, as he is called, the office not being open. He gives a receipt to the postman for it, and puts it in the basket with the others. When the letter is opened, it is passed at once into the waste-basket. If note be taken that it was registered, it is put down to some mistake of the sender. At this pnint the matter rests for, say two months. The firm then receives a letter in the following terms :—" Two months ago I sent an order to you for so and so, and two ten pound notes. I have neither received the goods nor the receipt for the money. As Ido not require these goods now kindly return the money on receipt and oblige. P.S. I am sorry I did not take the numbers of the notes." Now the ball is opened. The cash book is searched, and contains no record of cash received. There is no entry of any order in the day-book. The correspondent is advised by return of post that his letter was not received. There must be some mistake. But he replies there is no mistake, at least on his side ; that ho holds a receipt for the letter, and doubtless the London Post Office people can show a receipt for it. On application to them they produce the receipt. The " housekeeper " can throw no light on the matter. Has the letter been lost somehow ? or is somebody dishonest ? No one can tell, but everything seeim so straightforward with regard to their correspondent that the money it returned with many apologies. The authorities at St. Martin's-le-Grand say that they have a pile of correspondence upon this man's registered letters heavier than one man can carry. From inquiry they find that he hasno known means of livelihood, but that somehow he contrives to live comfortably without working. Evidently he is growing r»ckless through success, for within the last month he has opened communications with a firm he successfully swindled of £15 two years ago. In the recent case his letters, asking fur money sent, were not replied to ; then he threatened prosecution, and finally he has let the matter drop.