New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-30
4 THIN SCHEME THAT DECEIVES UINI.

HOW COUNrRYMEN ARE PERSUADED TO Buy
WORTHLESS SUBURBAN PROPERTY.
The business of swincng through the United
States mails Is an extensive one and is carried on II
MANY ways. Just now the postoficc inspectors are
having a peek of trouble with periodicals which give
worthless town lots premiums in imaginary rrb''
and guessing contests. The gift always las strliit
tied to IT, In the shape OF small payment. ana There
is Away, Il bait for more substantial sum- HE
svjndl,rs publish, or pretend 10 publish, Il journal
devoted to the home. and declare that their bcie
factions are merely devices for increasing The cir
culatOn of this periodical.
The victim however, seldom sees the paper il
II does reach him hc finds IT cheap affair." hIi'u
with announcements Of premiums. etc Ills hrS'
knowledge Of the scheme comes III the form vi
notice that he has prize In "A rcbuS contest
The circulnr saws TO him: "Nonr name and addrcs
were sent 10 Us tconfdcnallyl by a fiicd III yours
accompanied hv Il paid tial Subscription 10 In" --
magazine and the correct answer 10 'hc r'p'S' We
have entered your name on our subscription b""h Io
three months and have mailed you III" November
number of The - hoping YOU will b" Sl'hclch'I'
well pleased with ii 10 renew your SUBSCRIPTION WIFI
IL expires i'm January
AS a result OF the rcbuS contest III whlch We
offered ~ 900 in cash and ~ 800 worth of Other
prizes Ia those who woud tell rs The correct S'i"
lion Of The rclus have the pleasure ol INFORMING
YOU that You have been awarded house lot - hN
100 feet, in the beautiful, healthy. growing low"
Of -
The circular says further that. * some colsd'ra
ton must be- named in the deed, ~ Is charge" I"'
the lot. This sum j. 10 pay tl" fees Tor drawing III
thc decd The lots are worth 49, 800 each. and
the price will be- doubled In ycar. Then come
the real trap in the announcement that III" c"'f'''
win sell the adjoining lot corner one To III" VIII
FER Of the prize for go.
The circular give. 4 list of persons scattered
throughout the country who are said TO hay" Won
prizes of money or svcrwarc. The person al
dressed is told that he /, Of fifty 70 whom nous
lots have been awarded. but there is no sp'c" |"
prInt this list OF names The whole scheme Is palpa
be enough 10 convince any one who knows h" way
M the world that IL Is a fraud, but hundreds OF
persons In the country are deceived by The specl""'
statements The mos, astonishing feature 81 III.
whole thing Is the r,buS. 1t consists OF th" hgur'
T. the words sect me" and the picture OF Rn"''
The solution Is 4" Forget me not" ON" can haIuH
understand the simplicity Of those who believe '''
prz,s Of value would be offered the guessing of
that "puzzlc.'
sometimes the swndlcrs own the land described
and sometimes they do not. They always send did'
grams of the property, showing II laid on, III me
s,r.c,s with fancy Names In several Instances post
Once Inspectors have visited the towns which are
described in such glowing terms. IN "ach case "
land wa, worthless nearly 80. Ihc" was FE
profit I'm ,,lng it al - lot. and an enormous one
in getting S1- for two lois. When II hh, "'i Hl,N
that such enterprises are irannnle NH va, f. tI com.
corn Tie sv .ndlcrs Soon get MP new l"nrI.l ",'
a new address ard continue ihclr campaign "l ,uu
cation They obtain III" names oi person, 10 Wh"'
IN nddrcs. their circulars by promising GOA wilth''
and the like to po,tmaStcrs for lists of h"ad, 'I "
lilies receiving mail Al their Office IN. r'', c r'
latlons forbid a postmaster complying WIN 'nch "a
onests In the Swlndors prompt the ofclal " Se""
the lis; through friend.