The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-28

THE reason for this may be ascribed 10
| the fact that people read more in cold
weather than at other seasons of the year.
| Most of the schemers, whose business is
OF fraudulent character and leads TO the
| misuse of the mails for obtaining their
| nefarious ends, are well aware of this
fact, and consequently insert their adver-
tisements more persistently in the winter
months, especially so during the holiday
season.
THE country is full of people who de-
velop all sorts of schemes TO live on the
gullibility CT their fellow citizens. There
is hardly city that has not its set OF
| promoters and schemers, New York, Chi
cago. and Boston predominant ing. There
are some whose methods OF obtaining their
| ends are subject to more severe censure
and punishment than those Of others.
| Those who advertise and offer apparently
honest and legitimate work TO men and
| women and af,erward rob them OF their
| hard-earned savings, are the ones who de-
serve the severest censure and PUNISH
ment. Lottery schemes, counterfeiters,
green goods men, brokerage, and similar
concerns, where a person is apt TO know
that he may be dealing with swindlers,
in for their share of punishment. although
net as strong as the other class of mail
frauds, as in this case the patron walks
into the trap with open eyes.
There were thrty-sx fraud orders is
sued during the last six months, twenty
four of which were entered upon the rec
ords during the last three months. Ameri-
can lottery schemes are almost a thing OF
the past. as far as the Postoftiee Depart
] T.. Co., and
Austrian and occasionally Canadian lot
terry concerns which, at regular intervals.
pour in a heavy mail OF prospectuses and
circulars. II does not make any differ
ence whether these lotteries are legitimate
or fraudulent the Postoffice Department
does not transmit their mails.
zone of the most common schemes Of
this kind which has proved profitable in
many cases 10 its promoters may be desig
mated the jewelry fraud Advertise
ments are inserted in papers remote from
the base of operations. reading like this:
Barrels of money are emptied every
week into the pockets OF those who are
wide awake. II you want few barrels
of money don't hesitate TO take UP our
offer at once.
THE concern advises the patron to send
81 for which they offer to remit a sample
of their jewelry which is gotten up so
the difference between it and the genuine
On receipt of the dollar the patron of the
scheme is sent a new crisp s. bill. on
which is pinned a piece Of cheap tewelry.
He is led to believe that he VIII obtain
1000 counterfeit 81 bills for $40 1t is
alleged that when any person sends in
either $40 or ,I50 for the amount speci-
fed, the schemers send simply cheap
jewelry.
49, lxTnF 4fcft1
for writer's TO copy letters at home. II vas
discovered by the schemers that 1t raid
best 10 insert their advertisements under
the heading Female help wanted. The
patron. upon answering, is requested TO
sent u cents for an outfit. He receives
a piece Of ordinary canton flannel, de-
scribed as a jewel Furnishing cloth. and
a circular describing the work which is
to be done This consists of writing what
are known as chain letters asking the
addressee TO remit IL cents to the concern
for one of their furnishing cloths The
pay of the victim is computed on the
number OF cloths he or she sells. whereas
the advertisement implies that the pay
will be based upon the number of letters
written.
"A scheme which was operated quite ex-
tensively was the circulation throughout
the country OF pamphlet in relation 10
stock brokerage. This pamphlet said that
large profits were being made for Gus
toners; the lowest being IA per cent
monthly percentage on investments. The
scheme was TO obtain a large amount OF
remittances. after which the operations of
the concern were to be suspended, leaving
the funds In the hands OF the officers who
would make away as best they could.
IAN advertisement extolling the virtues
of patent medicine attracted the atten-
ton OF the postal authorities and caused
the issuance OF a fraud order. After hav-
ing bull: up large business, the rro-
prietor turnel the business over to some
one else. who received remittances, but
never returned any goods for them.
AN advertisement purporting to employ
lady copyists at a weekly salary of S1b. and
asking for 10 cents for copy of the Mai
cen Lady and full particulars, caused the
interference OF the postal inspectors. To
those who sent the required Is cents the
concern sent the instructions to write TO
their friends as follows:
My Dear Tom: Would you like TO get
a diamond scarf pin, free? If So send this
letter asd 80 cents to the Maiden Lady
Publishing Company, Cahootsville. for
years subscription to that publication.
They will send you full Instructions for
getting the diamond scarf pin.
The plan of this concern is to obtain IL
cents on the promise Of work, and so cents
on the promise of diamond scarf pin. both
of which promises we're fraudulent and
false.
Another scheme consisted OF an offer TO
make loans to persons on advantageous
terms. requiring certain payments of money
TO be made 10 the concern In advance OF
the issuing of such loans, and after receipt
of such payments fraudulently refusing to
make the loans as agreed before receipt of
such remittance
This is the scheme OF an enterprisIng
Westerner: He sends postal cards TO per-
sons who have relatives in tho Philippines,
saying that your son before embarking
for the seat OF war had his photograph
taken with the ship as background, and au-
thorized me TO correspond with you and
offer you his photograph. which ] will send
upon the receipt OF SO cents The
swindler received lots OF money, but the
patrons were disappointed at the non-re-
ceipt of the promised picture.
Another concern mailed requests for
prices on certain goods TO iron dealers.
After receipt OF the price he would order
the goods priced, citing fictitious refer
ences. The goods were sent, the references
were co-conspirators, and the dealer re-
manned without compensation for his goods.
"a so-called firms IA the East offered 500
silk remnants, sill thread. embroidery silk,
needles. and other r.aterial for the sum of
Is cents. AS a special inducement, the con-
Germ offered an elaborate reproduction of
the photograph OF the buyer finished in
colors and handsomely framed in heavy
gold frame. Rem'ttances poured in. Moth
ing was returned When again requested
20 fulfill their contract. the concern re-
quested an additional sum of IA cents to
defray cost Of contemplated shipment,
which never materialized.