New-York tribune., 1903-03-18
THESE SWINDLERS SAFE.
Then Sell Worthless Lots to Gull:bLr
Persons.
RUT THEY OBSERVE FORMS OF LAW


Pogtoeiee inspectors who have been inVesti-
eating obnoxious get rich quick concerns IN
tnts CITY confessed yesterday that there were
some which were 80 protected by legal require
xoents that, although It was plain that they
.rsre conceived In fraud and organized for the
srnrssS purpose of getting money out OF creou-
Ions peopla they could not be interfered with
and their mails could not be stopped by fraOo
orders. Several OF the concerns thus prosecteu
from raids are organized on the plans OF reeu-
lar land improvement companies They are "i
ro-norated according to law. They actuAiiS Wv"
lsnd. which they offer to sell or give away
They actually do convey title oeeos 70 Poi
chasers.
The operation Of such company runs oti
familiar lines It obtains large tract OF ianu
in some part Of the country "hich F" nc
enough to & city to warrant the use OF the name
..-,,t,,-to,,,, which usually is attached to 1t.
tor-eyer svsmpv barren and inaccessible IL
-.x, bA euch land can be had for few dollars
q, arre II il alleged TO be cut up into puliolhs
1o,s and n1sps which look beautiful are nleo
with the proper authorities. Then the conipaiS
&c ready to catch suckers keeping In NINA
..t5u1srv Joe's" saying that "a sucker is porn
every minute. x,1
r,a con,nanv advertises its suburban oulo-
ing lots in newspapers circulating IN fenio'e
Dsr4s Of the United States, pretending 10 ohei
,-eroarkabIe inducements 70 people VINO are
,-,ooe the first to send replies. The creoulous
,,erson who hites at the bait receives clrculaI
which sometimes reads in part as folio"s;
you are fortunate in being among the nrst
--izA winners to answer the advertlsenlehl- Aou
eere entitled 10 receive free lot 25x1Oo. ana we
SncIose q prize lot order. which you can MI out
end return There is no charge for the Iano' as
81 is given free. but the drawing or tne oeeo.
certifcate totitle notary and registry 1ees cos'
SS Please send to us the amount with tne IN
closed order, and the deco OIL the t0I VIII D
mailed 20 you in a few days
Accommodating circulars tell OF alleged prizes
which nav be drawn by persons suggesting the
best names for streets or avenues IN tne com
nanv's park. but the prizes Of $1,000 or less
car be drawn only by persons who nave oousht
or received as gifts lots in the park hence the
xnducernent to be q lotowner.
II the bait takes well. the company receives IN
return for its outlay in advertising hunoreos ol
letters daily each letter inclosing 50 with an
order for lot Deeds. pretty TO look at are
sent TO the gullible people, often stimulating
mora business. Each lot which the company
gives away" in this manner has cost win
4be registry fees and advertising, about 40 cents
The company thus makes clear proht or 81 %
on eoch lot given away and the person VINO
owns the lot has q beautiful deed TO properly
which Is absolutely worthless to him.
.'It is g swindling scheme, Of course, salo
one Of the postofT1ce inspectors 70 Tribune
reporter yesterday, but If people are fools
Germs we cant help It. We can't even stop the
sending out OF the circulars by issuing fraud
orders against the concerns. because they com
ply with the requirements Of the law governing
fhe operations Of reputa bic land companies so
closely that they are protected by the postal
regulations.