The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-02-01
THURSDAY, FEB. I. 1912.
GET QUICK CONCERNS.

Perhaps Barnum was right that the
american people like to be humbugged.
1t would seem as IL this disease was
being eradicated somewhat, but the
chief postofice inspector estimates
that gullible Americans parted with
&77,o0o,oo0 last year through fake
schemes of easy profit. That is a tre-
mendous rake-off for the clever swim
dlers. It's size is especially large when
n considers the number Of cases
which have been exposed and been CIV
en- wide publicity in the last few
a
Especially is this the case. because
Of the care newspapers generally take
In advertising schemes. There was a
time when the announcements were
not only taken and sought for by
newspapers generally. il the cash
could be obtained for the publicity,
but now these questionable matters
are closely scrutinized, and banks are
asked and the postofice department
consulted before announcements are
accepted, and this cooperation has
shut of many a swindle before it fair
~ got started. Fargo
have turned down contracts amounting
to thousands Of dollars that their read
ers might be protected.
AS might be expected, the promo
ton and sale of worthless stocks, par
ticuisrly mining stocks, takes the
lead. though it is the game oftenest
exposed. But there are plenty of
others, from selling cancelled stamps
and Mexican money, or supposedly
unfair and cheating gambling devices
to the men who want to prosper and
are not squeamish about how they
make their profit. to schemes that
nave the earmarks of legitimate bust
ness, such as employment bureaus.
correspondence schools. etc, which are
simply fakes, as they exist only in the
Concerns literature and in the i'm
aginations Of the victims. II
No can tell what scheme is com-
ing up next. So it is hard to warn
the nwary against all the devices to
swindle them. But they can follow
this advice. and they will find it sound:
DO not invest money with any concern
until you know it's financial RESPONSE
btlity. II the financial reports, such
as Dun's and Bradstreet's carry no
rating of the concern that offers to
make you rich overnight, or to give
you a surprisingly large profit, you
should be suspicious of it. Your own
bank an get o a report on it from
the locality in which it claims ii is
doing business. You might also ask
the postoflce department to look into
the concerns business.
All this takes some time and trou-
bic, 1t is true; but the inconvenience
is but slight compared with your feel
ings If you neglect to do this and find
you have parted with perfectly good
money for a finely engraved but
worthless stock certificate, or for a
promise of profit that can be located as
easily as the SHOWS of yesteryear.
Consider this. Human nature has
a. good deal of ~selfshness in it. Why
should a stranger let you in on his
scheme of easy profit? What kind Of
proposition is it, when he had to get
money to develop it in SO small
a~uacunts and from so widely scattered
pscple? If it were any good, would
he have to go farther than the near
es wealthy men who are familiar with
that proposition?
When a railroad company needs
money, it calls in it's bankers. why
should not a mine, if it is a good one?
$50 -