The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-01-22
MAIL FRAUDS. COST
S77,OOO,OOOF FOR
PAST YEAR
Many Schemes to Get Money
by SwindIing
is A DISTINCT BUSINESS
Evidently the Old Proverb That
There's a Sucker Born Every
Minute Still Holds True

Washington, ID. c., Jan. 21.-"From
the final reports submitted by Inspec-
tors covering the arrests for the fis-
cal year, it has been ascertained that
the promoters of fraudulent schemes
who have been put out of business
during the past year, have obtained
approximately $77,O00,000 from the
public"
This Is the astonishing statement
made in the annual report of r. S.
Sharp. Chief Post Office Inspector, is
sued today. 1t will probably be in
credible to the average person that
there are enough easy marks" in
the United States to contribute ST.
100000 to operators of "get-rich.
quick projects; but, according to the
chief inspector, this amount does not
represent nearly all that went into
the pockets Of swindlers. The ST.
100000 is the profit Of those who
have been caught, and does not take
in those who are still operating.
These fraudulent schemes said
Chief Inspector Sharp, cover a wide
field and are of endless variety
from the simplest business transac-
ton to a gigantic project involving
the sale OF worthless stock in fake
mining companies and fictitious insti.
tutions existing only on paper or in
the minds of the promoters.
The schemes in which there were
convictions generally fell under the
following groups
Promoting and sale of worthless
mining or other stocks.
Inducing betting on fake horse ra.
ces and athletic contests.
Fake land schemes.
Commission merchant swindles.
Selling worthless goods through
Misrepresentation.
Obtaining commissions on fraudu-
lent orders
Work at home schemes.
Failure TO furnish goods schemes.
Fake correspondence schools.
Sale OF cheap books and dlvining
rods for locating minerals.
Phoney guarantees Of stocks and
bonds.
Forged bills of lading in cotton
deals.
Brokerage swindles.
Obtaining money by impersonating
others.
Selling state rights and establish
ing fictitious agencies.
Selling unfair gambling devices.
mo fund" check schemes.
Matrimonial schemes.
Selling cancelled postage stamps
and Mexican money.
Turf tipster schemes.
Selling cigar outfits.
Defrauding employers by means Of
forged leases and keeping money re
ceived from cash customers.
Defrauding insurance companies
for alleged injuries.
Obtaining expense money in pro
misses to sell stocks.
Requesting fees for fake positions
Selling the rights to patent many
times over in the same state.
Securing advance payments OF
goods not delivered.
Obtaining payment from relatives
of deceased persons for goods sup
posed to have been ordered before
death.
Obtaining money from alleged
heirs TO estates.
Obtaining money to assist In sc
curing fake inheritances.
Sales of fake recipes.
Green.goods swindles.
Obtaining subscriptions for chart
table institutions.
Fake employment bureaus.
Selling interest in non-existint
moving picture theatres.
Selling diplomas and requiring lit
tie or no study before granting them
Offering TO instruct persons in Tho
science OF mind concentration.
Fake trance mediums.
Forged checks and blackmai
| schemes