The midland journal., 1942-04-24
WARMED TO LOOK OUT FOR
PROFESSIONAL CROOKS

Residents of Cecil County are
warned to be on the lookout for
fake statesmen who are taking adj
vantage of the war to victimize
people. Some of the schemes that are
being worked on unsuspecting
citizens under the guise of "war
benefits" are the following:
House-to-house salesmen selling
metal tags or bracelets claiming that
the law requires all citizens to wear
such Identification.
Phony air-raid wardens selling
fire extinguishers on representation
that the Government requires all
householders to have at least one
! extinguisher on hand.
Those offering to test and refill
! fire extinguishers at low price.
Itinerant fake service men who
obtain radios, vacuum cleaners, and
other appliances from unsuspecting
housewives on the pretext Of repair
ling them in cooperation with the
Governments War on Waste" pro-
gram, but do not return the appli-
ances.
! Peddlers selling sand specially
tested" for its effectiveness in ex-
tinguishing incendiary bombs.
/ Agencies who promise for fee to
obtain birth certificates for per-
sons born in other states or coun-
| tries.
Fake doctors, sometimes in Army
uniforms, who offer selective service
registrants advance physical exami-
nations for a prepaid $500 fee.
Plumbers who prepare furnaces
for air raids" supplying parts at
fat profits.
Furnace repair men who deliber-
ately destroy good parts so they can
sell you new ones.
Bigger swindlers, including those
who organize phoney charities and
benefits to give aid to refugees.
Unreliable salemen selling or
bootlegging retreaded tires which
are absolutely worthless.
irresponsible insurance salesmen
who falsely claim that their policies
will cover a man in military service.
Men selling worthless oil shares
with fashy pamphlets and tales
claiming that the shortage of oil
and gasoline would increase prices
and make their oil fields positively
priceless.
Or a possible new scheme inviting
investment for growing domestic
rubber or making substitutes for
rubber.
Persons soliciting orders for what
they call "official" service flags
(Such claims are false as the War
and Navy Departments advise that
neither has adopted an official flag.)
Gyp artists soliciting cash dona-
tions from housewives on the plea
that such donations will ''help buy
afraid sirens.
Promoters who, contrary to the
wishes of the Federal Government,
use defense stamps and bonds in
endless chain schemes or business
stimulator promotions for private
gain.
Gyp artists selling worthless
seeds, bulbs, shrubs, and other
gardening materials, capitalizing on
the food production for defense
program.
"Watered" paint, sold by out-of-
town concerns.
Busybodies, who for selfish, un-
official purposes, ask personal ques-
tions under the guise of making
Survey for "war records.
In the months to come, growing
scarcity of consumer goods may in
vite a horde of schemers and chisel-
ers "ersatz'' merchandise and offer
ing slick proposals for snaring the
dollars of the unwary and the unin-
formed.
Already some Of these schemers
have been working in the county,
and it will be we'll for the average
housewife to ignore dealing with
anyone not intimately known. Local
merchants have a good supply of
merchandise, and if there are arti-
cles not carried in stock they can
readily get it if possible to obtain.
Don't take chances with unknowns
and run the risk of being swindled.
Too much money has already been
lost on wildcat schemes, as is seen in
the daily press. Be on the alert and
L. 90 1rA~