Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1942-04-18
WARFARE BREEDS
RACKETS GALORE,
REPORT STATES
BE sKEPTICAL OF PEDDLER WHO
WANTS TO SELL SUPPLY
OF AIR RAID SAND

When the peddler at the door wants
to sell you supply Of air raid sand
speciallv tested for its effectiveness
IN extinguishing incendiary bombs-ol
an impressive stranger offers to lei
YOU invest in a new scheme for solvine
the rubber shortaage-get fishy-eyec
and skeptical, because the crop Of war
time rackets is just beginning to
flower. Many brand new schemes, and
A lot of old ones dressed up in war
clothes. are out to take your money
awav from sounder and more necessary
uses. warns a report by Northwestern
National Life Insurance Co.
Among the major schemes now
swinging into activity are phony war
charities and refugee benefits, which
solicit funds, or sell tickets and ad-
vertising space, on a basis which yields
from zero to 10 percent Of the pro-
ceeds to actual charity, and delivers
the remainder to the promoters.
Swindles ApIenty
Bootleggers offer retreaded tires
which NAV be old. defective and alb
solutely worthless. Takers inspect
and refill fire extinguishers with col
ored water for a modest fee; others
sell Worthless ScCQo dl40 bNAS~t SAA N+A~
raise food for defense appeal.
Fake doctors offer selective service
registrants advance physical examina-
tons; agencies promise for fee (pald
in advanced to obtain birth certificates
for persons born in other states or
countries
The fake oil stock scheme has been
all furnished up with news about the
increasing shortage Of oil and gaso-
line, which will make the shares still
more valuable.
Smooth talking statesmen falsely
claim that their insurance policies will
cover military service. Still smoother
talking gentry, under the guise Of re-
adjusting your insurance to changed /
wartime conditions, would switch you
out of policies now owned and into
cheaper but less desirable policies, for
the sake of a sales commission or an
advisory fee.
These are only few Of the wartime
frauds and rackets now turning up all
over the country, and bringing better
business bureaus and law enforcement
agencies fresh variety in the days
routine, says the report. 1t emphasizes
that legitimate charities and beneficial
organizations need every penny that
you can spare; every time you fall
for some shady promotion, you waste
money that would do great good II
turned over to a reliable agency. NO
matter how plausible or heart-rending
the appeal, check up carefully before
you donate or before you buy. Remem-
Der that the fraudulent appeal often
looks more attractive than the legiti-
mate appeal-it must, in order to get
your money away from a legitimate
enterprise.
Examine the Policy
If a salesman tells you he has
life insurance policy which covers the
risks Of military service, the warning
suggests, insist on examining the
policy. Nearly all standard life insur-
ance policies now being sold contain
q special clause limiting coverage on
military risks, or calling for substan-
ial additional premium to cover such
Increased risks, which old rates were
not sufficient to cover. If there Is no
Iuch clause in the policy, make sure ]
7ou are not getting short-changed
somewhere else in the contract.
Your older, standard policies, taken /
Tut year or more ago. cover military
isks, the bulletin emphasizes. In 1919, Z
he life insurance companies generally s
'elieVed that the last great war had
zen fought, and eliminated the war S
1sk limitation clauses then in their :
'olicies. So policies written by the
tandard companies between 1919 and b
$40 practically all made no exception :
S to war risks. Therefore, those still :
q force include such war risks in c
heir coverage, and are now a great
'argain because they cover the in a
reased hazards of war service, though =
written at peacetime premium rates. S
Iold on to your old policies, the bulle-
In emphasizes. Don't let smooth talk n
rs twist you out of them and into =
that looks cheaper but
robably isn't. d