| Show W 1 it ii 1 BANKING DUNKING IS EVERYBODY'S El BUSINESS q s Beware Of Don't Dont Bunco Dont Don't Get Bilked By fly Willis Willit W W. Alexander Executive Vice President A American Bankers Banke Association How can It happen again and again Confidence artists have been around for ies Yet the headlines go on on- on Woman Loses Elderly Pensioner Loses Life Savings Couple Bilk Shopper of 2200 Authorities have found that two very human failings contribute heavily to victimization victimization by fraud They are gullibility and greed Too many people they say are attracted by easy money schemes and the desire for unearned wealth leads to an uncritical acceptance of such proposals For your own protection you should know that there are no really new swindles only new variations on old themes One of the most famous famous fam fame ous is the bank examiner swindle Its It's put into operation operation opera opera- operation tion by a person claiming to tobe tobe tobe be a bank examiner who needs help in catching a dishonest teller To cooperate with the examiner examiner ex ex- ex the victim is asked to withdraw from his savings account a large amount of money which will be marked marked marked mark ed and checked against the tellers teller's records The con artist promises to return the cash to the bank but instead takes off with it Dont Don't fall for this line Under no circumstances will a atrue atrue atrue true bank examiner FBI agent or other law enforcement enforcement enforce enforce- ment official request a bank customer to withdraw cash from an account A Another famous con game Is the Pigeon Drop The victim victim vic vie tim is the pigeon and the drop is a bag of cash that one member of a team pretends pretends pre pre- tends to find on the street after his partner has begun a conversation with the unsuspecting unsuspecting victim After shrieks of surprise the finders finder's conscience conscience conscience con con- science tells him to split the large sum of money with the theother theother theother other two passers passersby The two are then asked to put up some good faith money while the finder talks to his boss about the split This swindle has been widely practiced for at least years and is still going strong Like all swindles at atthe atthe atthe the climax the pigeon is asked for money Naturally he will never see it or his share of the find again A common technique of the con eon artist who might just as likely be a very innocent innocent inno inno- cent looking woman as a man is to get the intended victim so excited so rushed so confused confused con con- fused that he or she hardly knows what hes he's doing But simple precautions can keep you out of trouble Carefulness Careful Careful- ness and common common sense exercised exercised exer exer- by potential victims will stop such schemes Cultivate a healthy skepticism skepticism cism of all miraculous offers and rich quick schemes Be on guard when you hear the words something for nothing a secret plan or orthis orthis orthis this opportunity wont won't be here tomorrow And with any major transaction insist on having a few days to discuss discuss discuss dis dis- dis- dis cuss it with relatives lawyers bank officers or the police |
