In most cases, an intelligent investigation will prompt you to let
alluring offers of great wealth for little money severely alone.
The observation of the common-sense rules outlined above will save
investors bitter disappointments and heavy losses.
It is safe to say seventy-five per cent of the so-called "Mining,
Plantation and Air Line" schemes and "Security" companies now paraded
before the public in flaring advertisements in the daily papers, and
through glittering prospectuses sent through the mails, are vicious
swindles. Men who operate these frauds pretend to be honest and
high-minded. By constant practice of their wiles upon others they
develop self-deception and come to believe in their honesty to such an
extent that when questioned, they assume a good counterfeit of honest
indignation.
Most of them do not own the furniture in the offices they occupy
while swindling the public. It is a common practice for them to rent
offices in national bank buildings and to furnish them with rich
furniture bought on the installment plan, to make the necessary
"front." They spend their cash capital for flaring advertisements,
sell as much stock as they can induce the gullible public to buy,
and then decamp, leaving unpaid bills for advertising, if they can
get credit after their cash is exhausted, and their furniture bill
unpaid. The absconding swindler is usually succeeded by an "agent" or
"manager," who repudiates the bills against his rascally predecessor
and continues the work of fleecing the gullible under some new title
or by means of some new trick.