The Confidence Game: How a Fake Order Stole from Seattle’s Own
A merchant in Waitsburg receives goods he didn't order, paid for by a 'Mr. Williams' who doesn't exist—revealing a sophisticated fraud ring targeting Pacific Northwest businesses.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Not long ago William N. Smith, Fargo & Co.'s agent at Waitsburg, received a package from Badger Co., San Francisco, 'C.O.D.' for C. H. Hanaford, a well-known merchant at the 'Burg.' With the package came a letter to Mr. Hanaford from Badger Co., stating that they had sent a package of their goods purchased for him by a Mr. Williams. A day or two afterwards a letter was received by Mr. Hanaford, from Davidson & Co. of San Francisco, informing him that they had sent him a lot of jewelry in the package forwarded by Badger Co., also ordered by Mr. Williams.
So far it is plain sailing. But the affair takes another aspect when it is known that Mr. Hanaford does not know any one by the name of Williams in San Francisco, and never gave him or any one else orders to buy goods for him of the two San Francisco firms. As Mr. Hanaford is too well known to have his word questioned in the matter, it is evident that some graceless scoundrel has been playing a confidence game in the Bay City, and using Mr. Hanaford’s name.
This 1876 report of a 'C.O.D.' (Cash on Delivery) fraud scheme highlights how quickly commerce-based scams evolved alongside the railroad and telegraph networks. It mirrors modern phishing and invoice fraud where criminals use forged identities to exploit trust between established business partners, proving that digital sophistication hasn't invented new crimes, just new tools for old con artists.
From readers
No comments yet. If you know something about this story — a correction, a family memory, a source — it belongs here.