Racket Squad in Action #15

Two bank robbers with a fortune in hot money devise an audacious scheme: pose as counterfeiters and sell their stolen cash to a local passing syndicate, who'll unwittingly launder the real bills back into circulation without getting caught themselves. But when Blackie Farrel and Joe Hammond finally emerge from hiding after weeks of waiting, their newfound spending spree and loose tongues give the Racket Squad exactly what they need to close in.

A smooth-talking con artist peddles what he claims are official government portraits of George Washington at bargain prices—"slightly damaged" prints he swears are authentic and rare. When eager customers open their envelopes, they discover the con: inside each one is nothing but a used postage stamp. A slick bit of street-level fraud that reminds you why the Racket Squad stays busy.

When a couple spots an ad promising to double their money through a simple, guaranteed method, they eagerly send in a dollar to learn the secret. Days later, the booklet arrives with instructions that turn out to be a classic con—one that teaches Joe and his wife a hard lesson about get-rich-quick schemes.

A con artist attempts an ingenious short-change swindle at a corner store, using a two-dollar bill and clever sleight of hand to manipulate the storekeeper out of an extra dollar. This 1955 crime tale breaks down exactly how the "hype" works—and why only the cheater comes out ahead—serving as a cautionary lesson in spotting this particular scam.

A couple struggling to make ends meet spots an enticing magazine ad promising quick cash from growing miniature Ming trees at home—for just $5.98 to start. When they send in their money and receive the promised seeds, they discover the scheme may not be quite what the advertisement claimed. This 1955 crime story from Racket Squad in Action shows how easy it is to fall for a too-good-to-be-true offer.

Arlene Weldon, a merry widow looking to spice up her life, joins the Friendship Circle lonely hearts club—only to catch the eye of Arthur Gault, a con artist who preys on vulnerable women for their fortunes. As Gault weaves a romantic spell and maneuvers his way into control of Arlene's finances, her sister Claire grows suspicious and seeks help from the authorities to expose the scheme.

A con artist running the classic shell game reveals how the street hustle actually works—moving a pea (really a rubber ball) beneath walnut shells while keeping the mark perpetually off balance. This 1955 exposé from Racket Squad in Action pulls back the curtain on one of the oldest tricks in the book, showing exactly how the operator rigs the game so nobody walks away a winner.