Racket Squad in Action #16

Detective Dave Sloan investigates a blackmail scheme tied to a sleazy newspaper's gossip columnist, where threatening letters written in disappearing ink are used to extort money from prominent citizens—but when one victim's suicide leaves behind physical evidence, the trail leads Sloan straight to the corrupt heart of the operation. This taut crime story shows how a seemingly foolproof scheme crumbles under detective work and a killer's own desperation.

Sidney Radner, the crime educator who exposes crooked gambling schemes, learns that a smooth-talking drifter named Kelton has defrauded a man named Graham out of five thousand dollars using a classic switcheroo scam aboard a train. When Radner stakes out Kelton on another northbound streamliner with a private detective, he discovers that the con artist's secret weapon is a pair of special glasses that reveal invisible marks on his dealing deck. Radner sets a trap to catch Kelton red-handed, but the real art of exposing him lies in spotting the one detail that proves his guilt.

Art Torgan is a washed-up con man who spots an opportunity when a wealthy art collector mentions his passion for rare paintings—specifically, his regret over a Rembrandt he couldn't acquire. Torgan partners with a forger and some planted experts to pull off an elaborate scheme to sell a fake masterpiece to the unsuspecting collector for a hefty sum. When his greed and carelessness catch up with him, the Racket Squad moves in to make the bust.

A slick confidence scheme targets parents with promises of modeling opportunities for their children—phony photographers with empty cameras, a planted newspaper story, and forged "qualifying" letters all designed to extract entry fees for a rigged contest. When the scam's architect Joe decides to lay low, a clever trap set by the Racket Squad snares him back into their net.

A husband falls for a too-good-to-be-true mail-order pitch promising a dozen metal household appliances for just $3.98, eagerly mailing off his check to surprise his wife. When the package finally arrives, the sharp salesman's bait-and-switch becomes painfully clear in this cautionary tale from Racket Squad in Action #16.

This educational feature explores the modern tools and techniques that law enforcement uses to solve crimes, from radio communications that broadcast wanted alerts to patrol cars, to fingerprint photography and forensic instruments like the fluoroscope that can detect hidden evidence in suspicious packages. The story showcases how police technicians employ scientific methods—including moulage reproductions of footprints and tire markings—to gather crucial evidence for court proceedings. It's a fascinating look at how crime-fighting has evolved into a precise science built on communication, photography, and careful investigation.