Bunco Boys And How To Beat Them (1973)

Which one? Sorry, pal. You lose. You lose. >> Hello, >> Mrs. Rouse. >> Yes, >> his name is Robert Mars. I'm a state bank examiner. We're conducting an investigation. She hung up. >> Okay, forget it. Try this one. M. Kushman. Mildred Kushman. 462 4116. She might be the one on these. >> Well, I think we bled the area dry. I don't recall making as much anywhere else. >> The bunko artist. Con men without a deck of cards. With these crooks, the stakes are high. sometimes every dollar you have. >> Hello. >> Is this Mildred Kushman? >> Yes, it is. Uh, >> good morning, Mrs. Kushman. My name is Robert Mars. I'm a federal bank examiner. We're investigating some questionable activities by an employee at the North Harbor Federal Savings. >> North Harbor? That's where I bank. >> Yes, ma'am. We got your name from the bank. But before we talk any further, I will have to check a few more facts. You are the Mildred Kushman who resides at 1428 Harkcourt Terrace Drive. >> Yes, that's right. >> And your account number is 65748976. >> Yes, I think so. >> Well, of course, we must be sure. Perhaps you can tell us your bank balance or just to the nearest thousand figure. >> The nearest thousand? Let's see. I made a withdrawal last month. About $8,000, I think. >> Yes, that's right, Mrs. Kushman. Just about $8,000. >> Let it dry my foot. >> Now, Mrs. Kushman, we would like to ask your help. One of the tellers at your bank is suspected of manipulating funds. I'm sure you can understand just how ticklish this kind of situation is. After all, we don't wish to give the bank or the teller a bad name. Our investigation may reveal nothing irregular, so I must ask you not to talk about this to anyone. >> Of course, I'll be glad to help. >> Good. We'd like you to go to the bank today. Go to window number three, withdraw $7,000 in cash, and make sure that the teller correctly indicates the amount in your passbook. After you do that, return home. We'll meet you there and mark the money for redeposit. Then, we'll be able to see if the teller misappropriates any funds. Do you mean stealing? >> Yes, ma'am. M I do. And please remember, Mrs. Kushman, that the success of our investigation depends on you're not talking to anyone about this. And Mrs. Kushman, I would like to thank you in advance for your cooperation. If more people were like yourself, our work would be much easier. >> I can be ready in an hour. >> We'll send a taxi to take you there and back. >> Oh, thank you very much. Goodbye now. Well, Harvey, this is going to be an interesting day. >> Good morning, Mrs. Kushman. How are you today, >> Jane? Oh, I'm fine, thank you. How are you? >> Couldn't be better. What can I do for you? I want to withdraw some money from my account. >> $7,000? That's a lot of money. >> Well, you see, I've had an emergency come up. >> I'll get you a cashier's check. >> No, no, don't do that. I need the money in cash. But Jane, would you please hurry? I have a taxi waiting outside. >> Okay. Please wait. I'll have to get the money. I don't have that much in my drawer. >> Oh, I see. Good morning, ma'am. I'm Frank Hiller, the director of security here. >> Is something wrong? >> No. >> Can I draw out my own money? >> There's nothing wrong. Excuse me, chain. Has the bank examiner called you? You see, I told you there was nothing to worry about. >> Yeah. Well, we better give her a couple of minutes before we show up. >> Okay. Well, these are good kitties. Yeah, he's a good kitty. He's a nice kitty. Yeah, she's a very hungry kitty. [bell] >> Just a minute, please. >> Huh? Mrs. Kushman. >> Yes. >> I'm Robert Mars with the Federal Banking System and this is Inspector Fuller. >> Want to come in? Oh, what a lovely place you have here, Mrs. Kushman. >> Thank you. Won't you sit down? >> I have the money. >> Good. Bill, why don't you mark it? Mrs. Kushman, on behalf both of ourselves and the federal government. I'd like to thank you once again for your assistance in this investigation. Believe me, your cooperation is sincerely appreciated. >> Well, I'm only too glad to be of help. Would you like a cup of tea? >> Oh, no. Thanks very much, ma'am. We've got to be moving along. >> Here it is. It's all marked. >> Fine. Now, Mrs. Kushman, when you take this back to the bank, be sure that the same teller accepts the deposit. >> Bob, I think it's a little too late to go back now. >> You're right. Well, I'll tell you what. Why don't we keep this in the vault overnight? I'm afraid it's a little dangerous to keep such a large sum of money in your house. Oh, I'd be very happy if you did. I'd worry about having so much money around. >> Bill, why don't you give Mrs. Kushman a receipt? >> Here you are. And thank you so much again. >> Goodbye. >> Sheriff's Department, >> you're under arrest. >> What's going on here? Step inside, bank examiner, and there won't be any trouble. >> This is Christian. Are you all right? Mrs. Kushman was lucky. Bank employees spotted the scheme and called the police immediately. They made sure the bank examiner didn't steal her life savings. If the money at stake is yours, think twice about anything that might part you from it, no matter how worthy the cause. >> Have a nice day. [music] >> [music] >> This nice lady is a pigeon. And this [music] time the scheme is called the pigeon drop. [music] >> Sure are a lot of them. Even more than last week. Oh, do you live in the neighborhood? >> Yes, sweetheart. I've been living around here for the past 35 years. Maybe you can help me. Is this a nice apartment building? >> Oh, yes. That's real nice. Has three bedrooms. Can you use all that room? >> I have two small children and I think a room of their own would be nice. You see, their father died in an automobile accident and they've been living with their grandmother until the insurance money came and it came today. And a nice home would be good for them. How far away is it? Well, that's not too far. I'm sorry to hear about your husband. I know what a loss like that can mean. >> She's won her sympathy. >> It was easy. >> I'm afraid I can't afford it. >> At a given signal, the hit girl moves in. >> Much excuse me. Uh, did either of you leave this over in the phone booth? >> Certainly not mine. >> No, I didn't think so. It was open. There's There's $12,000 in here. $12,000. Now, who could be leaving $12,000 laying around? >> Well, whoever it was must have made this money gambling. >> Gambling? What are you going to do with it? >> Well, maybe we could keep it. >> What generally happens next is the girl with the money goes to a nearby office to ask her boss what to do. He's a lawyer and knows how to handle money. >> Do you think she's coming back? >> Of course, she'll come back because there's no legitimate boss. No concern about anybody's money, except yours. >> The victim has chosen to hold the money for a day or so in case the real owner materializes and wants it back. >> Money for free until they question your good faith. >> Then it's settled then, Mrs. Miller hold the money for all of us. Oh, it looks like I can get that apartment after all. >> Oh, wait a minute. How do we know she's trustworthy? >> Oh, she's perfectly trustworthy. >> Oh, you know her. Have you ever seen her before today? >> Well, no, but I know she's honest. >> Oh, sure. But she could be tempted. It's a lot of money. I want something to prove her good faith. How do we know that she won't take the money and pay off a bunch of old bills? >> Mrs. Miller, can you live without this money? I mean, do you have enough money of your own not to spend it in case? >> Of course I do. I've still got my savings account that my husband and I started over 30 years ago. >> Well, just the same. I'd like to see her money before I turn over all this. >> Okay. She'll draw it out and show it to you, won't you, Miss Miller? >> I certainly will not. And you can keep your old gambling money if that's what it is. I'm going inside and call the police as an indication of good faith, my dear. >> Now, don't be mad. I'm just trying to PROTECT OUR MONEY. >> IT'S NOT EVERY DAY YOU FIND $12,000. >> Damn it. You pushed too hard. >> I pushed too hard. You're the one who's supposed to feel like a good pigeon. >> Oh, now it's my fault. You >> They won't argue for long. >> After a while, at some other location, they'll find another pigeon more gullible or more greedy than Mrs. Miller. If you're smart, you can beat them. Call the lease. Call the sheriff. Call for help. Nobody gives you something for nothing. Especially a con artist who's after every nickel you have. >> Hello, Sheriff. [music] >> I'm sorry, father. I can't stall them any longer. >> It'll only take a few more days. Mike, what's a few days when all those children are involved? To you, it's charity. To them, it's business. They don't care who they sell the camp to. If you can't raise the last 25,000, I'll have to return your deposit. All right. I won't go back to the office until Monday, but that's all the time you have. Goodbye, father. Mike, thanks. All right. Take care. Commander, >> excuse me, father. >> Yes, >> we're sorry to bother you. >> No, no trouble at all. >> However, it's a matter of grave importance to my friend, and we thought you might be able to help. Well, if I can, certainly. Look, >> why don't you sit down? Thank you, father. Please. I don't I don't seem to recall your faces at mass. Do I know you? >> No, father. My name is Ari Badoya, and my friend Juan has come here from San Salvador. >> Please sit down. >> I have only been here in California a few weeks myself, >> and we have come for your guidance. >> Uhhuh. >> You see, father, I must find a seenor Lewis Miles. You see, my father is dying in San Salvador. 10 years ago, he stole some money from this man. To make amends for his crime, I must find Senor Miles and pay him back and give an equal amount to charity. That's my father's wish. I hoped that I could leave you this money. $20,000. $10,000 for the church and $10,000 for Senor Miles. >> Wait a minute. You want me to find Mr. Miles for you? >> See, father, then I can go home with peace of mind. >> But suppose he can't be found or or he's dead. Then keep everything for the church. >> I'll be happy to do this for you. >> Excuse me, father, for asking, but have you had experience with large amounts of money? >> Well, not my own, of course, but I do handle the funds for the crippled children's camp. >> Then you have as much as this in your camp fund? >> Well, even more. >> Father, I don't distrust you, but $20,000 is a lot of money. I mean, could you at least show half that much to indicate good faith and competency? >> It's all right. Now, I can understand his concern. I tell you what, the bank is just a few blocks away. Why don't you just sit here, relax, and I'll simply go get the money? >> Thank you, father. >> It'll only be a minute. Well, that didn't take long. Sit. Sit. >> Well, thank you, father. May we put one's money with this? >> Surely. >> So that mine will be as safe as yours. >> All right. >> Are you sure you're all right? >> Yes, I think so. >> The man's name is Lewis Miles, and one's father's name is Manuel. And here's where we can be reached. if you need anything. >> All right. >> Uh, father, which is the fastest way to the airport? The last plane for San Salvador until next week leads in 2 hours? >> Well, the best way is the freeway at this time, but won't you stay for lunch? Surely there's time for that. >> I can't miss my plane. I must get back and tell my father that the money is in the right hands. >> Thank you very much. >> Well, you're welcome. >> Thank you, father. May God bless you always. >> Thank you. >> Goodbye. >> And and don't worry, poor fellow. may God bless you always. Tell me >> the charity switch. A combination of the techniques used in the bank examiner and the pigeon drop. >> Excuse me, officer. >> Yes, sir. May I help you? >> Yes, I've just been robbed. Is there somebody I can talk to? >> There sure is. Would you step on the counter, please? >> Right. Thanks very much. Well, father, you're not alone. There's been a lot of these frauds lately. >> Seems so right. The perfect solution. >> Yeah. Would you like some coffee? >> No, thanks. >> Well, let's get the details down. It'll be a start anyhow. The charity switch, like all bunko schemes, can be used on a victim who succumbs to any or all of the three Gs: gullibility, goodness, or greed. >> Could you do that for us, father? >> Sure, I'll be happy to. Let me call the bank. >> This time they chose the wrong pigeon. >> Excuse me, father. Lieutenant Courtney. Hi, Lou. What's up? Oh, you're kidding. I'll tell you later. We're on our way. Father, we may be able to get that money back for you. >> How? >> Those two friends of yours are playing the same game at another church right now. Let's investigate, >> Lieutenant. Investigate them real good. >> That's one of them over there. Mike, you and I go around the back. Bill, George, and I'll ease it at the front. Do you copy? >> 10 4 [music] The cops. Let's get out of here. [music] HEY, YOU STOP. SHIFF EQUIPMENT. [music] All right, hold it right there and go. Just go. Get your feet apart. Way back. Way back. Bunko artists are after every dollar they can get. >> Right there. >> Your money will be safe if you're cautious and avoid the three G's the Bunko boys count on. >> Your grandfather. >> That's one of them, Lieutenant. >> Don't be gullible. Don't believe every story you hear. Never tell people about your personal finances. Not in person and not on the phone. Think before you decide to turn your money over to someone you don't know. Watch out for greed. Remember, you seldom get something for nothing. Goodness is a quality you don't want to share with a thief. Don't be afraid to talk with the people at the bank or with the sheriff or the police. They're trained and ready to help you. The Bunko boys. You can beat them. The money you save will be your own. [music] [music] Heat. Heat. >> [music] >> Heat. Hey, Heat. >> [music]