Message no. 1

From:	"Paul J. Adam" <shadowtk@********.DEMON.CO.UK>
Subject:	Financial Fraud
Date:	Tue, 12 Nov 1996 20:12:57 +0000

>>>>>[One hopes that if any of the denizens of this board have savings
or (heaven forfend!) retirement plans, they were not invested with the
subject of this sorry tale.

+++++begin news item
FINANCIAL GROUP INSISTS "DEPOSITORS SAFE"
The directors of New York-based financial services group Esgar Mutual
reiterated their statement that all deposits and financial commitments
would continue to be honoured, as rumours continued to circulate that
they had been the victim of a major fraud that had wiped out nearly two
hundred million dollars of assets.

"If true, this is shocking news." said Wall Street analyst Jeri Ward.
"Esgar's intentions might be good, but without capital to back them,
they simply cannot support their customers. Thousands of small investors
and pensioners could face financial ruin here."

The fraud is believed to have been Matrix-based. InterPol are
investigating, but refused to release a statement. Customer alarm is
rising as withdrawals have been blocked and payments delayed, despite
management assurances that all is well.
+++++end news item

Doubtless, somewhere a decker is chortling over a "big score" and
congratulating him- or herself upon their skill and talent. So much
easier to destroy lives through the Matrix, where the retirement savings
of hundreds, the only wealth they possess, are merely an icon to be
downloaded; than it is to steal face-to-face. At least armed robbers
have the decency to face their victims.]<<<<<
-- Footsie <20:13:32/11-12-57>