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Archiver > SOUTH-AFRICA > 2002-01 > 1010009088


From: Andrew Rodger <>
Subject: RE: ["World Book of Diesels"]
Date: Thu, 3 Jan 2002 08:04:48 +1000
References: <20011231084531.26926.qmail@cpdvg202.cms.usa.net>
In-Reply-To: <000001c1938c$cb241a90$6700a8c0@tanyadesk>


This scam was rife in Australia a few years ago, and an old friend of mine
(emphatically NOT academically-minded) actually fell for it. I had a quick
look at the book which she showed me while trying to conceal her evident
disappointment with what she had got for her money, and it was total
rubbish -- simply an assemblage of names of famous battles and other events
in English History with the suggestion that person of the name XXXX had
participated in them, with no details at all, quite evidently a Word
document which could be merged with a one-word database (the one word being
the chosen name) and printed to order.

I dropped a line to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, who
said they had heard of it and were working on it, and sure enough the
advertising stopped soon thereafter.

Andrew

>Good heavens, I did not realize people could do this! Although what you
>say about what is in the book is probably true, as the gentleman who
>owns a copy described it to me it sounds like a collection of current
>addresses and a general historical account. The book does not even have
>his name but mentions his children.
>
>Thanks Keith
>
>Regards
>
>Tanya
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Keith Meintjes [mailto:]
>Sent: Monday, 31 December 2001 7:46 PM
>To:
>Subject: Re: ["World Book of Diesels"]
>
>This, and books like it, is a fraud.
>
>The book will contain nothing more than a generic history, and perhaps a
>few
>listings from public telephone directories. The publishers of these
>books
>have been put out of business by various law enforcement and consumer
>protection agencies.
>
>Best wishes
>Keith
>==================
>"Tanya V. Walters" <> wrote:
>Hi everyone
>
>I have chatted to a Roy Diesel who has a copy of this book: "World Book
>of Diesels" it is published by Halderts Family Heritage it was printed
>in the USA, The certificate of registration for the book is 07110.
>
>I have searched the web for any mention of Halderts as a publisher and
>come up with nothing. I have also searched Amazom.com.
>The book apparently covers living Diesels around the world and a short
>account of SA History. It also features the Coat of Arms.
>
>Can anybody help with tracking this book down?
>
>Regards
>
>Tanya
>
>
>
>Researching : RAUTENBACH, KALP, DIESEL, MURRAY, MULLER, FROST, BOTHA,
>HAVINGA
>
>
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Andrew Rodger ---


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