The BBC carries news of the collapse of a scam in Colombia which has parted thousands of ordinary savers from their money.  The scammers were unapologetic about their activities,

The people behind a pyramid scheme in Santander de Quilichao disappeared, leaving a note stuck to the doors taunting the investors for having been duped.

It said: “Now for being stupid and believing in witchcraft you will have to work much harder to recoup the money you gave us.”

The office of another pyramid scheme had a greetings card stuck on the door which read: “We wish you a sad Christmas and a shameful New Year.”

Frank, a one-time neighbour would have been suspicious of offers like those in Colombia that offered to double people’s money in six months; Frank was suspicious of everyone, and with reason.

One day a pair of boys came up the yard and said, ‘This is an old place you have here, you must have some old stuff in it’.

I told him there was nothing worth anything, but I let them in to have a look around.

‘Would you sell us that table?’ they asked me.

I told them I wouldn’t that it wasn’t for sale; that it had come down through the family.

‘We would give you £200 for it’. they said.

‘It’s not for selling’, says I.  “What about that piano there, what would you give me for that?”

The piano hadn’t been played in years; it was done.  I would have been glad to have been rid of it’.

‘Would you take £100 for it?’

‘I would’, says I.

‘Well, if we gave you £100 for the piano, would you take £200 for the table?’

I’m pleased with myself for getting £100 for the old piano, so I agree to the offer.

Anyway, the boys say that they only have a small van, so they will take the table and come back for the piano.  The ol’ fool that I am, I let them count out £200 for the table and took their word they would be back for the piano.  I never saw sight nor sound of them again.

Do you know what?  There was a table identical to mine sold in a sale room in Belfast for £1,000

Frank would have not put his moneyy into anyone’s scheme.  Frank would have echoed the words of Colombian Vice-President Francisco Santos,  “Nothing is free in this world and that is not going to change.”