MOH Forum: A Postal-Mail Chain Letter?

A Postal-Mail Chain Letter?

Posted By:
Maegan
in Tampa, FL - USA
Nov 14, 2004

I received this chain letter in my mailbox:

Dear Friend,
Greetings: I am a retired attorney. A few years ago a man came to me with a letter. He asked me to verify the fact that this was legal to do. I told him I would review it and get back to him. When I first red the letter my client brought me, I thought it was some "off-the-wall" idea to make money. A week and a half later we met in my office to discuss the issue. I told him the letter he originally brought me was not 100% legal. My client then asked me to later it to make it perfectly legal. I asked him to make one small change in the letter.

***
It goes on for another 2 pages about how if you send $1 to the 6 names on the list & you will make $800,000.00 in just 3 months. You pay for a list of names to send letters to. I KNOW this is a scam. I just can't figure out how I got it. It came to me at my married name (junk-mail tends to come to my maiden name), & it came to my actual house address. (My driver's license lists my PO Box & if you look me up at the DMV, the physical address is actually my prior residence...haven't had time to change it yet.) The phone & electric aren't registered in my name, they're registered to my husband. (There's not a water bill, we have a well.)

What I wanna know is: How did this come to me, with my correct name at my current physical address??? The 'person' who sent the letter is: Mr. Louis Jordan/1234 Shakespeare Avenue/Apt # 2E/Bronx, NY 10452

Also, a co-worker recently had someone slip this same letter under his door at his apartment building...Anyone hear anything about this??

Category: Scams; Replies: 1759

Comments

Page 19 of 30 pages ‹ First < 17 18 19 20 21 > Last ›
Cranky Media Guy Member	Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2008 \| 12:49 AM Jerry is obviously not the sharpest knife in the drawer. Yes, Jerry, assuming you told the truth, you confessed to a felony. Based on what you said, you're operating at a level that might well attract the attention of the Postal Inspection Service. They have the authority to get your information from the ISP that this website uses so your stupidity may well cause you a LOT of problems in the near future. Smooth move, Ex-Lax. Claiming that you give some of your stolen money to charity won't cut you much slack with the Feds.
KarenESP	Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2008 \| 08:52 AM Dear Darn Blister, I wouldnt loose too much sleep over it. Anybody who begins receiving 70K peices of mail in a nine week period is bound to grab attention. Still wishin' it was legal and real - on the East Coast, Karen
hcmomof4 in So. Cal. Member	Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2008 \| 11:49 AM Y'know... it's a real shame that the people who claim this is working for them have no way of proving it to the people who doubt them... (and yes, for this post only, I'm ignoring the legality factor)
joe	Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 \| 01:13 AM Hi Meagan, I have also received quite a few of these letters myself. Your name was most likely obtained from a mailing list available from quite a few companies that buy your info from other companies that will sell it. Recent credit applications, raffles, prize entries, sweepstakes, as well as some public records like bankrupcy filings are common sources. One of my friends actually participated in this "thing" about a year ago and didn't get anything close to $800,000 like they guarantee, but he did get around $2,500 in a couple months. Not enough to quit your day job, that's for sure. It cost him close to $200 for the mailing list, postage, envelopes and labels. He had mentioned that he was going to do it again, but I haven't asked him about it yet. Most people know it's far fetched to say you will get $800,000 in 90 days, but just have to try it themselves to be sure. I have read stories of other people only getting back $15 or $20. The simplest way to deal with it is either participate or toss it out. Chances are, you will receive a whole lot more of these in the future.
Shane	Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 \| 06:49 PM Blister Said "Jerry... do you realize that you just publically confessed to having committed a 3rd degree felony and deliberately having hired child labor to aid and abet in that felony?" I honestly think that Jerry is full of Hitler style Propaganda. But besides that, Blisters comment is hilarious, because its true. That Jerry "hired child labor to aid and abet in that felony?" Maybe I should not find humor in it I dont know.
Shane	Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2008 \| 09:46 PM This link about spells out almost word for word Tactics Jerry is using http://www.pyramidschemealert.org/psamain/pyramids/notgreed.html
KarenESP	Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 \| 06:22 AM THANK YOU SHANE!!!!! Thank you for that link Shane.. I hope Crabby and the others who get so much joy by pointing to teh illegality of this issue get a look at it because I think it is exactly what I was trying to express in my 'wish it weren't illegal' rants and raves. Thanks! I haven't had any replies in a while here...want to see me get one? I have reconsidered my opinion and now find the letter to be legal.... (hee hee)
Shane	Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 \| 07:23 AM Karen Said. "I have reconsidered my opinion and now find the letter to be legal...." The laws involving gifting program may be poorly defined in many States. This Scheme goes accross States lines. Also Mail Fraud is a Federal Offense. Either way the link I posted does not say that this Scheme is legal.
KarenESP	Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 \| 07:34 AM Right-O Shane... you did realize I was kidding.... ?
Shane	Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 \| 08:06 AM Oh, you're just trying to get Cranky Riled up huh?
KarenESP	Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 \| 10:38 AM No, actually no. Cranky is well, you know - cranky. I just wondered how fast I'd get a reply - and wham! sure was fast, wasn't it?? Just kidding around, Karen
lalena K.	Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 \| 01:02 PM I got this letter too and read it through 3 times beginning to end. I held onto it for 4 weeks. Then, because we need money so badly right now, I borrowed a couple hundred bucks from my mother and sent out 400 copies after sending the 6 people their dollar each. I stopped getting mail over a month ago. But I received over $4000.00 total in a 3 month period. Will I do it again?? I don't know. The post man was getting aggrevated with all the letters and started putting them in a plastic bin on my front porch for a while...there was a lot! He asked once if I was famous or something!! I just smiled and said "maybe". I didn't want to lie although I thought about saying I do some sort of column (to explain the volume. Anyways, it does work. But be sure not to screw people out their 6 bucks...that's just bad karma. Legal?? Illegal?? I don't know. No one's being forced into doing anything they don't want to do. If you feel pressured...throw it away!!
Cranky Media Guy	Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 \| 01:51 PM lalena K. said: "No one's being forced into doing anything they don't want to do." Let's assume your story is true. No, no one was forced to participate in the chain letter. They WERE lied to, however. Every dollar you got came from a loss by someone else who was told that they would come out ahead. They didn't. Your profit came from their loss. "But be sure not to screw people out their 6 bucks...that's just bad karma. Legal?? Illegal?? I don't know." Are you being sarcastic there? Hard to tell since screwing people out of six bucks each is exactly where your four grand came from. As for legality, let me help you with your question: IT'S ILLEGAL. No question, no argument. If you go through some of this thread, you'll find links to the exact part of the law which says so. Don't kid yourself, there is no grey area here. By the way, nice going to admit to profiting from a federal crime in a public forum. That could come back to bite you on the ass.
KarenESP	Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 \| 03:07 PM To Cranky, Assuming your story is true... Good one Cranky! (; (wink) No one was forced to participate in the chain letter... Then Cranky claims, but they were LIED to... In my humble opinion: I think if you believe that you will send out 200 letters and get $800,000 back in one dollar bills, you are lying to yourself regardless of what some letter tells you! I think the purpose of the legislation is not so much about apprehending chain mailing law breakers but moreso when the complaints come to the Postmaster - he or she can casually point to the law and say, Well, your participation was illegal anyway... End of complaint from dissatisfied chain letter participator. Pretty much end of purpose of law regarding chain letters. Thats what I think. Even read an article quoting a Postal Inspector that said they wont be prosecuting for a dollar chain letter. And I bet I could find that article again if I had to to link it. Might take me a 1/2 hour or so....
Shane	Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 \| 03:15 PM The chances of the FBI prioritizing an investigation into this chain letter are slim to none, and if you think otherwise your kidding yourself. That is besides the point that it is Illegal for good reason. Use your common sense of honor. Its a lie, and you may be taking advantage of mentally handicapped people who cannot comprehend that this whole thing is idiotic.
Shane	Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 \| 04:37 PM Lets change the whole cover letter to this scam to make its honest. Instead of "Proven by Various highly respected U.S. TV and Radio programs As being 100% legal, feasable, and true" This is a Pyramid Scam and you have about 90% odds of losing most of your initial investment or barely breaking even. If you are one of the few that actually makes anything it will most likely be miniscule, in comparision to the fact that you are breaking the law. Send that out with your letter and see how quickly this scam stops being circulated. By sending anything else out you are being a lier and a fraud.
Cranky Media Guy	Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 \| 05:24 PM KarenESP said: "To Cranky, Assuming your story is true... Good one Cranky!" I feel like I have to say that because, after all, who knows if it's true or not? Anyone can say anything on the Internet when they're anonymous. "In my humble opinion: I think if you believe that you will send out 200 letters and get $800,000 back in one dollar bills, you are lying to yourself regardless of what some letter tells you!" That may be, but that doesn't make it legal for you to help them along in their self-delusion. It's still illegal to operate a chain letter. "I think the purpose of the legislation is not so much about apprehending chain mailing law breakers but moreso when the complaints come to the Postmaster - he or she can casually point to the law and say, Well, your participation was illegal anyway... End of complaint from dissatisfied chain letter participator. Pretty much end of purpose of law regarding chain letters." There's more to it than that. Chain letters were a REALLY big fad in the 30's during the Great Depression. There were so many people participating in them that they actually bogged down the postal system. Then, of course, there's that whole thing about them being mathematically impossible. Shane said: "The chances of the FBI prioritizing an investigation into this chain letter are slim to none, and if you think otherwise your kidding yourself." I agree that overall the chances of the average participant in a chain letter being prosecuted are pretty small. Just for the record, it probably wouldn't be the FBI that would do it, it would the Postal Service itself. They have their own law enforcement unit, which has an extremely high rate of conviction on the cases it chooses to pursue. I have to ask, though, how smart is it to brag on a public message board about how much money you're making via an illegal activity? If I was in the Postal Service's enforcment bureau, that's precisely the kind of person I'd look for, to make an example out of them.
Shane	Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 \| 05:50 PM I do agree that the Postal enforcement inspectors would most likely make an example of somebody. But I think it would most likely be the person who gets 4000 pieces of mail all of a sudden for no apparent reason. I highly doubt they would spend resources fishing around Forums for people who are more than likely full of it. Such as Jerry who sounds like a clone of the original letter, full of propaganda and lies. Type in the first sentence of the cover letter of this scam and see all the results that come up in forums. It would be like trying to find a pipe in a crack house, then trying to prosecute everyone in the vicinity of the house for possession of paraphernalia. Anyway you know what I mean. KarenESP You obviously still think this scam is a good idea. Buy a lottery ticket or something instead. Yes you could participate in this scam, and you would not get in trouble. But its illegal and you would be spreading lies. There is a good chance you could steal a bag of apples from the grocery store and get away with it. Then you could feed them to your kids and say that you paid for them. But guess what, you still lied and broke the law. Plain and simple. If you guys don
KarenESP	Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 \| 06:36 PM Shane: My best friend who now works for homeland security, she worked for the Post Office for ten years. I sent her the letter and she said it was a scam and said exactly what you did, buy a lottery ticket instead. She also never heard of anyone getting busted for a chain letter but told me in great detail how the vicious postal inspectors went after a friend of hers who was on temporary disability when he came to a post office related ball game and threw up his hands and cheered, which according to the postal inspectors (who must also be qualified medical personnel as well) meant he wasn't disabled and was committing fraud. Well, I only won 40 bucks ever from a lottery ticket. I took it to the clerk at the lottery place and she took it from me with a blank look on her face, no politeness, no enthusiasm... no nothing and gave me my 40 bucks. It wasnt fun dealing with her. In my state, ppl who work for the lottery aren't even allowed to play so she has no chance to win but is stuck handing out winnings to others ever day. There wasn't much 'fun' in it, is my point, playing the lottery and winning 40 bucks (I picked 4 of the 6 numbers) I dont think it's a good idea because 1) I dont think I would really make anything with the saturation level where it is now according to my day's worth of internet research. 2) If I did get caught participating in an illegal chain letter, they would probably throw the book at me because of my background, i.e., there is no way I could claim I was duped or just didnt know better. BUT - the thought of sending ppl I dont know a dollar, the fun (would be for me) of sending out the letter to others who might send me a dollar and who might recieve (in this dream) more than they spend... is STILL appealing... and it sounds a lot more fun than looking at that stone faced state employee working for the lottery to collect my winnings. Shane and Cranky, sounds like we are really all on the same team with respect to our conclusions related to this letter with the exception of if it was legal, I would probably try it realizing I could make nothing, whereas the two of you would probably not participate at all. To each thier own!
Shane	Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 \| 07:08 PM KarenESP Sorry I used the wrong wording when I said "You obviously still think this scam is a good idea." What I should have said is, "You obviously know its a bad idea, yet still have an unending desire to try this scam." Am I in the right ball park? It just sounds to me like you are searching for some way to justify it by calling it a fun game or something. It would be dishonest to participate. And the people you send it too would not be on the same page. Well I personally don
KarenESP	Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 \| 07:56 PM Hi Shane... Well, I dont know how else I can explain my position to you because you don't understand it. I like the idea of sending 6 people I don't know a dollar and receiving dollars from ppl all over the Country that I dont know. From your posts, I would bet my life that you have never been involved with any multi level marketing company although I have been involved with three: Amway (twice like I mentioned when I was very young), Nuskin and Nikken. I like people. If I had the choice of a winning 40 dollar lottery ticket... or ASSUMING IT WAS LEGAL (Which I am in agreement with you that it is not)... collecting 40 over expenses in envelopes from ppl I dont know from all over the Country... I would choose the latter because it seems fun to me, fulfills my sense of "people helping people." My personality finds the chain letter appealing although I know many many people, close personal friends, who would see the chain letter, even if legal, as a big chore... a big inconvenience.. and would choose simply buying the winning 40 dollar lottery ticket instead. There is a sense of comradery (spell?) for me in the chain letter, a sense of fun to it that buying a lottery ticket doesn't have. When you buy a lottery ticket, you don't have to hope that others make out, you only hope that you do. Not so with the chain letter (although illegal, not arguing that point.) In mult level marketing same thing, you dont help those you sign up below you succeed, you don't make money. If you do help those you bring in succeed, you make money. People helping people. I just like the concept. My brother goes to Vegas a lot. He's not there hoping other ppl win. Vegas and lottery tickets do not have the appeal that a chain letter does, for me, personally, just based on my personality and so forth. If it were legal, I would probably try it knowing I could very well loose all the money I put in... that the odds are actually in that favor. If it were legal, you would probably not try it based on your perception of the odds... Correct me if Im wrong here. But, I still feel that I have the right to say -hey - if it were legal, I would try it for fun. It cost me $250.00 to take my family and neices and mother to dinner in Ocean City last summer. It's not really that much money if the process is entertaining in some way. That's all Im trying to say.
Shane	Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 \| 08:29 PM Anyway in order for it to be legal you would have to be honest as far as the odds go. Without the Propaganda few would participate, or spend 200 dollars. As I have said before if it were legal it would either be thrown away more often or contacts would get oversaturated at a crazy rate. You participate in Multi-Level Marketing Schemes (that explains a lot). Be careful the majority because a lot of those are illegal as well. In many cases the only way to succeed is by stepping on top of the people underneath you. Yes Capitolism can have a similar structure and be corrupted as well. We have actually seen it at its worst when its not checked and balanced. Thats the key.
Cranky's Partner	Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 \| 09:10 PM I just want to say, with Cranky's help I have managed to make over $920,000 my first mailing. Without him helping me so much with all of his posts, it was a perfect mailing. I could not have done it with out him. I cant wait to start mailing #2. My goal is $1.2M this time, and with Cranky's help I'm sure to make it. Peace!
Shane	Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 \| 09:43 PM I cant help but wonder who posts under multiple names, and who has multiple personalities on this forum.
Shane	Posted: Wed Dec 10, 2008 \| 09:59 PM KarenESP http://www.pyramidschemealert.org/psamain/resources/ppsabstract.html
Cranky Media Guy	Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 \| 12:59 AM Cranky's partner said: "I just want to say, with Cranky's help I have managed to make over $920,000 my first mailing." Glad I could help. Now if only any part of your story was credible.
Cranky Media Guy	Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 \| 01:07 AM KarenESP said: "BUT - the thought of sending ppl I dont know a dollar, the fun (would be for me) of sending out the letter to others who might send me a dollar and who might recieve (in this dream) more than they spend... is STILL appealing... and it sounds a lot more fun than looking at that stone faced state employee working for the lottery to collect my winnings." You're an unusual person, Karen. I'm kind of an expert on how to generate publicity and so forth. Here's an idea for you. If you truly do like the idea of sending strangers a dollar, why not do it like this: Get some distinctive-looking envelopes, put a dollar in each one with an anonymous, hand-written note about how you hope the recipient will use the dollar for something good and send them (without a return address) to people chosen at random in your community. Depending on the size of the community you live in, after you've sent out maybe a few hundred of these letters, the public and the local press will start to notice. It will become kind of a "thing" in your town and people will look forward to getting one of your letters. Don't tell ANYONE that it's you doing it, unless and until it gets a lot of attention and you decide to take credit for it. Who knows, it could snowball into something on a national scale. Stranger things have happened.
KarenESP	Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 \| 05:22 AM Heh heh. It doesn't matter what I write because you will have the same opinion of me. I dont know about an 'unending desire' but you certainly are a good writer. I'll forget about it eventually and I've told you I won't be participating. I guess what bothers you is that I would send the letter out to others that you believe are not on the same page... or would be stooges for me. However, most people are smart. They would be hoping to make out, but wouldnt assume in sending out 200 letters they'll get 800K. If I win the lottery, why should I give it to a charity when you've pointed out several times... at least the illusion, meaning you dont think the money that goes to charity gets to the people in need. If I won the lottery, I'd be helping my friends and family therefore 100% would go to the intended persons. I just know ppl like my brother who go to Vegas are different than me. My bro couldnt stand to send one measely little dollar to anybody for something like this. Just the way he is. Whereas that part along with the rest of it seems like fun to me. That's all, just a 'sharer' I guess, by nature. This concept appeals to 'sharers'.
The Man	Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 \| 06:26 AM I am an undercover government agent. I have been watching all the posts and have to say that Cranky seems to be the ringleader in this crime-ridden forum. Thanks Cranky for admitting that you helped your partner. We will be busting you doors down shortly. Thank you, come again! It is ironic to me that my captcha was "truth" for this post.
KarenESP	Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 \| 06:31 AM to "the man" That's funny!!! But what I want to know is who is Cranky's Partner.. cause Im thinkin' it's SHANE!!! Now that would be funny!! KIDDING - have to spell that out here I guess. So, what's it like to be 'the man' ??
The Man	Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 \| 08:10 AM Well, its not all its cracked up to be. Chasing down evil-doers who would dare abuse the postal system by buying all those stamps and actually using them in unconstitutional in my opinion. Its hard detective work. Let me just say this: How dare you buy stamps and then put them on envelopes. Buy the stamps, and just let them pile up. Thats what the postal system is for. Stamp collecting! I for one think the government need to regulate everything I do in my life, like when I should have bowel movements, when I should eat, and what goes down my gullet. Without the government, how could we all survive? Let theis be a lesson to all those reading this forum.
Cranky's Partner	Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 \| 08:14 AM Don't you see? If everyone did this, the math would not work out. If everyone is scared of The Man, then it would only work for those who dare put stamps on envelopes. That's where Cranky gets involved. His preaching and grandstanding was just a tactic to keep the rest of you in line so our mailings would be more effective. It is a brilliant plan and I'm glad Cranky brought me in on it to help him pull it off. Furthermopre, due to Cranky;s cunning, I am going to recommend Cranky to fill the Obama vacancy in Illinois.
KarenESP	Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 \| 09:06 AM I agree with you, The Man.... the postal regulations are not allowing me to pay the consequences for my own stupidity and I resent that!!!!! (:
Imjustamom	Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 \| 10:02 AM I just had to get in on this forum, it was impossible to resist,. Its been going for so many years now, I stayed up till one last night reading through it all. My mom got the letter too. And being the gullible person that she is, she totally bought into it, believed every word. She asked me if it was real, so she gave me the letter so I could look it over. I told her I would check it out, maybe even test it out. Better that I get screwed over them my mom. This forum is a little negative as well, so I'm going to start my own blog about this letter, for the fun of it.
KarenESP	Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 \| 10:11 AM Hi Utah mom, when you get your forum going can you email me the link? I want to go to the fun forum on it. thanks, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Shane	Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 \| 04:59 PM Man\Crankys Partner said "Don't you see? If everyone did this, the math would not work out." You got a point there "Man" and "Crankys Partner" If everybody did participate in this scheme it would definetly not work for anyone. All the money would just get swallowed up by buying Stamps, envelopes and contacts that get over-inflated at a very fast rate. Put 100 people in a room have each one of them spend $20 on stamps and envelopes. Then each person can give $1 to two people. Guess what nobody comes ahead. It illegal for a reason it idiotic just like you. And its a lie just like your identity. Go ahead and waste Stamps and money in hopes of capilizing on a Pyramid Scheme that you think is a good idea. But dont expect anyone with half a brain to follow your logic.
Shane	Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 \| 05:02 PM Oh and Man/Crankys Partner You would actually come out as funny and clever to me if you were not such a Tool.
KarenESP	Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 \| 05:06 PM Awe... c'mon Shane... give 'the man' a break LOL!!!!
Shane	Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 \| 05:10 PM Wait the Man or Crankys Partner. I was kinda harsh with the man I admit, sorry man. But Crankys Parter you are a Tool I gotta say it.
Shane	Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 \| 05:15 PM I do have to say I am against harsh regulations at times. But I do believe in individualistic Social Responsibility. You should not have to have laws to tell you not to lie and cheat, people should use their conscience. But unfortunately there are a lot of Sociopath, as well as mentally incompetent people out there that need guidance one way or another.
KarenESP	Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 \| 05:16 PM Ok, maybe Im showing my age here, but what do you mean by "a tool." Garden tool, snow shovel, stump grinder?? What particular type of tool? sorry not hip on that saying...
KarenESP	Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 \| 05:18 PM If I had my choice of being grouped into one of those categories Shane... sign me up for mentally incompetent as opposed to a sociopath. Thank you, Karen
Shane	Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 \| 05:21 PM TOOL In American English the word "tool" may be used as an insult, describing someone who is being used by an establishment willingly (as a sycophant), or unwillingly (as one who blindly conforms). Alternatively, the insult "tool" can imply that a person is unable (or unwilling) to form an independent opinion on a given topic. From WikiPedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tool_(insult)
Cranky Media Guy	Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 \| 05:22 PM Cranky's Partner said: "Furthermopre, due to Cranky;s cunning, I am going to recommend Cranky to fill the Obama vacancy in Illinois." FINALLY, a chance to hobnob with the REAL crooks in Congress! $700 billion bailout, here I come!
Shane	Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 \| 05:22 PM Wait this is a more fitting Definition Tool may also be used to refer to members of the counterculture who conform to a prefabricated concept of rebellious behavior (such as tattoos, intentionally ripped clothing, long hair or earrings on males). In this sense, "tool" refers to a person who mindlessly buys into pop culture or subcultural trends. Also From Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tool_(insult)
Shane	Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 \| 05:27 PM Karen "If I had my choice of being grouped into one of those categories Shane... sign me up for mentally incompetent as opposed to a sociopath. Thank you, Karen" In this situation I dont think most people fall in to either catagory, due to the fact they are being manipulated by Propaganda. Actually though for the most part I think people who get sucked into this scheme are the opposite of Sociopaths. They let their emotions get the best of them, therefore they dont use there heads. It happened in Nazi Germany to almost an entire nation. A war was started by Propaganda.
KarenESP	Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 \| 05:48 PM let me re-direct your attention Shane to mom in utah who wrote: My mom got the letter too. And being the gullible person that she is, she totally bought into it, believed every word. She asked me if it was real, so she gave me the letter so I could look it over. NOW PLEASE NOTE... it looked as if she had been sucked in, Utah's mom's mom... but yet, 'she asked me if it was real' meaning no - she was not sucked in, just wildy hoping. That doesnt mean she believed it was real cause she asked for a second opinion. Kind of backs up my theory that ppl aren't stupid and if they really dont believe sending out 200 letters will net them 800K. A point I've been meaning to make but have forgotten.
Shane	Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 \| 06:08 PM But people do still send it out, and get sucked in otherwise the chain would not have existed so long. Which brings me to my point, that not everybody can see past the propaganda. Therefore by sending this letter out you are supporting the message. Also you have to believe in it to an extent to do so. Even if many people see past the Propaganda, many people do not. Also brings me to another point, (Which I have brought up before). You do not know the people you are sending this letter out too. All it takes is one psycotic lunatic. He buys into the Scam, and it does not work out for him. Guess what that person now has, your name and address. He may just feel like you lied to him, and may do something earrational blaming the person who sent the letter to him. Two of the versions of this letter I recieved State that "This will work 100% of the time".
KarenESP	Posted: Thu Dec 11, 2008 \| 06:53 PM Shane, again your point brings me to another point I've been forgetting to make: In a section of the code listed in 'the letter' - if you read the statute (Title), it specifically discusses that not using your name and real address are illegal. In the movie with Robin Williams, "The Night Listener," he drives to an address to investigate an allegedly abused boy but when he arrives, the street address given was not real, but a fake. (NOT a PO box, mind you.) Movie link info. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0448075/ So then Williams drives to a business like "Mailboxes, Etc" who, as part of thier business, supply people with fake street addresses so thier real street addresses remain anonymous yet they do not have to list a PO. Looks more friendly, I guess. (Or perhaps people who use this service dont want 'said maniac' you mentioned waiting for them at the Post Office pretending to read a newspaper while waiting to see which person unlocks that particular PO box then following them to their home.) My question is, how is it legal for these private companies to give out fake addresses for people and for people to use fake street addresses when it appears to be in complete violation of that particular Title? If the letter were legal and I would choose to participate, I have already thought of your scenerio and would use one of these private companies for a fake street address that looks homey but remains private. Just curious
Cranky Media Guy Member	Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 \| 02:05 AM Shane said: "Two of the versions of this letter I recieved [sic] State that "This will work 100% of the time"." The lie that chain letters can make every participant come out ahead is why they are illegal. They CANNOT and DO NOT.
Cranky Media Guy Member	Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 \| 02:07 AM KarenESP said: "My question is, how is it legal for these private companies to give out fake addresses for people and for people to use fake street addresses when it appears to be in complete violation of that particular Title?" A few years ago, it was made illegal for Mailboxes, Etc. and similar companies to use "suite numbers" for their mail boxes to make them look like addresses for companies in office buildings. If they are still doing that, they are in violation of the law (unless that was changed back, which I'm unaware of).
Shane	Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 \| 04:45 AM Cranky Said "The lie that chain letters can make every participant come out ahead is why they are illegal." Yes Im well aware of that. But the point I was trying to make to Karen Is that not every person out there will realize that its a lie. She seems to think that everyone has the mental capacity to realize that it is a lie. Karen had said "Kind of backs up my theory that ppl aren't stupid and if they really dont believe sending out 200 letters will net them 800K."
KarenESP	Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 \| 06:03 AM I agree that it will certainly not work 100% of the time... Do we worry that children will try to grow a giant beanstalk to get the Giant's gold.. or was it a Golden Hen? What about happy endings in movies.. wherein real life would not be so happy... The one with Queen Latifa- where they start robbing the Federal Reserve of the money to be shredded? In that movie, the other female lead... said, "crime is contangious." Is this letter really a terrible crime or is it a fairy tale? Perhaps it's a little of both but I bet 99% of the people who read it know it at the time. That's all Im sayin' And for that matter, maybe we should snuff out Santa Clause and his evil twin the terrible Easter Bunny. LIES LIES LIES
Shane	Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 \| 06:12 AM Im not talking about children and Santa Claus. Im talking about Fraud. If Santa Claus were going around telling people that an illegal Pyramis Scam were legal I would prompt an investigation into his business practices. To start it off we could interagate his elves one by one, until one of them cracks.
KarenESP	Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 \| 06:19 AM Well, with Santa Clause - ppl strap thier budgets trying as best they can to provide the illusion for thier children. Similar to strapping thier budgets for a fairy tale telling them 200 letters will net them 800K - however, I recall a peice in the letter where it mentions... if that doesnt work - then mail mail mail - at least indicating that there may be more than 200 letters involved, like 2 million... perhaps. I believe that is in the retired attorney part. In my experience, children tend to figure out Santa around 6 or 7, when they start asking questions about logistics, like how can he fly all around the world in one night, etc.... Thank you Cranky for answering the Mailboxes ETC question because that one really had me stumped. I do think that Shane has a really good point and anyone who would participate should at least use a PO Box. Note, the law also mentioned you can't use a forwarded address either, intentionally at least. Unless of course you really do move after you send out the letter - then you can forward to your new address because you wouldnt want those 800,000 (har har) envelopes to be returned. Now - where did I put those bean seeds....???
KarenESP	Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 \| 06:24 AM I told my 10 year old son he couldnt even watch that Queen Latifa/Federal Reserve scam because the whole thing sets such a bad example for children. I like how the lawyer got them out of prosecution by saying they will recant their confession. Oh yea, THAT would work. Geeze. Very bad example. And no feel good at the end of the movie even though they had a happy ending because - what - go create a scam against a bank and end your financial troubles? GREAT idea. (sarcasm)
Cranky's Partner	Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 \| 06:34 AM Relax Shane. I have been following this forum since the beginning and I had to get some jabs in on Cranky as I have done in the past. No, I'm not Crankys partner, and no I've never dome this mailing. I pray every day that the governemnt will take control of my life from every aspect so that I will be protected from all things big and small. That way I will not have to use my brain and everything will be handed to me. I also thank the good Lord Cranky was here in this forum threatening everyone with doom and harsh punishment. We need more rules and regulations over our lives and mighty overseer's that can squash anyone who thinks outside of the law. Look at prohibition for example. That was just the covernment saving us from ourselves. If they weren't there, the US would have went down in flames and we would have all killed each other in violent drunk rages. Thank you US govt.
KarenESP	Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 \| 07:44 AM I heard it used to be a law you HAD to go to church in the New England Colonies and basically, William Penn founded the middle colonies to get away from those laws. In many states and local areas, there used to be laws against telling fortunes -some places there still are but haven't heard of anyone getting burned at the stake for it lately. "Run Toto Run"
KarenESP	Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 \| 08:12 AM For: Cranky's Partner who is not really Cranky's Partner: Here is a little clip of an essay I wrote a long time ago dealing with 'the law.' Beep: Public Service Announcement: If you get busted for sending out an illegal chain letter, this will probably not help you with any resulting legal issues.... beep. Arrrg! Are You a Pirate? We know we
Shane	Posted: Fri Dec 12, 2008 \| 08:14 AM As I said before I advocate social responsibility. I dont disagree with this scam because its against the law, I disagree with it because its wrong. That aside I dont advocate lies. That is a personal moral. I bet the same people who are complaining about this scam being illegal are the same people complaining about government and political dishonesty. Guess what it makes you a hipocrit. Dont listen to Cranky and his idle threats of government and postal authorities contacting ISP's to track down people who post things on this blog, because thats ridiculous. Crankys Partner Said "That way I will not have to use my brain and everything will be handed to me." See now your just being a Sarcastic Tool.
Page 19 of 30 pages ‹ First < 17 18 19 20 21 > Last ›

Note: This thread is located in the Old Forum of the Museum of Hoaxes.