The Museum of Hoaxes
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 23 of 30 pages ‹ First  < 21 22 23 24 25 >  Last ›
Cranky Media Guy
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 | 01:45 PM
Adrianne said:

"IF YOU WANT TO GO THERE THEN ID JUST LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW THAT "ABSOLUTE NONSENSE." IS NOT A SENTENCE!"

Yes, and neither is "NOT THROUGH CREDIT CARDS AND BILLS, THATS CRAZY."

I'll try to keep in mind that you're "HIGHLY EDUCATION" from now on.
Karen
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 | 03:27 PM
yes... agree Adrianne...

it's

"Absolutely nonenonse."

hee hee
Karen
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 | 06:38 PM
OMG! That scratch off my stepmother sent me... the top prize was 50 bucks and my ticket was for the full fifty.

Now I feel guilty she just didnt keep it for herself.
Codi grant
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 | 06:53 PM
OK NOW YOU ARE JUST GETTING ON MY FUCKING NERVES! GROW UP! WHAT ARE YOU? YOU MUST BE A SORRY PIECE OF SHIT MAN WHOM CANT GET A WOMAN BECAUSE OF A SMALL ASPECT OF NOTHING IN YOUR PANTS SO THEREFORE YOU TRY TO MAKE UP FOR IT BY USING SPELL CHECK ONLINE TO SOUND LIKE A "HIGHLY EDUCATED" GENTLEMAN! VERY MATURE! YES THAT DEFINITELY WAS A RUN ON BUT I REALLY COULD CARE LESS. IM NOT THE ONE TRYING TO SOUND ALL MACHO ONLLINE BY QUOTING THE DICTIONARY AND CORRECTING PEOPLES GRAMMAR MISTAKES. GOOD LUCK WITH THAT MR CRANKY MEDIA GUY!
hcmomof4
in So. Cal.
 Member
Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 | 09:15 PM
Uh.........
Cranky Media Guy
Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 | 12:55 AM
Codi Grant (?) said:

"YOU MUST BE A SORRY PIECE OF SHIT MAN WHOM CANT GET A WOMAN BECAUSE OF A SMALL ASPECT OF NOTHING IN YOUR PANTS SO THEREFORE YOU TRY TO MAKE UP FOR IT BY USING SPELL CHECK ONLINE TO SOUND LIKE A 'HIGHLY EDUCATED' GENTLEMAN!"

That's an ad hominen attack.

"YES THAT DEFINITELY WAS A RUN ON BUT I REALLY COULD CARE LESS."

First, you DO care about sentence structure, now you don't. Could you please make up your mind? Oh, and while you're at it, could you decide whether your name is Adrianne or Codi Grant? Thanks.
Hairy Houdini
Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 | 08:58 AM
my keyboard is broken, i can only get lower-case letters, and nothing works even if i bang on it liKE THIS>>> OH< WAIT>>> HEY< WHAT THE_ DAMMIT NOW IT"S STUCK ON THE_ FORGET IT
Hairy Houdini
Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 | 09:01 AM
dag
Joey
Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 | 07:12 PM
What if somebody from Data Line is behind all this?
That Darn Blister
Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 | 02:36 PM
And... the award of Incapable of Getting a Clue goes to:

Julie Ali, of http://www.projectsaviors.com

This lovely lady took her letter to an immigration attorney to get it approved for mailing out and spamming the nation.

So, chain letters need visas and passports now, Julie?
Cranky Media Guy
Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2009 | 04:54 PM
My favorite part of Project Saviors is where Julie says:

"Yes! Our program is perfectly legal. We offer a service to our clients and they pay for the service. It is as simple as that."

Oh, well, if JULIE says so...

So, if I "whack" people for a fee, it must be perfectly legal, right? I mean, I'm offering a service and people are paying me for it.

I also like where she says she "accidentally" acquired her URL and didn't even realize she had it. How exactly would that be possible?
marc
Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 | 09:49 AM
I've never posted here before.

I've noticed on this board Cranky media Guy has been posting on this topic forever.
Why? Is it that personal to you, or just that bored?

This letter is a joke however.
No I would not advise anyone to participate.
CMY however your extreme hatred of this particular topic is leading you to make statement that aren't true.

All chain letters are not illegal, only ones asking for money, or which promise "substantial returns".
If particpants truly recorded the "mailing list" kept up with it, and used it for a lawful purpose such as sharing other biz opp's & changed the focus or message of the text to something like "Develope your own at home biz network and possibly make some additional income at the same time". While removing some of the outlandish claims of potential, reduced the numbers to only a couple thousand, then added the example listed in its current form as a "Could you immagine if...." With a disclaimer, it would become a legal, random, mass mailing advertisement for your biz sharing network.

Cranky you're a bit off base. It is junk yes, it is flawed, it is a scam, however your statement "it could never be legal" is false.

Again however STAY AWAY FROM IT!!!! Even if you changed it & made it legal, then tried to keep up with your "list" then continue working your list, and redistributing additional info. IF it worked would it be worth your time for $1/person to get mail, open the letter, collect $1 bills, enter name into computer, create this list, then use it for something?
How much time and work is all that? Unless you have another agenda, and truly wanted a list, it would be a complete waste of time. Not to mention it wouldn't work.

I would suggest if you have a couple hundred bucks to do this, instead buy some bargain stock.
Like General Electric now trading at $10. The last several years it's traded around $33.
$200 in GE stock would get you 20 shares, in a yr or 2 it will be back up there & your 20 shares will be worth $500 or more. Better bet.
Hairy Houdini
Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 | 10:46 AM
whoa... snapping on CMG... that's never happened before... I'm sure he's devastated... I think I'll e-mail a link to this page to all my friends, and ask them to pass it on to several of their friends, and so on... that's pretty original, right? Little, yellow, different
Cranky Media Guy
Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 | 01:43 PM
Actually, Marc, it has been explained more than once in this thread that it is chain letters which involve the exchange of money which are illegal.

Yes, if people were to start a chain for the purpose of exchanging information, that would be legal, however no one ever seems to do THAT.

Your point, however, is well-taken.
Mike
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 | 04:11 PM
Thanks for the information... but I agree w/ Marc.

1) An altered letter could conceivably be Legal

2) I'm not sure how 1 person [CMG] could post so much information on 1 topic w/ so little relevance...... if you spent all that energy on something that actually mattered, you might not be relegated to posting about something that doesn't matter.

3) Great time to buy stocks.
DD
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 | 04:47 PM
I also received one of these letters recently, and decided to give it a try. It's hard to believe that the post office would try to stop anyone, after all, people are spending alot of money on stamps! I see no reason not to try it..it would definitely work if people kept it going. There's no bailout for those of us struggling to make ends meet, while continuing to pay off our debts and worry about our jobs. For less than a $200 investment, I'm willing to take the risk. Do any of you people play the lottery?? I think law enforcement has much more to worry about than trying to catch people sending chain letters.
bluebird
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 | 05:20 PM
CMG...you need to get over this thing you have with this letter being ILLEGAL according to the US postal service! Enough already. Answer one question: have you EVER done anything illegal?? Stolen a lollipop maybe as a kid? Smoked a little pot in college? Cheated on your income tax?? Anything at all?? Or are you Mr Perfect??

For all of the others on here who are taking these letters to the post office to give them the list of 6 names, give me a break! If you are so opposed to this, throw the letters away and forget about it. It's not hurting you in any way. For those who want to give it a try, leave them alone, get a life, and let them try!

I can't believe what I've been reading on here!
Cranky Media Guy
Member
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 | 06:03 PM
DD said:

"I also received one of these letters recently, and decided to give it a try. It's hard to believe that the post office would try to stop anyone, after all, people are spending alot of money on stamps!"

Um, don't you think the U.S. Postal Service has an obligation to try to stop people from using it for illegal purposes? If not, then don't bitch when you buy something from eBay which is supposed to be sent to you via the mail which never shows up. You DO realize that the Post Office has rules against things like THAT TOO, yes?

"I see no reason not to try it..it would definitely work if people kept it going."

Bzzt...WRONG. If you bothered to read some of this thread, you'd see where it has been explained MANY TIMES why chain letters can't and don't work. "Keeping it going" makes no difference.

"There's no bailout for those of us struggling to make ends meet, while continuing to pay off our debts and worry about our jobs."

That's exactly why, in my opinion, it's important to tell people why chain letters are a scam. Millions of Americans are in a deep enough financial hole without throwing more money into it, even if it's just a few dollars.

"Do any of you people play the lottery??"

The differences between a LEGAL lottery and ILLEGAL chain letters has also been explained many times over the course of this thread. Please take the time to read that information.
naturegirl
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 | 06:03 PM
All I can say is that it works. Don't be afraid to pursue your dreams. Just be ethical and follow the directions.
Cranky Media Guy
Member
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 | 06:08 PM
bluebird said:

"CMG...you need to get over this thing you have with this letter being ILLEGAL according to the US postal service! Enough already. Answer one question: have you EVER done anything illegal?? Stolen a lollipop maybe as a kid? Smoked a little pot in college? Cheated on your income tax?? Anything at all?? Or are you Mr Perfect??"

So, your "logic" is that two wrongs DO make a right? Fascinating. I'll repeat what I've said many times before: this is NOT about ME. Some of you folks seem to want to personalize it so you can pretend that what I'm saying here is incorrect or irrelevant or related to some imagined personal problem on my part. Sorry, not true. If these same things were said by someone else, it would still be correct. By the way, your accusations have been made several times by other people. Please be more original in the future.

"For all of the others on here who are taking these letters to the post office to give them the list of 6 names, give me a break! If you are so opposed to this, throw the letters away and forget about it. It's not hurting you in any way."

I refer to what I said in my comment directly above this one. In hard economic times, the last thing people need is yet another scam designed to take more of their money.

"I can't believe what I've been reading on here!"

Facts?
DD
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 | 06:11 PM
CMG - I have read many of your posts and think you have a major problem. I'm not posting on this site to communicate with you...and have no intention of getting into a battle with you like so many others have done (for years, I see). Apparently all of your negativity hasn't stopped your so called "chain letters"..that should tell you how seriously people take your advice. I really prefer to chat with real human beings here, so no need to reply to this. I'm not getting involved in your little wierd web.
bluebird
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 | 06:27 PM
Since you seem to know all of the "facts", tell me, how many people have actually been prosecuted for sending a chain letter since you have begun your one-man crusade years ago??

I think you just might be the scam artist here. You get people so angry over such an insignificant topic, that they might do exactly what you are telling them not to do. It would be worth it to send a few out just to piss you off! 😊

You need to get a life. You've been saying the same thing over and over and over again for years, and no one really cares anymore. You gave it a gallant effort, but give it up. The letter is still circulating. People have a choice..they can throw it away if they want to. If they try, $100 lost more than likely isn't going to put someone into bankruptcy.
bluebird
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 | 07:20 PM
Ahhh..Bob Pagani, aka CMG--sorry it took so long to figure this out. Hates everybody in a funny way. That's a matter of opinion for sure. I knew it couldn't be possible for one person to be so obsessed over something so ridiculous for sooo long. Why do you want people to think you're such a freakin' jerk?
Cranky Media Guy
Member
Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2009 | 01:35 AM
DD said:

"Apparently all of your negativity hasn't stopped your so called "chain letters"..that should tell you how seriously people take your advice."

Yes, just like the police should stop investigating bank robberies. After all, people still rob banks, right? So, the police are clearly wasting their time trying to stop them. Your "logic" is, well, not very logical.

"I really prefer to chat with real human beings here, so no need to reply to this. I'm not getting involved in your little wierd web."

Ah, the old "I thought I could come in here, say the same old crap others have repeated many times before, have no one refute me, then stomp off when someone does" thing. We've seen this before. Buh-bye. Don't let the browser hit you on the ass on the way out.

bluebird said:

"I think you just might be the scam artist here."

Hmm, first I'm some kind of crazed fanatic on a fruitless crusade to stop chain letters, then I'm actually the scammer myself. Could you folks please make up your minds?

"You get people so angry over such an insignificant topic, that they might do exactly what you are telling them not to do. It would be worth it to send a few out just to piss you off!"

Oh, I get it now! When you make the decision to participate in a decades-old scam, it's MY fault. I mean, it's not as if you're (presumably) an adult who can make your own decisions. You were FORCED into it by my cunning plan. How soon will it be before I get a subpoena from your lawyer because I "forced" you to waste your money on chain letters? Two words, friend: Personal Responsibility.

If you are honestly thinking about wasting money on a chain letter to "annoy" me, allow me to point out that only a person with the emotional maturity of a child would do something to try to piss off a person they don't even know.

"Ahhh..Bob Pagani, aka CMG--sorry it took so long to figure this out."

Were you under the impression I was trying to hide my identity? Congratulations on finding Google, by the way.

"I knew it couldn't be possible for one person to be so obsessed over something so ridiculous for sooo long. Why do you want people to think you're such a freakin' jerk?"

You're so busy engaging in personal attack that you have failed to show that anything I've said about chain letters in this thread is incorrect.

I'm sorry that chain letters don't magically produce money. It would make life much easier for a lot of people right now. The unfortunate fact is that they don't. That is not my fault, however. Ever heard the expression, "Don't blame the messenger"?

"$100 lost more than likely isn't going to put someone into bankruptcy."

No, but if a person is in financial distress, the last thing they need to do is waste a hundred bucks on a scam when they could be spending it to feed their family.
bluebird
Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2009 | 07:53 AM
Actually, I don't think you are the actual CMG, but rather an "employee" assigned to certain online forums. Just someone playing the part--someone pretending to be someone else (isn't that illegal??)

It does explain why you wont give a straight answer to questions, why you consistently make assumptions, usually incorrect ones at that, about what others are saying, and why you insist on critiquing posts line by line. Reminds me of a prior English teacher.

It's time for you to move on. You have, to the best of your ability over the past two years, made your point. And guess what??? People don't care about what you have to say! After reading the majority of your posts, you still haven't convinced me that this is illegal, or a scam (and please don't advise me to go back and re-read your posts. That would be torture). Most people are able to read and comprehend a letter. If they don't have the money to invest in something like this, there is no one twisting their arm "to waste a hundred bucks when they could be spending it to feed their family". There is the "personal responsibility" you're talking about. If on the other hand, they want to give it a try, that's their choice also. Get off your high horse and stop playing the post office narc already.

To everyone out there who has become a little riled over this guy's comments, relax. He's just doing his job and then sitting back laughing at all of those who are getting frustrated with his often dumb-ass comments. It's hard to believe that people earn money (and fame?? personally, I've never heard of him before) doing stuff like this. That's what I consider, dare I say it, a SCAM!
bluebird
Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2009 | 08:23 AM
Sorry...one last comment before I leave this bogus "forum".

Originally, I thought that this site was a place where REAL people could communicate with others to obtain information and opinions in order to make a personal decision. Now, I believe this whole thing has been created by CMG, or rather, a couple of his cronie wanna-be's who work for him.(Wow, what a job, huh? Sit around and criticize and degrade others. Wonder how much he gets paid for this?)

In all reality, the person(s) writing these comments claiming to be CMG probably doesn't even agree with what he (or she) is saying. He is just here to play the devils advocate on any controversial subject, to irritate as many people as possible. It's his job. I would bet he shows up on numerous sites such as this (has probably set them all up himself), and then has the audacity to talk about scams.

I've lost all interest in this forum..you've made it way too easy to figure out. Sorry CMG wannabe, you've finally met your match.
Cranky Media Guy
Member
Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2009 | 02:01 PM
bluebird said:

"Actually, I don't think you are the actual CMG, but rather an "employee" assigned to certain online forums. Just someone playing the part--someone pretending to be someone else (isn't that illegal??)"

Wow, just wow. Paranoid much?

"It does explain why you wont give a straight answer to questions, why you consistently make assumptions, usually incorrect ones at that, about what others are saying, and why you insist on critiquing posts line by line. Reminds me of a prior English teacher."

What question have I not given a straight answer to? Did you WANT your comments not to be thoughtfully responded to?

"After reading the majority of your posts, you still haven't convinced me that this is illegal, or a scam (and please don't advise me to go back and re-read your posts. That would be torture)."

That speaks volumes to me. The FACTS about why chain letters are illegal have been given in this thread many times in simple English. You simply don't want to accept them so you're doing the equivalent of sticking your fingers in your ears and saying, "La la la, I can't hear you!"

If quotes direct from the U.S. Postal Service's website about why chain letters are illegal don't convince you, it's clear that you simply aren't interested in accurate information. You've decided to believe that 2+2=5 and no one is going to convince you otherwise. A mind is a terrible thing to waste.

"If they don't have the money to invest in something like this, there is no one twisting their arm 'to waste a hundred bucks when they could be spending it to feed their family'. There is the 'personal responsibility' you're talking about."

The "personal responsibility" reference was to YOU blaming ME for your actions. Why am I not surprised that you completely missed that point?

"I believe this whole thing has been created by CMG, or rather, a couple of his cronie wanna-be's who work for him.(Wow, what a job, huh? Sit around and criticize and degrade others. Wonder how much he gets paid for this?)"

Exactly who, in your Fantasy World, pays someone to do things like that?

"I've lost all interest in this forum..you've made it way too easy to figure out. Sorry CMG wannabe, you've finally met your match."

Yup, you see right through me. Damn, I wish you could see me laughing right now.

"And guess what??? People don't care about what you have to say!"

Yes, clearly YOU have NO interest in what I say. I mean, that's obvious by how you keep responding after you've threatened to walk away. I guess I should tell my horde of paid minions to stop posting things which FORCE you to comment.
That Darn Blister
Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2009 | 06:20 PM
Bluebird...

Have you ever considered what happens when a chain letter bearing your address lands in the hands of someone seeking to do harm?

You might get a flood of Nigerian scams sent to you, you might get chain gifters trying to get you to join. Or you might get raped, since the person knows from the letter that you'll believe just about anything.

Think about that a while.

Then look up Albania's civil war of the late 1990s. Guess what set it off?
Cranky Media Guy
Member
Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 | 01:23 AM
The Albanian Civil War story is amazing. Reader's Digest version: chain letters took down the country's entire economy.

Yes, it's extremely unlikely that the same thing could happen in the U.S., but given the horrid state the American economy is in at the moment (with more people getting food stamps than ever before, for example), we don't really have money to waste on mathematically impossible scams.
bluebird
Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 | 07:53 AM
Darn blister...you've got to be kidding. You take this stuff way too seriously..lighten up!
You sound like one of CMG's sidekicks...think he's been on this site playing with himself for years
bluebird
Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 | 08:05 AM
by the way, what leads you to the conclusion that I'm a female (just considering your "rape" comment)? What I am is a professor doing a little research. It's all been in good fun and thanks to CMG, I've gotten wll I need. Thanks, and have a wonderful day.
countrybumpkin
Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 | 09:19 AM
Well, Lord almighty. Now ya really got me scared. I surely don't wanna start no war, so come Monday, I'm gonna tote them chain letters right down to the local sheriff and make sure them people are arrested.

Now, how about them people on them there info-mercials I see on TV every now and again? Ya know, the ones tryin to sell their books or DVD's on how to get rich? Ya'll think there in on this war plot too? We surely gotta do something about this before its to late for all of us!
Cranky Media Guy
Member
Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 | 01:55 PM
countrybumpkin said:

"Well, Lord almighty. Now ya really got me scared. I surely don't wanna start no war, so come Monday, I'm gonna tote them chain letters right down to the local sheriff and make sure them people are arrested."

I guess you missed the part where I said, "Yes, it's extremely unlikely that the same thing could happen in the U.S.," huh?

"Now, how about them people on them there info-mercials I see on TV every now and again? Ya know, the ones tryin to sell their books or DVD's on how to get rich?"

You mean Kevin Trudeau, the guy who has already done prison time for fraud and who is enjoined by the FTC from selling anything BUT books on TV?
Cranky Media Guy
Member
Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 | 01:59 PM
Bluebird said:

"What I am is a professor doing a little research. It's all been in good fun and thanks to CMG, I've gotten wll I need. Thanks, and have a wonderful day."

Oh, you're a PROFESSOR! So, the "I can't comprehend simple information and refuse to accept the obvious" thing has been an ACT all along!

What school or university do you teach at, Doc?

By the way, how long does it take to leave this site, as you threatened to do days ago? This is taking longer than Barbra Streisand's farewell tour.
Heathrow
Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 | 06:04 PM
Hey Countrybumpkin! Yer probably kinfolk, and I agree with ya 100%. I knew them dam commies were up to no good, trying to infiltrate the u s of a!
Now that I've gradiated the 6th grade, I reckon I'm ready for a job. Thought about finance, but since uncle Jeb is a millionaire, we dont have much need for that, we know all about money. Thought about wallstreet, but think I might be a wee bit too qualified. Then thought about medicine, but grammy does all of the doctering round these parts (that moonshine cures every blasted thang). Zoology is out since my cousin Nellie Fay knows everthing about critters. So, decided to be one of these new fangled computer geeks. I'll get uncle Jeb to buy me one of these here websites and I'll be able to give folks all kindsa valuable infermation. Now, git the shotguns ready, and beware of the mailman bringing ya those dag burned chain letters!
Doc
Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 | 06:08 PM
Just when I'm ready to give you credit for saying something intelligent, you turn around and do something ridiculous again. Did you really take Countrybumkin seriously??

Yeah, I threatened to leave, but it was yesterday, not days ago. I didn't even find this site until late Friday night. But now I have to stick around to hear your comments to Heathrow..that's gonna be too good to pass up.

I don't think I'll let you in on where I teach just yet, but I promise you'll be properly cited.
Cranky Media Guy
Member
Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 | 07:19 PM
Oh, so now "Bluebird" is "Doc." Fascinating.

Yes, I realized that Countrybumpkin was being sarcastic. It seemed to me that he/she was saying that something like what happened in Albania couldn't possibly happen here. I agreed that it was very unlikely but it still wasn't a good idea for people to waste their money on a mathematically impossible scam.

"I don't think I'll let you in on where I teach just yet, but I promise you'll be properly cited."

Oh, so now you're claiming to be working on a paper or something? And you gathered information without notifying people that you intended to use them in your work? Seems a wee bit unethical, but, hey, you're the "professor." A professor who can't seem to understand the simple reasons why chain letters CANNOT and DO NOT work and who says it would be "torture" to go back and read the simply-stated information available on this very thread, but a "professor" (of who-knows-what) nevertheless.

"Yeah, I threatened to leave, but it was yesterday, not days ago. I didn't even find this site until late Friday night."

Hmm, that would be completely contradicted by the time stamp on your first post (or at least your first post as "bluebird." Who knows how many other names you've posted under?) :

Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 | 03:20 PM

Are you that sloppy with your "scholarly" work, "Doc?" Again, I only wish you could see me laughing at you right now. Will you include THAT in your "paper?"
Doc
Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2009 | 08:09 AM
If you had read my post from Sat 4/11 6:05 am, as well as your reply at 11:59, you would have known that I am doing research. As far as being ethical, this is a public site, and I don't need your permission. As I said, you will be properly cited. When individuals write papers, do you really think that contact each and every author of every reference they use?? That's absolutely ridiculous and leads me to believe you haven't gotten too far in post high school education. Trust me, I'm laughing just as much, if not more, than you are.
bluebird
Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2009 | 11:05 AM
As much fun as this has been, I
Cranky Media Guy
Member
Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2009 | 05:05 PM
Doc said:

"If you had read my post from Sat 4/11 6:05 am, as well as your reply at 11:59, you would have known that I am doing research."

So, you consider "What I am is a professor doing a little research" disclosure? Um, how about WHO you are, WHAT RESEARCH YOU'RE DOING and FOR WHAT PURPOSE? What made you think that that short statement would be taken seriously? Anyone can say anything on a website, when there are no facts to back it up.

"As far as being ethical, this is a public site, and I don't need your permission."

Possibly. There's also that little thing of you being an active participant in the subject matter rather than a dispassionate observer thereof. Kinda skews the data, doesn't it, "Doc?"

You may have heard of the Stamford Prison Experiment. It's a classic example of the researcher getting wrongly involved with the experiment.

It would also seem that you were, in effect, "playing a character" to induce a specific response--without disclosure, of course. Doesn't seem like the actions of a dispassionate scientist to me.

With the limited information available to me, it looks like you wanted to provoke a certain outcome. Now that you've gotten it, you say, "Ta da! See what I've discovered happens in Internet discussions?" In current vernacular, that would be called "trolling."

"At the risk of dating both of us, I probably discovered Google while you were still in diapers."

Unlikely, I'm 57.

"Anyway, your sarcasm and witty humor has been priceless, so please pass my thanks along to all of your cohorts that were also a part of this."

Part of what? Who knows? It's all a big secret.

"I
hcmomof4
in So. Cal.
 Member
Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2009 | 07:28 PM
Bluebird said:
As for the ethnicity of the research...


Uh.......
Smile
Posted: Thu Apr 23, 2009 | 08:49 PM
wow, you people are still arguing with CMG ! ? !
You complain about what he says....and listen to YOURSELF !

Chain Letters? I'll make it easy for you....
Just send me your money....really...I can use it to pay off my hospital bills and put my two teenagers through college!

Address you say?
Mail me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
and I'll send you my address and a couple websites that will make you money and are legal!

Pleasant dreams,
CB
That Darn Blister
Posted: Sun Apr 26, 2009 | 06:15 PM
Cindy,
I followed your link and shuddered at what I saw.

Cash gifting is a serious securities crime these days. Shall I report your G1G4 activities to the IRS via form 3949A as well, Miss Betts? They take a very dim view of cash gifters claims that they (the IRS) approved any such program.
Cranky Media Guy
Member
Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 | 01:10 AM
I LOVE it when operators of one scam denigrate another scam. "Why give your money to THOSE crooks when you COULD give it to ME?"

Folks, bottom line here is there is no Magic Formula way to make E-Z money.

If there was, you wouldn't be reading about it on a relatively obscure web site. You'd be reading and hearing about it EVERYWHERE.

By the way, Blister, I say report the "cash gifting" scam to the IRS. There might even be a reward.
cranky media guy is a wierdo
Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 | 03:51 AM
i just want to here from a real person if this has ever made you any sort of profit? cuz in theory it should work as long as there is 15 honest people out of 200. please let me know


cranky media guy, you have my vote for worlds biggest douche!

you have been on this topic since 2005.
that is simply pathetic.

please stop posting so i dont have to waste my time skipping over your lame ass comments
That Darn Blister
Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 | 01:30 PM
No, in theory it fails completely after roughly 13 passes, having exceeded the total world population in the number of people having received the letter and either responded or ignored it.

In practical, real world terms, it dies in about 90 days, and causes hundreds of millions of dollars in economic damage in that time frame. Look up what happened in Denver, Colorado in 1935, when the letter did manage to expand to its' limit.
Cranky Media Guy
Member
Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 | 01:59 PM
Mr. Stupid Screen Name said:

"i just want to here from a real person if this has ever made you any sort of profit? cuz in theory it should work as long as there is 15 honest people out of 200. please let me know"

OK, I'll type this slowly so you can possibly understand it. How can this work "in theory" with 15 "honest" people out of 200 since the "theory" is that everyone can come out ahead? In your scenario, 185 people out of 200 don't bother to send money to anyone else. By what convoluted math can that possibly result in everyone coming out with more than they put in?

"cranky media guy, you have my vote for worlds biggest douche!"

Wow, bigger than a jackass who can't understand simple arithmetic! That's quite an honor.

"you have been on this topic since 2005.
that is simply pathetic."

And yet there are cretins like yourself who STILL can't understand the simple explanation of why chain letters CANNOT magically make everyone come out ahead (even though it's been repeated in simple English many times now).

"please stop posting so i dont have to waste my time skipping over your lame ass comments"

I fully understand that you wish to live in a world populated by unicorns and leprechauns who hide treasure chests at the end of every rainbow but it isn't MY fault that your imaginary reality doesn't exist. Believe it or not, SOME people want to know the FACTS about chain letters. This thread exists for THEM, not you.

Some of those people even know how to use the Shift key on their computers. Shocking, no?
cranky media guy is a wierdo
Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 | 10:22 PM
4yrs now and you still dont understand how this works. why dont you do your research and look how it adds up?

thats why your so pissed. because you still dont fully understand this. the script at the top of the page isnt the full letter. theres about three more pages of information and details explaining how 15 out of the 200 may pass the letter along to 200 more people each. then this cycle repeats 6 times untill your off the list. its exponential growth you cranky fuck.


also i dont care if it is illegal so stop trying to warn people.
cranky media guy hater #143
Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 | 10:42 PM
DUDE....cranky media hater?????? you are a complete loser! you go on this forum (witch is a CHAIN LETTER questioning forum) like its your myspace..???? Do you really not have anything at all better to do? You are on page 1 through 69, at least 10 times per page. Thats borderline crazy person. thats 4 yrs. of your life wasted on this site. look back at those 4 years??? did you have a good time??? wtf? Good thing your not on match.com or somthin because you would be stalkin people like crazy. The only thing i could think of is that someone came over to your house and jammed chain letters up your ass for like 10 hours straight and that is the only way you could have this much hate for chain letters. dude give it a break....P.S. I wish i knew your address. I would send you the same chain letter everyday for like 3yrs.
Cranky Media Guy
Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 | 11:09 PM
cranky media guy hater #143 said;

"The only thing i could think of is that someone came over to your house and jammed chain letters up your ass for like 10 hours straight."

I definately agree that this must've happen.

The fact that you have been on this thread for 4 years is embarrasing. You should just QUIT!
Ouit before someone from the nut-house reads this, tracks you down and commits your crazy ass.

In the past four years you have made an argument so aggresively that it appears you must be right...but you still are dead wrong.

I hope you respond to this comment like you have done to every single person on this thread in the past FOUR YEARS.

I hope your fat fingers get blisters from writing paragraph after paragraph of complete non-sense.

You definately need some sort of intervention...before you get too fat and angry and die with your forehead on the keyboard still typing jibberish.

PLEASE STOP!
hahaaha
Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 | 11:13 PM
Cranky Media Guy said:

blah blah blah yadda yadda yadda....IM A FAT DILDO THAT HATES CHAIN LETTERS.
Cranky Media Guy
Member
Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 | 01:01 AM
Obsessive Reality-denier said:

"4yrs now and you still dont understand how this works. why dont you do your research and look how it adds up?"

Right back atcha, Dude. I FULLY understand how chain letters "work." HINT: they DON'T.

It doesn't matter how many people participate or how many times the letter goes around. It is NOT mathematically possible for every participant to come out ahead. Since the money is not invested or put into an interest-bearing account, there is not one dollar more at the end than there was at the beginning, hence no profit for the group to split. Even a child of normal intelligence could understand that.

"its exponential growth you cranky fuck."

Meaningless gibberish.

"also i dont care if it is illegal so stop trying to warn people."

Uh, as I already explained, this thread is not about YOU. It's for people who are interested in FACTS, NOT FANTASIES about chain letters.

No one has to take MY word about any of this. There are many books about scams in public which will tell you exactly the same things I've been saying. Chain letters DON'T work because they CAN'T work.
That Darn Blister
Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 | 02:27 AM
If you want to send him the same chain letter every day for 3 years, here's the address:

PO BOX 2000
PASADENA CA 91102-2000
FUCK cranky media guy
Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 | 02:45 PM
yo cranky media guy.... these guys are clownin you. better step up your game. your gettin smashed...........................
FUCK cranky media guy
Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 | 02:54 PM
I hope on cranky media guys wife wrote this in his divorce papers:

"He just became obsessed with this weird chat forum and he wouldn get off the computer for the past 5 years!"

"I just cant take being with a complete loser anymore..."

"I actually cought him masterbating to his screen-name once....."

"He hasnt changed his clothes in months. Hes a complete embarresment to humanity and im now taking BIG BLACK DICK to make up for the past 5 years...."


signed: Cranky Media Slut
hcmomof4
in So. Cal.
 Member
Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 | 03:05 PM
Dear CMG's secret admirer,

Yes, slinging insults is a great way to get your point across, pretty soon I'll see the error of my ways and hope that I get a chain letter to send out.
Cranky Media Guy
Member
Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 | 04:47 PM
"yo cranky media guy.... these guys are clownin you. better step up your game. your gettin smashed..........................."

Sorry, one illiterate person using multiple names doesn't impress me.

Now, do you have anything constructive to add about the actual topic of this thread?
Cranky Media Guy
Member
Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 | 01:12 AM
1ncsteve said:

"i also recieved [sic] this letter (chain or not-chain) in the mail about two days ago. as i read over these years and years of this post, all i see is arguing over it's [sic] legality."

If you go back over the thread, you'll also see that it has been carefully explained over and over that chain letters CANNOT work as claimed.

"i know most of you reading this won't to [sic] believe it 100% legal to send out these letters,please be careful. attorney generals [sic] across the county have been cracking down on direct mail. each state law is different and since your selling the idea of becoming a mail list company, that makes it direct mail."

WRONG. If you go back and actually READ the thread, you'll see where we quote the part of the U.S. Postal Service's website which explains that chain letters which exchange something of value (like MONEY) are NOT legal. In fact, you'll see that exact part of the Postal Service's website quoted several times. Calling it a "direct mail business" does not magically make it legal. The Feds are on to that gag.

By the way, it's fascinating to me how someone "in the marketing business" who engages in "direct mail campains [sic] for auto dealerships" types in all lower case and makes the same grammatical and spelling errors as the person who has been gratuitously insulting me the last few days, using several different names.

Nothing suspicious there, nope.
Cranky Media Guy
Member
Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 | 06:30 PM
1ncsteve said:

"I never said they were legal. Nor did I say it was a direct mail business. What I was tring to show was who was actually making the money off these letters. I read most of thread before I posted and I understand your point. I even agree with your quote of the U.S. Postal Service."

Here's what you said originally:

"i know most of you reading this won't to believe it 100% legal to send out these letters,please be careful. attorney generals across the county have been cracking down on direct mail. each state law is different and since your selling the idea of becoming a mail list company, that makes it direct mail."

Having re-read that, I *think* I now understand better what you were trying to say. Initially, it looked to me like the same old nonsense about people claiming that a chain letter is "direct mail" magically making it a "business" and therefore legal. I believe now that I misunderstood your point. To be fair to me, you DID say in a difficult-to-understand way.

"I don't need to prove anyone that they're illegal. You've been beating that drum for years now."

Given that people still come in here and make the same tired old, incorrect, claims that chain letters are legal, it seems that SOMEONE needs to repeat the facts for the benefit of those who arrive late and don't/can't take the time to read the entire thread.

"I'm also sorry that my use of lower case letters offended you. It was late here in N.C and I didn't know I was going to be graded."

If you look over the last page or two, you'll see that your original post very closely resembled in style those of a person who posted under several different names and who seemed to have confused personal attack with the presentation of fact about the topic of the thread. Based on that, I think you can understand my suspicion.
Lindsy Shipley
Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 | 08:57 PM
Hey, whats wrong with sharing money. What a wonderful way to say to your neighbor," sure ill share a dollar"!
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 Note: This thread is located in the Old Forum of the Museum of Hoaxes.