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A Postal-Mail Chain Letter?
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Posted By:
Maegan
in Tampa, FL - USA
Nov 14, 2004
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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: 1761 |
Comments
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Page 87 of 89 pages ‹ First < 85 86 87 88 89 > |
Cranky Media Guy
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Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 | 03:48 PM
Jamikay said:
"Did you tell your children that there was no Easter bunny, no Santa Claus..."
Did you teach YOURS that 2 + 2 = 5?
The fact is that not one but several explanations of exactly why chain letters do not work are readily available to you but you choose not to make the simple effort to read them. That's called "willful ignorance."
There's nothing unusual or abnormal about a CHILD believing in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. An ADULT who believes in them, however, IS abnormal. You are making a conscious decision to believe in the equivalent of Santa and the Easter Bunny. Time to grow up, Jamikay. |
Quixjote
in Oregon
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Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 | 09:19 PM
Wow, This thread has gone on quite a while... And yet I got my first Chain Letter only today...
CMG: While your information is spot-on, your approach is rather harsh at times, you obviously care enough to stay on this thread for 7 years. Try not to become too hardened by people that are blinded by false and/or dreamer's hope...
Quick note though CMG: Due to the nature of the internet with links changing and such, some of the references you posted are now showing as not available.
I will be updating my blog today with a new post just about this, in hopes that we can spread light on this subject without having to seed though so many comments (Minus the occasional link update).
For those of you that want a Judicial ruling on a case very similar to this letter:
(a) Legislation on Chain Letters
Some information from the FTC directly regarding Chain Letters (Notice how it describes many aspects of the letter that so many of us have received since this thread was started back in 2004... 7 years ago)
(b) FTC: The Lowdown on Chain Letters
And just some more information about Money Style Chain Letters:
(c) Money-chain letters are illegal, but why?
To break it down for the people that don't want to follow the links (Or if in another 7 years the links change)
1) This is a chain letter, same letter being sent at an exponential rate to more people.
2) As mentioned in (a)'s site: CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
1. Respondent is engaged in conducting a scheme or device for obtaining money through the mails by means of representations materially false in fact in violation of 39 U.S.C., 3005.
2. Such scheme is also a scheme for the distribution of money by chance thus falling within the definition of lottery as found above. See Zebelman v. U.S. , 339 F.2d 484 (10th Cir. 1964). As such the scheme also violates 39 U.S.C., 3005.
3. In essence the scheme is nothing more or less than the well-known chain letter. The fact that participants are to receive for each $2.00 invested a one-page "money making" report is obviously only an unsuccessful attempt to camouflage the principal characteristic of the scheme as a chain letter, or lottery.
4. An order pursuant to 39 U.S.C., 3005 in the form attached should be issued against respondent.
In the end, as many have said here: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you want a chance at "Quick Money" these days, write a 30-60 page self-help eBook and publish it somewhere online for $1.00 to $5.00 a copy... Even if it is complete rubbish, people will probably buy it somewhere.
Myself: I may not be the best writer, but I will stay with writing my blog, writing php inventory systems, and lawn care.
--Quixjote |
jamesomusic
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Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 | 03:22 PM
Back again.....The odds ..henceforth
It is more likely that you will be killed in a car wreck on your way to buying a lottery ticket, than it is for you to win. Fact! Think about it.
It is more likely that you will be struck by lightning 3 times be for you will win the lottery...Fact!...It is more likely that you will be bitten buy a deadly rattler 3 times before you win the lottery.Fact!
I won something once in 67 years. I was listing to the radio a few years back, when the announcer asked anyone to call in and recite the McDonald slogan they were using to advertise their Big Mack, well don't you know I was the fist to call and blurted out... "two all beef patties, special souse, lettuce, cheese, pickle, on a sesame seed bun" They announced that I was the winner if the Grand Prize, come down to McDonalds, and pick up your Prize. It was a tee-shirt, with their slogan printed on the front.The only one they had, size large, I wear an extra large. I tried it on and it maybe was a medium(didn't fit)Gave it to one of my children (12 years old (fit perfect)She never wore it. I asked her why, she said it was silly. There you go. I think we sold it at a yard sale for 25 cents. a few years later, still in the plastic. That's it end of story. Good luck on winning anything,but don't count on it to make the big haul, will not happen! Save your money or give it away to someone who needs it,not the lottery people, or the chain letter people. Got to go now I have a great grand daughter who needs changing and a bottle. And we both need a nap..Jim |
Wisconsin
in Milwaukee
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Posted: Thu Mar 24, 2011 | 02:19 PM
Just received this letter in the mail today and since I had some free time, I decided to do a little research.
What I learned:
Legal vs. Illegal: This is illegal. The government decides which forms of gambling are legal and illegal, and this one just happens to be illigal.
Why did I receive this?: After reading some of the comments on this thread I realized a something... someone indicated the company associated with the Victoria's Secret credit card sells names and addresses of customers... well guess what? I signed up for the credit card about 6 weeks ago... coincidence, maybe but probably not.
Can it work?: Absolutely, but the numbers indicated on the solicitation are only accurate if there are enough individuals participating. Some people may get lucky and end up getting a large sum of money while others will only break even and then there will be the category that most people fall into who will receive less than they invest.
I am going to pass on this so the people relying on my $1 are going to have to hope someone else on their list sends them money. |
Cranky Media Guy
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Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 | 03:01 AM
Wisconsin said:
"Can it work?: Absolutely, but the numbers indicated on the solicitation are only accurate if there are enough individuals participating."
Not really. The premise of a chain letter is always something like "We can all come out ahead if we play fair." That is simply NOT mathematically possible. It is NOT possible for all participants to draw more out of a static pool of money than they put in. Period.
It IS possible, of course, for an individual or a few individuals to draw more from the pool than they invested in it. Take a wild guess as to who the individual(s) who get(s) to do that might be. If you guessed "the person or persons who set up the scam in the first place," congratulations! |
Im SANE
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Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 | 02:01 PM
OK - Youre officially all morons! Ill start by saying the letter is garbage - however the math is simple as can be. The big mouth among you fails to multiply each set of recipients by 200. Therefore he/she cant add the correct numbers. it does equal $813,615.00. The variable used in the example I saw was 7.5 % response rate. Looks like most people are pretty tempted to do this so Im gonna just assume that 7.5 % isnt too crazy of a figure. Start with 1% if you think thats better... Either way why the hell would I send $1 to these people? why wouldnt I (if I were going to participate) just send out 200 letters??? Guess its just $6 right? lol. But then why wont the next guy(s) just cut ME out??? All I see is the lead company making $$$. |
Cranky Media Guy
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Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 | 06:40 PM
Im SANE said:
"OK - Youre officially all morons!"
ALL of us? |
Cranky Media Guy Is A Looser
in Japan
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Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 | 09:29 PM
May I start by saying Cranky Media Guy goes down as the most pathetic human being I have ever come across. Sorry CMG might not even be human...who knows
He has been posting comments on this lame subject for close to 6 years...wow
Can you imagine how much help he could have given to the poor, the homeless, and the sick if he would give half as much energy caring about humanity as he does about a chain letter. What a waste of precious time.
Weelll, what should I do with my life? HHMMM maybe I will comment on a worthless subject for 6 years. Better yet, I'll make sure I devote a lot of energy to this very important subject. I'll get excited and curse at the poor people on here that are open to taking a gamble in life to try getting ahead.
I HAVE SEEN THIS LETTER SEVERAL TIMES AND I CANT IMAGINE THAT IT WOULD WORK. I JUST THROW IT IN THE TRASH.
LEGAL OR NOT? DON'T CARE. IF IT LOOKED LIKE A GOOD IDEA TO ME I WOULD DO IT. |
aqueen
in Oh
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Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 | 11:08 PM
Hey nate. This letter js got to me a couple dayz ago n I like the way you broke the whole think down like that. You mak a very valid point!! Ima try it to....I hv nothin to lose. Envelopes n paper...no big deal..$50 mailing list n stamps..chump change. I hv my own copy machine so no chrg for the copies. I know its a chain letter but its js like rge letter says. This is people helping people, plain n simple! |
Cranky Media Guy
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Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 | 02:51 AM
A Queen said:
"Hey nate. This letter js got to me a couple dayz ago n I like the way you broke the whole think down like that."
The only problem with the way Nate broke it down is that it's total bullshit.
"I know its a chain letter but its js like rge letter says. This is people helping people, plain n simple!"
Ah, the old "people helping people" thing again. Scam artists use that phrase because it helps suckers like you to rationalize being part of something that anyone with a room temperature IQ realizes can only work for them if other people lose the money they put in.
If I were you, I'd use the fifty bucks you're planning on wasting on this scam to take a Remedial English class at the local community college. That would truly be a case of someone (you) being helped by other people. |
Cranky Media Guy
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Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 | 02:53 AM
By the way, Queen, if you had bothered to read past Page Two of this thread, you would have seen the exact reasons why chain letters cannot and do not work as they are claimed to explained not once, not twice, but several times. |
twoINthePINKoneINtheSTINK
in lost satellite contact
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Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 | 02:08 PM
FIRST OFF I WOULD LIKE TO STATE THAT ALL THE CRANKY's are correct. CHAIN LETTERS ARE ILLEGAL!!!
THe question is no longer "if" they are illegal, it is now "HOW do we make one that is legal"
Would adding a disclaimer to the end make it legal? part of the issue with a chain letter is that it falls under the lottery laws as well as the postal laws. CHANCE is a key factor. If the program involves a CHANCE of making money and a CHANCE of not making money, it is a GAMBLE, therefore it is considered a lottery... (an unregistered lottery)
Now what if we changed "ad me to your mailing list" to "I would like to join your club" and at the bottom we offer a very detailed disclaimer explaining the ins and outs.
ex: Disclaimer: CHAIN LETTERS ARE ILLEGAL. IN ORDER FOR THIS PROGRAM TO BE LEGAL YOU MUST WRITE ON A SLIP OF PAPER |
Stinky Feet Pete
in Disney Earth
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Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 | 04:53 PM
No note or disclaimer attached to the chain letter will ever save it, as the laws automatically make such illegal when money is involved.
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2002/02/eileenspam1.shtm
A legitimate money chain letter is fundamentally impossible under the laws as they stand. |
Cranky Media Guy
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Posted: Thu Apr 28, 2011 | 07:00 PM
Stinky Feet Pete is correct, an illegal act does not magically become legal if two or more people agree to participate in it. I'm not a lawyer but I do know that at least in some circumstances, that kind of agreement can be construed as a conspiracy which bumps the charges up. |
M n S
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Posted: Sat May 21, 2011 | 08:06 AM
LOL Its illegal because the can not tax you on this. Come on people look deep into this. I know its not cool. I am not one todo illegal things, but the gov and usps made this illegal do to unsure how to tax. I know the usps did not make this law, because if they did they would lose that much more money from people buying stamps.....This is just my two cents |
The Plump Dormouse
in Treacle
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Posted: Mon May 23, 2011 | 04:51 AM
M n S, you're an idiot.
Time magazine had an article in bleeping 1935 about the post office, stamps, and chain letters. The postal service was bleeding out from all the extra costs that the chain letters were inflicting on them.
It's also illegal because it is fraud. That's the FTC viewpoint. Now, are you going to actually do some research and discuss things like someone with a brain and a point of view, or are you going to fling buzzword poo like a stereotypical monkey? |
xokellieox
in Oklahoma
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Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2011 | 06:24 PM
Okay just look at the percentage of people on this forum saying they are going to try this. The right there proves something right. It will work if people stop overanalyzing it. The letter also says to put 10% of you income into charitble contribution...So that makes this some what legal correct? If it is a pyramid then how is anyone that is not participating making more that the other? Everyone drops of the list in about 3 weeks, so it will not over whelm the post office in one area for to terribly wrong. Plus if this is illegal, I will take that chance. It woul.d be my first ofense. It is 6$ to send out to six peeps, then paper for 800 copies, because there are for pages, stamps and you can get the printing company to send you sticker lables. I wonder if the printing company would give input as to the volume he receives? I have to wonder if the printing company is involved and maybe this is a marketing letter! Anyway I am trying it too. |
Sara
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Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2011 | 03:19 PM
I agree with Nate. You are sending someone else money for the heck of it. Where is the scam. It's a freakin dollar for cryin out loud. It isn't like they are asking you to pays them hundreds of dollars and you get nothing in return. The only part you are investing to other people is $6. (The names on the list). Everything else in on your own. Other people are not going to get rich off your misfortune. The only part I wouldn't do is order the mailing list from the company mentioned on the letter. I too received this letter and after discussing it with my husband we have decided to try it. I found leads for half the price mentioned on the letter. The total investment would be about $150, but again the only amount I would be losing to other people who may have sent out this letter before me would be $6. So is it really a scam. Maybe, but I'm going to try it. |
Cranky Media Guy
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Posted: Fri Jun 10, 2011 | 07:36 PM
xokellieox said:
"The letter also says to put 10% of you income into charitble contribution...So that makes this some what legal correct?"
Using your logic, if I rob a bank but I give some of the money to the Red Cross, my actions are "somewhat legal." BZZZZT. Wrong! Life doesn't work that way, Kellie.
"Plus if this is illegal, I will take that chance. It woul.d be my first ofense."
I guess if you're going to start a life of crime, you might as well begin with a Federal offense.
Seriously, you're almost certain not to face any charges for participating in a chain letter but you're also just about guaranteed not to see any money out of it either.
Sara said:
"You are sending someone else money for the heck of it. Where is the scam. It's a freakin dollar for cryin out loud."
No one accusing YOU of running a scam. What we are--correctly--saying is that people who RUN chain letters are operating a scam.
"It isn't like they are asking you to pays them hundreds of dollars and you get nothing in return."
No, they are asking hundreds or thousands of people to each send them a small amount of money. I trust you realize that that results in the scammer ending up with a nice sum of money.
"Other people are not going to get rich off your misfortune."
Well, they're counting on a LOT of people to help them get rich. Yes, your personal loss won't put a dent in your lifestyle, but when a LOT of people make the same mistake you're planning on making, it can really add up. Why do you think chain letter have been around for so long?
Kellie and Sara, you both need to go back into this thread and read some of the information about why chain letters don't work and why they're illegal. It's been provided many times over the course of this thread, complete with links to the original sources of the information. |
DJ Brakel
in Denver
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Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 | 03:35 PM
There is a legal way to participate. I have done the research and I love the idea of helping others out. I also asked several questions of my CPA and also researched the FTC. Intentions of deception is what makes chain letters illegal. There must be a product or service of inherent value and this product or service must be independent of the actual chain letter and have "use" to the general public. Email me if you want more information. |
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