Another amazing episode from our pal, Jonny Hal...
Writers strike getting you down?
Well, fear not, here's some meaningless fluff to tickle your reptilian receptors.
Off the List: Episode 3- UK Lottery Scam
Who knows? You could already be a winner.
jHal
Chapter 5: The Postman Inspector Doesn’t Ring For Anyone
Pic: Stereotypical Fraud Dude
So far I’ve brought you mail scams involving Free Vacations, Government Mail Look-a-likes, Foreign Lottery Scams, and Fee-Based Unclaimed Government Benefits That Should Be Free Scams. This week I want to talk about what our Postal Inspectors are doing about it. I know, I know, we still have to cover Investment Fraud, Pyramid Schemes, and a whole slew of scams. Patience, my Dimers.
According to FakeChecks.org, in 2006, your Postal Inspectors (PI’s) partook in Operation Global Con, cited by the Dept Of Justice as “the largest and most far reaching multinational enforcement operation ever directed at mass-marketing schemes.” Almost 100 investigations identified 2.8 million victims (whoa) who suffered loss of more than $1 billion (diddo). Overall the PI’s made almost 9000 arrests, and a big chunk involved mail fraud.
Want to help them? If you have a Mail Fraud Complaint, the Postal Inspection Service coincidentally has a Mail Fraud Complaint Form.
I think I know that guy.
-Sanjiv
Chapter 4: The Free Fee Equation
Am I the recipient of an unclaimed tax refund? I sure am. See, the government is working for you. I just had my letter opener re-sharpened, so let me use that…Ah, well, it’s not from the IRS, it’s from a government agency affiliated with the IRS. See, government agencies affiliated with the IRS are working for you. Wait a minute, this is from a non-government agency not affiliated with the IRS. I think that means a business.
And they want to charge X dollars? I hate paying X dollars. I thought I was supposed to receive X dollars. I wonder if the IRS provides refunds for free, they do. I wonder if this practice is illegal. It is.
So you’re probably saying, “hey, I didn’t get my fraudulent unclaimed tax refund notice in the mail.” No, well maybe you got a notice to pay for another free service offered by the government such as:
1. Child Support Collection
2. Social security
3. Property Tax Exemption
4. Unclaimed funds held in a government agency.
When you read the U.S. Postal Services Mail Fraud’s website, they attach the word ‘scheme’ to each item on that list, and provide further detail. It’s not exactly beach reading, but well worth it.
Sanjiv = mx +b (y can’t get all the love…I’m such a geek)
Chapter 3: I Need a Free Vacation.
Boy, do I deserve a vacation. I’ve been at GreenDimes, what, two and half weeks? My blogging fingers need a rest.
No, no, I can’t take a vacation, what would you guys have to read? But if I did take a vacation, I’d take a free one. Hold on, I’ve got my handy letter opener here (insert zip sound.) Ah there we have it - a piece of mail that offers 4 day-3 night cruise around “Tropical Island.” I love “Tropical Island” this time of year. Sign me up. Oh, this was nice of them. They reduced the font size into this fine print to keep the info on one page…
“Pay a service charge for travel club membership.” Free – Pay? Sounds a bit oxymoronic, but sure, okay, who doesn’t want to be member of something?
“$200-$300 initiation fee?”
“Monthly fee?”
“$100 handling charge?”
“$50 fine print charge?” (kidding about the last one.)
Yeah, you guessed it, another postal mail scam. Well I suppose if it’s in the fine print, it’s not technically a scam. But the US Postal Service says you can also look forward substandard accommodations, and most people who join a fraudulent travel club will never receive anything. Hey, that is a scam.
Your Junk Mail Blocker 3.0,
Sanjiv
Chapter 2: Am I Being Audited? Phew, I Just Have to Donate to a Politician.
This is what I’m hearing. You get these real official looking, government mocked-up brown envelopes in the mail. Goes in the open pile, right? Actually, looks urgent, official, better open it now. Then after giving yourself a friendly paper cut, you find out some politician’s looking for a handout, or yes, another sweepstakes. Now you’re kicking yourself, maybe even literally, because you just watched Monk and you thought you notice the tiny difference between an official document and an official mockument.
The US Postal Service pointed out an example where letters were sent from the F.B.I., the ultra secretive Foundations Bureau of Invitations (turned to be a high pressure real estate scheme.) Okay, so that’s the worst offender, but how often have you seen, "Important Notice," Official Business," or "Open Immediately."
Well, you know who’s on the case. That’s right, Title 39, United States Code, Sections 3001(f) and (g). I’m sure you’ve memorized it like the pledge of allegiance, but in case you’re still paraphrasing, then jump over to the USPS and check it out.
Your Junk Mail Adjudicator (title makes no sense, so? It sounds good),
Sanjiv
Chapter 1: I’m Worth 8 million Spanish Pesetas
It’s true. I am. I simply have to claim my prize in a little town some 100 miles (kilometers?) outside of Madrid. I don’t even have to go there directly, I just have to dial some 38 digit number, and it’s mine. So what if pesetas are an unused currency (they use the Euro) that can only be found in museums, I could sell it to a museum. Now I’ve long since trashed that scam lottery piece of junk mail. What impressed me was how long I kept it! I kept looking at. It didn’t say I may have won. It said I won! And to be honest, I was tempted a couple times, just to see…
“Don’t do it!” Now I didn’t say that. That’s the U.S Postal Service talking. Last week, I reprimanded the USPS for their interesting Change of Address Form/Junk Mail tactics. This week, I’m applauded their efforts. Hey, I call ‘em like I see ‘em.
The Post Office provides all kinds of scam detection info. This week, I’m highlighting, “Foreign Lotteries in the Mail.” And what I learned is this:
They’re illegal. There’s a federal statute that prohibits mailing payments to purchase any ticket, share, or chance in a foreign lottery. Layman’s terms, you can’t send any lotteries in the mail. Some of them look like their run by foreign governments, they’re not. They’re run by what the USPS calls ‘bootleggers.’ And you know the types they’re preying on - the elderly and those who are financially struggling. Burns me up thinking about it.
Your Mailbox Cleaning Service,
Sanjiv
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