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General Philatelic/Gen. Discussion : What's The Story Behind This??

 

Author
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musicman
Members Picture


APS #213005

07 Dec 2020
09:26:10pm
Hi All,

I received this 'letter' in today's mail - it presents as quite strange to me. Maybe you all can help me figure it out?


Image Not Found



At first glance, it appeared to be hand-written, but its actually not. It's a copy. Or possibly a copy of a copy.

The cover was addressed to My local stamp club via my name and address. There was no return address on it - front or back; no other markings other than the mailing address and the cancel;


Image Not Found



You will notice that a return address is given at the end of the letter.


I don't see how this can be legit - it appears to be some sort of scam....but what?

They seem firstly to be asking for names and addresses....whose??


Then they are asking for literature, publications, etc, etc....




Puzzling to me......


......thoughts??

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51Studebaker
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Dialysis, damned if you do...dead if you don't

07 Dec 2020
10:16:57pm
re: What's The Story Behind This??

I get a lot of unsolicited inquiries via Stamp Smarter and many of them contain some sort of emotional content (typically concerning needy kids). Unfortunately there are many scams in the hobby and trying to figure out which communications are legitimate and which are not is challenging. One of the worst parts is that being wary also makes you feel guilty…what if the letter is legitimate? But unless I can verify that the source is legitimate then I ignore them. As you say, this letter presents a number of questions;
1. It has the ‘needy kids’ angle
2. No return address
3. Address in letter cannot be verified (not in Google maps)
4. Name cannot be verified
5. Printed ‘handwritten’ format
6. Request for ‘networking information’

Determining intent is always dicey, hell after 45 years of marriage I avoid making assumptions when my wife says something. So I would look at this letter with caution but try to not assume a malicious intent. I would not, however, offer anything unless and until I could verify that the letter is legitimate.
Don

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angore
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Collector, Moderator

08 Dec 2020
05:57:55am
re: What's The Story Behind This??

Scams are always around. The story would be someone who actually sends them names and addresses to a third party.

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Brechinite
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Neddie Seagoon from The Telegoons

08 Dec 2020
08:20:45am

Auctions - Approvals
re: What's The Story Behind This??

I would throw it in the trash.

Where and how did they get your address?

IF they live in WV why send to you.

Anybody with half a brain would go to their local store and pick up a Stamp Magazine or trawl the internet.

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1938324
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08 Dec 2020
08:32:49am

Auctions - Approvals
re: What's The Story Behind This??

I'm more than a little sensitive to this kind of "approach" of late. One of our Members in a foreign country asked for donated stamps not too long ago. I sent him a BUNCH. He then asked me if I had certain USA stamps for sale. I replied "Yes" and he agreed to buy several for $30.00. I'm still waiting for the $30.00 - and it's been 3 months. My message. Best not to be too kind/generous in this day and age.

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Brechinite
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Neddie Seagoon from The Telegoons

08 Dec 2020
09:54:43am

Auctions - Approvals
re: What's The Story Behind This??

"Best not to be too kind/generous in this day and age. "



The majority of us here are kind and generous.

Its peoples assumptions that can tick me off.

However as a seller I try and stick to certain principles.

Very few, if any, "deals" outwith the selling platforms.

Yes I may have the stamp(s) you are looking for but the chances are I do not.

Just because I listed a dozen stamps from Switzerland doesn't mean I am going to have the one you are looking for. If I do then it will probably be listed at some point.

Of course the "Hoary old chestnut" The buyer wants up to date commemmoratives on their package. You wish? I wish! They are hard to find.

etc etc etc.
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cougar
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09 Dec 2020
01:28:23am

Approvals
re: What's The Story Behind This??

Finding explanations is not always possible.

This has to be a case of "not criminally responsible" - someone on drugs or someone whose mind works in ways difficult to explain.

The person lost time, her materials and postage in the process.

If the return address was viable, we could think of motives, but in this case, clearly it is something else.

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Webpaper
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09 Dec 2020
10:49:35am
re: What's The Story Behind This??

West Virginia is a lot like any other rural area. Zillow and.or google are not always able to locate in rural areas. Zip code 26431 include 8 different small little cities and/or towns, some with populations in the hundreds.

If you go to the zip code locatpr on the USPS site and enter 91 Brookside Drive Shinnston WV it will give you the 9 digit zip code for that location.

When we lived in New Woodstock NY in 1980 it took 12 years to be able to get the correct address - we uncovered 3 different addresses in the meantime. HIPPA introduced real problems with police, fire and ambulance calls because none of the mailboxes had numbers on them - only names. Everyone knew where everyone lived.

When we bought our house the insurance binder at closing read "small house on North side of Main St - New Woodstock.

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roy
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BuckaCover.com - 80,000 covers priced 60c to $1.50 - Easy browsing 300 categories

09 Dec 2020
11:02:01am
re: What's The Story Behind This??

The address exists, but it is on Google Maps as "91 Brookside Acres". It is a mobile home park. Street view does not go into the park, but it is viewable from the main road going by.

Roy

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Webpaper
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09 Dec 2020
12:01:05pm
re: What's The Story Behind This??

"This has to be a case of "not criminally responsible" - someone on drugs or someone whose mind works in ways difficult to explain."

My guess would be rural poor, I spent a couple of months in WV going out with my husband on disaster damage inspections. While there are drug problems most tie in to black lung or other physical ills associated with work in a coal mine. Harrison County Coal Company produced over 17 million short tons of coal a couple of years ago.

Think positive.

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philatelia
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APS #156650

09 Dec 2020
12:14:44pm
re: What's The Story Behind This??

So sad - I looked, too, and an info site showed 6 or more people living in many of those rather small mobile homes. Sad

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"Just one more small collection, hun, really! LoL "
musicman
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APS #213005

10 Dec 2020
08:32:04pm
re: What's The Story Behind This??

I'm not going to toss it - it's an interesting piece of mail.

I will put a few notes in with it from the info some of you found (thanks!)


A curious piece of postal history....eventually!




Thanks everyone for your input.

Happy

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Author/Postings
Members Picture
musicman

APS #213005
07 Dec 2020
09:26:10pm

Hi All,

I received this 'letter' in today's mail - it presents as quite strange to me. Maybe you all can help me figure it out?


Image Not Found



At first glance, it appeared to be hand-written, but its actually not. It's a copy. Or possibly a copy of a copy.

The cover was addressed to My local stamp club via my name and address. There was no return address on it - front or back; no other markings other than the mailing address and the cancel;


Image Not Found



You will notice that a return address is given at the end of the letter.


I don't see how this can be legit - it appears to be some sort of scam....but what?

They seem firstly to be asking for names and addresses....whose??


Then they are asking for literature, publications, etc, etc....




Puzzling to me......


......thoughts??

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
51Studebaker

Dialysis, damned if you do...dead if you don't
07 Dec 2020
10:16:57pm

re: What's The Story Behind This??

I get a lot of unsolicited inquiries via Stamp Smarter and many of them contain some sort of emotional content (typically concerning needy kids). Unfortunately there are many scams in the hobby and trying to figure out which communications are legitimate and which are not is challenging. One of the worst parts is that being wary also makes you feel guilty…what if the letter is legitimate? But unless I can verify that the source is legitimate then I ignore them. As you say, this letter presents a number of questions;
1. It has the ‘needy kids’ angle
2. No return address
3. Address in letter cannot be verified (not in Google maps)
4. Name cannot be verified
5. Printed ‘handwritten’ format
6. Request for ‘networking information’

Determining intent is always dicey, hell after 45 years of marriage I avoid making assumptions when my wife says something. So I would look at this letter with caution but try to not assume a malicious intent. I would not, however, offer anything unless and until I could verify that the letter is legitimate.
Don

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this post

"Current Score... Don 1 - Cancer 0"

stampsmarter.org
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angore

Collector, Moderator
08 Dec 2020
05:57:55am

re: What's The Story Behind This??

Scams are always around. The story would be someone who actually sends them names and addresses to a third party.

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Stamp Collecting is a many splendored thing"
Members Picture
Brechinite

Neddie Seagoon from The Telegoons
08 Dec 2020
08:20:45am

Auctions - Approvals

re: What's The Story Behind This??

I would throw it in the trash.

Where and how did they get your address?

IF they live in WV why send to you.

Anybody with half a brain would go to their local store and pick up a Stamp Magazine or trawl the internet.

Like
Login to Like
this post

"StayAlert.......Control The Virus.......Save Lives."
Members Picture
1938324

08 Dec 2020
08:32:49am

Auctions - Approvals

re: What's The Story Behind This??

I'm more than a little sensitive to this kind of "approach" of late. One of our Members in a foreign country asked for donated stamps not too long ago. I sent him a BUNCH. He then asked me if I had certain USA stamps for sale. I replied "Yes" and he agreed to buy several for $30.00. I'm still waiting for the $30.00 - and it's been 3 months. My message. Best not to be too kind/generous in this day and age.

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
Brechinite

Neddie Seagoon from The Telegoons
08 Dec 2020
09:54:43am

Auctions - Approvals

re: What's The Story Behind This??

"Best not to be too kind/generous in this day and age. "



The majority of us here are kind and generous.

Its peoples assumptions that can tick me off.

However as a seller I try and stick to certain principles.

Very few, if any, "deals" outwith the selling platforms.

Yes I may have the stamp(s) you are looking for but the chances are I do not.

Just because I listed a dozen stamps from Switzerland doesn't mean I am going to have the one you are looking for. If I do then it will probably be listed at some point.

Of course the "Hoary old chestnut" The buyer wants up to date commemmoratives on their package. You wish? I wish! They are hard to find.

etc etc etc.
Like 
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.

"StayAlert.......Control The Virus.......Save Lives."
Members Picture
cougar

09 Dec 2020
01:28:23am

Approvals

re: What's The Story Behind This??

Finding explanations is not always possible.

This has to be a case of "not criminally responsible" - someone on drugs or someone whose mind works in ways difficult to explain.

The person lost time, her materials and postage in the process.

If the return address was viable, we could think of motives, but in this case, clearly it is something else.

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
Webpaper

09 Dec 2020
10:49:35am

re: What's The Story Behind This??

West Virginia is a lot like any other rural area. Zillow and.or google are not always able to locate in rural areas. Zip code 26431 include 8 different small little cities and/or towns, some with populations in the hundreds.

If you go to the zip code locatpr on the USPS site and enter 91 Brookside Drive Shinnston WV it will give you the 9 digit zip code for that location.

When we lived in New Woodstock NY in 1980 it took 12 years to be able to get the correct address - we uncovered 3 different addresses in the meantime. HIPPA introduced real problems with police, fire and ambulance calls because none of the mailboxes had numbers on them - only names. Everyone knew where everyone lived.

When we bought our house the insurance binder at closing read "small house on North side of Main St - New Woodstock.

Like
Login to Like
this post

BuckaCover.com - 80,000 covers priced 60c to $1.50 - Easy browsing 300 categories
09 Dec 2020
11:02:01am

re: What's The Story Behind This??

The address exists, but it is on Google Maps as "91 Brookside Acres". It is a mobile home park. Street view does not go into the park, but it is viewable from the main road going by.

Roy

Like 
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.

"BuckaCover.com - 80,000 covers priced 60c to $1.50- 10,000+ new covers coming Tuesday June 1"

www.Buckacover.com
Members Picture
Webpaper

09 Dec 2020
12:01:05pm

re: What's The Story Behind This??

"This has to be a case of "not criminally responsible" - someone on drugs or someone whose mind works in ways difficult to explain."

My guess would be rural poor, I spent a couple of months in WV going out with my husband on disaster damage inspections. While there are drug problems most tie in to black lung or other physical ills associated with work in a coal mine. Harrison County Coal Company produced over 17 million short tons of coal a couple of years ago.

Think positive.

Like 
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
Members Picture
philatelia

APS #156650
09 Dec 2020
12:14:44pm

re: What's The Story Behind This??

So sad - I looked, too, and an info site showed 6 or more people living in many of those rather small mobile homes. Sad

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Just one more small collection, hun, really! LoL "
Members Picture
musicman

APS #213005
10 Dec 2020
08:32:04pm

re: What's The Story Behind This??

I'm not going to toss it - it's an interesting piece of mail.

I will put a few notes in with it from the info some of you found (thanks!)


A curious piece of postal history....eventually!




Thanks everyone for your input.

Happy

Like 
4 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
        

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