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
Scams are always around. The story would be someone who actually sends them names and addresses to a third party.
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.
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.
"Best not to be too kind/generous in this day and age. "
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.
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.
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
"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.
So sad - I looked, too, and an info site showed 6 or more people living in many of those rather small mobile homes.
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.
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?
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;
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??
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
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.
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.
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.
re: What's The Story Behind This??
"Best not to be too kind/generous in this day and age. "
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.