OT Conning the geezers: weasel alert

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: OT Conning the geezers: weasel alert
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Thursday, August 30, 2012 - 05:57 pm:

When I receive junk mail designed to look similar to Social Security or other government mail, dressed up with "SERVICE CENTER", "OFFICIAL BUSINESS", and "Important information about your government benefits", I take it as an attempt to mislead old people who may not have all their wits about them.





I'm mightily tempted to glue the reply card to a brick with a note asking why I'd want to deal with an outfit that tries to trick me at the outset, and let them pay the postage on said brick. Anybody think I'm mistaken about the intent here?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Hoshield on Thursday, August 30, 2012 - 06:09 pm:

I tend to throw away anything with such pre-paid postage ... that's a bulk rate 'spammer' stamp, to me!

No ... I don't think you're mistaken at all.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob McDonald-Federal Way, Wa. on Thursday, August 30, 2012 - 06:13 pm:

Steve

Junk mail like this is how the Postal Service stays in business. But I agree with you, but the P.O. won't take it unless it is wrapped correctly and you pay the postage UP FRONT.

Bob


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Ken Kopsky, Lytle TX on Thursday, August 30, 2012 - 06:22 pm:

At least you haven't been getting Burial Insurance junk mail like I have.

If the junk mail has a business reply envelope inside, I send it back with a the blank form or the info that came in. I check to make sure there's no identifiable information on it. I figure I'm helping support the USPS. :-)


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bill dugger on Thursday, August 30, 2012 - 06:25 pm:

Most of the time I take and open it and read it and if there is a prepaid envelope in it I just re-depoist in the mail and send it back as they had to pay to send it now they have to pay to get it back. 99 % of the junk mail I do that so they have to pay both direction.

Steve good looking roof work you are doing, shucks if I had known when I was there in May I would have helped you if the pay was good, as when I got back to Redding I had to go help my som "FOR NOTHING" not even peanuts or popcorn and you might have paid me either minimum wage or gas money


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Henry Petrino in Modesto, CA on Thursday, August 30, 2012 - 06:26 pm:

I agree totally with you, Steve. I will turn 65 this December, so lately I've been getting a whole lot of mail just like what you described and pictured. I take it as an all out effort to con folks into thinking is's an official communication from Medicare. So, I can only deduce that if it's a con to start with it surely will not get any better for those who choose to do business with such companies. :-(


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Seth - Ohio on Thursday, August 30, 2012 - 06:37 pm:

Several years ago Andy Rooney addressed this issue of junk mail. He takes the crap from one company and puts into the envelope of another and sends it out or just sends out an empty envelope. I believe he stated that the company isn't charged the postage on the return envelope until it is returned. This way they get charged for postage but net zero results. I have used his idea several times and it is so satisfying to know that company is paying not only for the postage but to have someone open it.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By James A. Golden on Thursday, August 30, 2012 - 07:46 pm:

Another trick is to send a magazine you never ordered with a letter and invoice enclosed in the clear plastic cover. A friend's mother always sent the money right away to maintain good credit and the companies always sent more magazines. My friend could not believe all the magazines his mom was receiving and she never read any of them. They all kept coming for many months after her death with more invoices enclosed.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By mahlon hawker on Thursday, August 30, 2012 - 08:05 pm:

For the last month or so I have been inundated with smaller sized envelopes marked personal, confidential, to be opened only by addressee. No return address or other identifying markings. These are coming from all over the country.

In the trash they go,unopened.

Boy! Am I tired of all this! At least this fall they will go in the woodbox as fire starters.

Anybody remember the unordered DVD from last December? I wonder if it will be repeated this year?

Tony


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Bob McDaniel(Indiana Trucks)Star City In on Thursday, August 30, 2012 - 09:22 pm:

I always send back everything they send me and if I have junk mail with no envelope I just stuff it inside one that does. I know they pay extra postage for the fat mail I return to them. I talked to the post office about doing a return to sender on the ones without postage paid trash cans inside but it wont work so I saved up about 20 piles in one month all from the same place and returned them all at once. Every return envelope was so full it would not close right and the mail stopped from them for over a year!
At least the local post office gets credit for the mail.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dale L Myers on Thursday, August 30, 2012 - 09:27 pm:

I always open the junk mail because two times what I thought was junk was actually a rebate check and another time there was a one dollar bill enclosed as an inducement to fill out a marketing survey. I send back the prepaid envelopes with scrap paper in them.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By John Semprez-Templeton, CA on Thursday, August 30, 2012 - 11:05 pm:

I love the Hispanic letters I receive! Unfortunately I am French, Irish, English and Swedish in ancestry... so what do I do?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By kep NZ on Friday, August 31, 2012 - 06:42 am:

So what happens if we post you stuff?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Dennis Seth - Ohio on Friday, August 31, 2012 - 07:28 am:

We will know it's from down under because the address and stamp will be upside down on the envelope.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve Jelf, Parkerfield KS on Friday, August 31, 2012 - 07:40 am:

It's all kindling.


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