From: ray.normandeau@factory.com (Ray Normandeau) 
Newsgroups: alt.2600
Subject: ***OPPERTUNITY SEEKERS ONLY***
Reply-To: ray.normandeau@factory.com (Ray Normandeau) 
Date: Wed Feb 22 16:42:00 1995

-> ************* OPPERTUNITY SEEKERS ONLY!!!! *************

I am sure that YOUR offer is legit. But for others this may be of
interest:
Some chain letter messages refer people to 18 USC 1341/42 concerning mail
fraud and lotteries. The chain letter claims to be a legal operation.

18 USC 1341 and 1342 show that the scheme is just a chain letter operation
with a twist. The original message is sent over telephone lines. A quick
check of 18 USC 1343 shows that this is wire fraud. Each of the above laws
carries a penalty of $1,000 and/or 5 years in jail. Each mailing, or upload
is a violation.

The scheme is sometimes set up with the first 5 to 10 names all referring to
the same person using aliases and PO Boxes or Mail drops to collect all money
sent to the first 5 or more people, depending on the wording of the letter.

If in doubt readers should forward a copy of the letter [or upload] to the
local Postal Inspector (mail Fraud) and FBI (wire Fraud) for an opinion.

To hear US Postal Service recorded fraud related information 24 hours a day,
call 718-522-7530. Select the following recordings:
Chain Letters #309
Work-at-Home Schemes #104
Swindles Aimed at Senior Citizens #103
In the recording the Post Office asks you to send in fraudulent material.

For YEARS solicitations have been mailed out with:
"Dear Friend,
My name is Dave Rhodes. In September 1988 my car was repossessed and the
bill collectors were hounding me like you wouldn't believe. I was laid
off and my unemployment checks had run out..."

During the last year or so the letter has been modified to include:
"I spent a frustrating day looking through the want ads for a job with a
future. ... That night I tried to unwind by booting up my Apple computer
and calling several bulletin boards. ... All at once it came to me, I
now had the key to my dreams. I realized that with the power of the
computer I could expand and enhance this money making formula into the
most unbelievable cash flow generator that has ever been created. I
substituted the computer bulletin boards in place of the post office and
electronically did by computer what others were doing 100% by mail".

If Dave Rhodes used a different name to post the message [Dave Rhodes may
have been banned from some sites], and if you suspect attempted fraud, send a
complaint to the "postmaster" at the original electronic posting site. Also,
print out copies of the entire solicitation and send one copy to "POSTAL
INSPECTOR" for EACH US Post Office mentioned in the solicitation. With a
marking pen high-light the appropriate City and State in the print-out.
Instead of affixing postage write "Official Business".

If you really want to wipe out this type of scam, with your computer printer
make yourself a year's supply of labels to stick where the postage stamp
would normally go. Now you only have to write the City and State names on the
envelopes. The labels should say:
Official Business
POSTAL INSPECTOR
At City Indicated Below

The solicitations sometimes say:
"Follow these instructions EXACTLY, and in 20 to 60 days you will have
received well over $50,000.00 cash, all yours. This program has remained
successful because of the honesty and integrity of the participants. ...
Welcome to the world of Mail Order! This little business is a little
different than most".

Someone entering the mail order business for the first time may
"inadvertently" overlook the payment of Federal and local income taxes,
especially when they have to open up a thousand or more envelopes a day and
count piles of one dollar bills. 1000/8 = 125 envelopes per hour.

As the "honesty and integrity of the participants" is mentioned in some
letters it may be appreciated by them if your were to send a copy of the
solicitation to all the appropriate tax authorities. With a marking pen
high-light the appropriate City and State in the print-out.

=======================================================================

The above originated on the Normandeau Newswire, Newsgroup # 5 of Invention
Factory BBS, 212-274-8110. The USC cite is from a Legal SIG message.

The Normandeau Newswire, is operated by Ray Normandeau and Rita Frazier
Normandeau who are members of the American Federation of Television and Radio
Artists and members of Screen Actors Guild in NYC.

The Normandeau Newswire frequently mentions in which productions; live, TV or
film that Ray and Rita can be seen in.

The Normandeau Newswire welcomes news related to scams and/or the
entertainment industry.

Email and Press Releases to: ray.normandeau@factory.com
Compuserve: >INTERNET: ray.normandeau@factory.com