$$$ make Money $$$ with less than US$ 10

-> From: Thomas SToll <tstoll_at_cyberlink.ch>
-> Message-ID: <3236A6EC.5826_at_cyberlink.ch>
->
-> Taking 5 minutes to read what follows can change your life :
->
-> I saw an article in an internet newsgroup telling me I could make
-> $50,000 within a month for an investment of only $5.
Copyright Normandeau Newswire August 25, 1996. Permission granted to reproduce freely in its entirety only.

There is only one risk-free way to make money from spammed chain letters. That is; to turn-in the sender to the IRS for unreported income. Contact your local Internal Revenue Service office for more details regarding rewards. If they say "I made $50,000 in one month" -or whatever; the IRS is sure to want to know. Happy bounty hunting!

The following originated on the Normandeau NEWSWIRE at Invention Factory BBS in New York City at 212-274-8110. The USC cite is from a Legal SIG message. Send to offending chain letter sender and to internet postmaster at the originating site (postmaster_at_site).

Some chain letters just say to send money, some claim to be selling reports or gathering names for mailing lists. The money sending is via the US mail and some inter-state addresses are always included. The original electronic postings are sent over inter-state wires.

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.

The U.S. Postal Service at http://www.usps.gov/depart/inspect/chainlet.htm says re "CHAIN LETTERS":
Recently, high-tech chain letters have begun surfacing. They may be disseminated over the Internet ... Regardless of what technology is used to advance the scheme, if the mail is used at any step along the way, it is still illegal ... Do not be fooled if the chain letter is used to sell inexpensive reports ... mailing lists, or other topics. The primary purpose is to take your money, not to sell information. "Selling" a product does not ensure legality. ... Turn over any chain letter you receive that asks for money or other items of value to your local postmaster or nearest Postal Inspector.

18 USC 1341 and 1342 show that the scheme is just a chain letter operation with a twist. The original message is sent over telecommunication 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. If in doubt forward a copy of the letter or spam by mail to YOUR Postal Inspector (Mail Fraud) and FBI (Internet Wire Fraud) for an opinion. For fraud via computers also http://www.fbi.gov/compcrim.htm.

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.

To hear US Postal Service recorded fraud related information 24 hours a day, call 212-330-4000. Select the following recordings: Chain Letters (including those sent via internet) #309 Work-at-Home Schemes (including envelope stuffing) #104 In the recording the Post Office asks you to SEND THEM FRAUDULENT MATERIAL.

If you come across such a chain-type letter and if you suspect attempted fraud, send a complaint to the "postmaster" at the originating electronic posting site. Also, print out copies of the entire solicitation and send one copy to "POSTAL INSPECTOR" for EACH 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 lower part of the envelopes. Where stamps normally go the label will 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. Send a copy of the solicitation to all city, state and federal tax authorities for the jurisdictions mentioned in the addresses already listed on the solicitation. With a marking-pen high-light the appropriate City and State in the print-out. This can speed up local authorities' actions. Or better yet, get PAID to turn in tax evaders. Contact the tax authorities for details.

Visit also: news.admin.net-abuse.misc, alt.current-events.net-abuse, alt.spam, alt.stop.spamming Received on Wed Sep 11 1996 - 00:00:00 CEST