# Have you seen this scam? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 25, 2007, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-seen-this-scam/420470 "2007-09-25T20:06:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-seen-this-scam/420470/21 "2007-09-26T20:24:19Z")
[QUOTE=JSexton] Yes, they’ll almost certainly bill you for it. Fortunately, you have no obligation to pay or return an unwanted piece of mail. [/QUOTE] I assume you’re talking to me. (You’ll have to pardon me. I’ve had a hard hour or two with a recalcitrant (and brand new) Casio calculator). Anyway, I’m wondering how to handle the invoice - if/when it comes. Ignore it? Tell 'em to take a flying f at a rolling donut? Tell 'em flat out: I didn’t order I’m not gonna pay? I think the last - unless someone has better advice. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-seen-this-scam/420470/22 "2007-09-26T20:29:48Z")
[QUOTE=Quercus] Better yet, turn it off permanently. [http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/article03-018](http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/article03-018) [/QUOTE] A great tip, **Quercus**! I bookmarked the Home page. Now I get a menu of what I want can do with the DVD, and nothing happens until I make a selection. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-seen-this-scam/420470/23 "2007-09-26T20:32:19Z")
I did a quick google search but couldn’t find anything. But I was told that if someone sends you something in the mail without you asking for it, like what happened to you **BarnOwl** that you have no obligation to pay them. Besides if they start pestering you for payment you can tell them you never received the CD, don’t know who they are, and that you do not want them to send you another one. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-seen-this-scam/420470/24 "2007-09-26T20:37:51Z")
[QUOTE=Tahssa] I did a quick google search but couldn’t find anything. But I was told that if someone sends you something in the mail without you asking for it, like what happened to you **BarnOwl** that you have no obligation to pay them. Besides if they start pestering you for payment you can tell them you never received the CD, don’t know who they are, and that you do not want them to send you another one. [/QUOTE] Thank you, Tahssa. Sounds right/ ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-seen-this-scam/420470/25 "2007-09-26T21:20:54Z")
I there any chance that someone else bought it for you, giving your email and address, so that you wouldn’t know who sent it? It doesn’t sound like the kind of thing that would be sent as a joke, so I don’t think it’s likely. But if someone else sent it, it’s paid for and you won’t be getting a bill. Do you have any Aunts that are concerned about your finances? ---
**Author:** ![JSexton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@JSexton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JSexton)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2007, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-seen-this-scam/420470/26 "2007-09-26T23:58:57Z")
[QUOTE=BarnOwl] I assume you’re talking to me. (You’ll have to pardon me. I’ve had a hard hour or two with a recalcitrant (and brand new) Casio calculator). Anyway, I’m wondering how to handle the invoice - if/when it comes. Ignore it? Tell 'em to take a flying f at a rolling donut? Tell 'em flat out: I didn’t order I’m not gonna pay? I think the last - unless someone has better advice. [/QUOTE] You’re perfectly entitled to ignore them. The post office [says so.](http://www.usps.com/websites/depart/inspect/fraud/merch.htm) If you didn’t request it, it’s legally considered a gift. ---
**Author:** ![Khampelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Khampelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khampelf)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-seen-this-scam/420470/27 "2007-09-27T04:01:25Z")
[QUOTE=JSexton] You’re perfectly entitled to ignore them. The post office [says so.](http://www.usps.com/websites/depart/inspect/fraud/merch.htm) If you didn’t request it, it’s legally considered a gift. [/QUOTE] I guess these sorts of scams were prevalent pre-internet, preying on people’s integrity and TANSTAAFL. I remember a TV PSA that informed viewers that they were entitled to keep unsolicited merchandise. I recall a circus strongman’s face lighting up, saying “Really?” and zooming around the toy plane he’d gotten. Anyone else remember that? ---
**Author:** ![EvilGhandi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@EvilGhandi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilGhandi)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 8:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-seen-this-scam/420470/28 "2007-09-27T08:10:39Z")
Do not install unsolicited software on your machine. ---
**Author:** ![choie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/choie/32/7829_2.png) [@choie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/choie)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-seen-this-scam/420470/29 "2007-09-27T08:41:21Z")
[QUOTE=BarnOwl] I got an email thanking me for my purchase of some horseshit thing called MyMoneyChoices Tele-Seminar, for $87. I replied that I hadn’t bought the thing. [/QUOTE] Actually, this is mistake #1. It’s never a good idea to respond to fake email crap like this. Honestly, this is just asking for trouble. If you get an email from something obviously fake and scammy, don’t open it, just delete it. Now you’re asking: how can you know it’s fake/scammy without opening it? Easy. If you use Windows Mail, Outlook, or Outlook Express, for example, right-click on the message, select Properties. This will show you the email address (info that’s not always visible in your inbox), which you can identify as a stranger or someone you probably know. Next, click “Message Source.” You’ll get the raw HTML and can scroll down (past the message headers) to read the basic message in a safe manner. If it doesn’t pass the smell test, such as this one – or if it contains a huge block of random numbers/letters, which is likely some kind of attachment – then you can exit the Properties window and delete the little bastard. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-seen-this-scam/420470/30 "2007-09-27T14:30:29Z")
Might I ask if the sender used delivery confirmation or signature confirmation when sending it? Is there a bar code across the bottom that has Delivery Confirmation written next to it? ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-seen-this-scam/420470/31 "2007-09-27T14:54:28Z")
[QUOTE=EvilGhandi] Do not install unsolicited software on your machine. [/QUOTE] I can easily check it, I can use my virus machine. Having a test dummy that can be reimaged in 20 min is so nice :D. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_Bowe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@Doug\_Bowe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_Bowe)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2007, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-seen-this-scam/420470/32 "2007-09-27T17:23:56Z")
If possible, why not just take the CD to work and hand it over to your IT person? Our IT guy is a grade A geek and up to the minute on the latest stuff. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/have-you-seen-this-scam/420470.md?page=1)