# How does this fraud work? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 10, 2016, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-fraud-work/762348 "2016-08-10T15:00:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-fraud-work/762348/21 "2016-08-11T23:34:36Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > Yeah, otherwise why would they say to destroy a perfectly good oil filter? OP, have any figures all in black been skulking around your yard? The filter fits a number of Hondas, Accuras, and Subarus (including my gf’s Impreza). Guess what she’s getting for her birthday?😃 ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-fraud-work/762348/22 "2016-08-11T23:36:29Z")
The 2 pounds of sweet Mexican black tar heroin hidden inside the filter? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2016, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-fraud-work/762348/23 "2016-08-11T23:54:30Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > The 2 pounds of sweet Mexican black tar heroin hidden inside the filter? Heh, I wish. It’s a tiny little filter. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2016, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-fraud-work/762348/24 "2016-08-12T14:05:09Z")
Maybe I’m missing something here. You said it was paid in full by a woman in Maine. So I assume you have her name and address? Have you tried contacting her? If it is a scam, I’d be thinking _she’s_ the one being scammed, and might want to know, unless she’s already checking her statements and noticed it. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2016, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-fraud-work/762348/25 "2016-08-12T14:14:02Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > Maybe I’m missing something here. You said it was paid in full by a woman in Maine. So I assume you have her name and address? Have you tried contacting her? If it is a scam, I’d be thinking _she’s_ the one being scammed, and might want to know, unless she’s already checking her statements and noticed it. I have her name and address, but no phone number. Googling the name and address does not get me a phone number, either. ETA: First name, Last name Sanford, ME 04073 ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2016, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-fraud-work/762348/26 "2016-08-12T18:10:26Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > I have her name and address, but no phone number. Googling the name and address does not get me a phone number, either. > > ETA: First name, Last name > Sanford, ME 04073 Oh my god!!! What a tragedy!!!Google didn’t work, so you have absolutely no way to contact her!!! Okay, sorry for the snark…But seriously: why not write her a letter? (Ya know, the old fashioned kind of letter, with a stamp.) It’ll take a few days–but this thread is already a few days old. And you may well solve this mystery by contacting the actual person who is directly involved, rather than gathering random guesses from monkeys on the internet. ---
**Author:** ![TroutMan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troutman/32/6721_2.png) [@TroutMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroutMan)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2016, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-fraud-work/762348/27 "2016-08-12T18:14:47Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > But seriously: why not write her a letter? Because the reality is probably far less interesting than the random guesses of us monkeys. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2016, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-fraud-work/762348/28 "2016-08-12T19:12:40Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > Oh my god!!! What a tragedy!!!Google didn’t work, so you have absolutely no way to contact her!!! > > Okay, sorry for the snark…But seriously: why not write her a letter? > (Ya know, the old fashioned kind of letter, with a stamp.) It’ll take a few days–but this thread is already a few days old. And you may well solve this mystery by contacting the actual person who is directly involved, rather than gathering random guesses from monkeys on the internet. Hmmm, okay. It’s a small town so maybe her name and city will get it to her. I’ll send a letter tomorrow. ETA: I seriously never thought of writing a snail mail letter. PPS: how much is first class postage for a letter nowadays?? ---
**Author:** ![BorgHunter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@BorgHunter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BorgHunter)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2016, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-fraud-work/762348/29 "2016-08-12T19:25:12Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > PPS: how much is first class postage for a letter nowadays?? 47 cents. Although I’ve no idea if you can actually buy a single, measly stamp anymore; I remember machines in the post office as a child that would let you do this, but I haven’t seen one in years. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2016, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-fraud-work/762348/30 "2016-08-12T19:42:22Z")
> [@BorgHunter](#): > > 47 cents. Although I’ve no idea if you can actually buy a single, measly stamp anymore; I remember machines in the post office as a child that would let you do this, but I haven’t seen one in years. You can buy a stamp to the US Post Office, I assure you. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2016, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-fraud-work/762348/31 "2016-08-12T20:20:06Z")
> [@BorgHunter](#): > > 47 cents. Although I’ve no idea if you can actually buy a single, measly stamp anymore; I remember machines in the post office as a child that would let you do this, but I haven’t seen one in years. We’ll have them at work. I was just surprised I didn’t know. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2016, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-fraud-work/762348/32 "2016-08-12T20:21:57Z")
they sell them 3 at a time at the po… but I remember when the mail man would sell ya one and politely wait as ya put it on ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2016, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-fraud-work/762348/33 "2016-08-13T14:03:04Z")
OK, letter in the mail. I haven’t sent a snail mail in so long I actually had to think about how to do it. And the stamps are “forever use”. Hope she replies, I included my email address to make it easy for her. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2016, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-fraud-work/762348/34 "2016-08-13T15:34:27Z")
And in a day or two she’ll start a thread on a message board saying ‘someone sent me _snail mail_ about a credit card charge and an oil filter, how does this fraud work?’. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2016, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-fraud-work/762348/35 "2016-08-13T15:47:16Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > And in a day or two she’ll start a thread on a message board saying ‘someone sent me _snail mail_ about a credit card charge and an oil filter, how does this fraud work?’. 😃 I tried to account for that possibility in my letter. I sure hope I hear _something_ back. ---
**Author:** ![Fuji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a9a28c/32.png) [@Fuji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuji)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2016, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-fraud-work/762348/36 "2016-08-13T16:27:59Z")
I have nothing to constructive to add. Just wanted to say I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this thread. 🙂 Carry on… ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2016, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-fraud-work/762348/37 "2016-08-13T19:00:39Z")
I do hope kayaker doesn’t mysteriously stop posting shortly after that letter arrives at the safe house. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-fraud-work/762348/38 "2016-08-29T15:16:02Z")
The envelope came back today, “Return to sender, not deliverable as addressed, unable to forward”. Postmarked August 13, it sure took a while. Cathy J Morse of Sanford Maine, are you out there?☹ ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-fraud-work/762348/39 "2016-08-29T15:24:10Z")
The soup thickens! ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2016, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-fraud-work/762348/40 "2016-08-29T20:13:12Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Hmmm, okay. > It’s a small town so maybe her name and city will get it to her. I’ll send a letter tomorrow. > > ETA: I seriously never thought of writing a snail mail letter. > PPS: how much is first class postage for a letter nowadays?? $50.00 Square me (or PayPal) the money and I’ll take of it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-fraud-work/762348.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-fraud-work/762348.md?page=3)