# Is this a crime?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-crime/675944
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [December 10, 2013, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-crime/675944 "2013-12-10T02:16:40Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2013, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-crime/675944/21 "2013-12-10T07:22:54Z")
> [@](#):
>
> There will probably be over $10,000
Assuming any of your post is actually true, I seriously doubt you’ll be getting 10k in donations. Unless your expecting 10k in school loans/grant money.
---
### Author:  [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2013, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-crime/675944/22 "2013-12-10T07:27:33Z")
> [@Enola\_Gay](#):
>
> Whether or not it’s a crime depends on the particulars of your jurisdiction, I suppose. But if I got your letter & candy, I would assume you were the poor bastard that gets up at 3:30am to get me and the rest of the neighborhood our daily papers.
>
> And most likely I would have sent you a check, then been irked when I found out you weren’t who I thought you were.
The PO box would have triggered red flags for me. How much does a PO box cost anyway? And would a starving student pay this instead of just receiving mail at his place of residents?
It doesn’t seem plausible to me.
---
### Author:  [@Enola\_Gay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Gay)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2013, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-crime/675944/23 "2013-12-10T07:52:35Z")
> [@Shakes](#):
>
> The PO box would have triggered red flags for me. How much does a PO box cost anyway? And would a starving student pay this instead of just receiving mail at his place of residents?
>
> It doesn’t seem plausible to me.
I was once a starving student and sprung for the (what was it at the time, $13/mo or something??). Anyway, no idea what it costs now, but back in the day i$150+/yr was worth it to me because I was constantly moving/changing addresses & the US mail system was not all that great at processing those change of address forms efficiently.
Bills would get lost in transit and I’d end up paying late fees. Pain. But in the electronic age, I’m not sure how it all plays out.
Eta: I was also interviewing at the time & needed a consistent address for my resume.
---
### Author:  [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2013, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-crime/675944/24 "2013-12-10T07:53:07Z")
If you can find it in your heart to forgive me, send one dollar to Sorry Dude, 742 Evergreen Terrace, Springfield. You have the power.
---
### Author:  [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2013, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-crime/675944/25 "2013-12-10T08:02:52Z")
> [@Shakes](#):
>
> The PO box would have triggered red flags for me. How much does a PO box cost anyway? And would a starving student pay this instead of just receiving mail at his place of residents?
>
> It doesn’t seem plausible to me.
Residence, not residents. :smack:
---
### Author:  [@Zago](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zago)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2013, 8:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-crime/675944/26 "2013-12-10T08:11:12Z")
This is creepy. Is the OP asking how he can avoid prosecution for this scam? Is there another way to read this?
---
### Author:  [@half-elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/half-elf)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2013, 8:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-crime/675944/27 "2013-12-10T08:31:17Z")
One question: where does he admit that he is actually not the newspaper carrier?
Does he say it in so many words or are we just going on what this detective person said?
(Sorry, but I’m recovering from a migraine and my brain is a bit fuzzy.)
---
### Author:  [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2013, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-crime/675944/28 "2013-12-10T08:57:03Z")
Another question: In what way is he soliciting for money in the original message?
(Although expecting $10,000 in his PO box probably not the wisest thing to admit to on a public message board)
---
### Author:  [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2013, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-crime/675944/29 "2013-12-10T14:17:42Z")
> [@pkbites](#):
>
> The OP says he delivered the letters to people. Did he just hang them on door knobs and such?
> .
It doesn’t matter. If you read the law (linked in previous post) if your fraudulent scheme causes other people to mail things TO you to achieve your fraud (fer instance, money obtained by misrepresentation) it is mail fraud.
The postal inspector has the right to impound mail during a mail fraud investigation.
---
### Author:  [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2013, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-crime/675944/30 "2013-12-10T14:47:22Z")
> [@half-elf](#):
>
> One question: where does he admit that he is actually not the newspaper carrier?
> [@mascaroni](#):
>
> Another question: In what way is he soliciting for money in the original message?
He says:
> [@](#):
>
> I support myself through student loans and by delivering the newspaper every day.
I’m sure a careful reading means he delivers SOMEONE’s newspaper every day, but if you found this hanging on your door, the implication is that he delivers your paper. The days of knowing your delivery person personally are pretty much gone, and the OP is playing on this.
Then he says:
> [@](#):
>
> The detective alleges that I am impersonating the actual newspaper carrier and and solicting money from the people who I allegedly delivered the letters to. I am from Milwaukee Wisconsin and this was done throughout Milwaukee county and Waukesha County.
…and yes, IMVHO, he IS impersonating a figure who does provide a service to that household, and is very unlikely to be the person who delivers papers to the entirety of Milwaukee and Waukesha counties.
Not specifically asking for a donation or tip is another razor-thin technicality. The cards we get from our paper delivery folks and such never do, either - they just say “Thanks for being a customer of the \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ and supporting my job delivering it! Happy Holidays!” … with a discreet mailing address.
He’s pulling a scam, he knows it, someone has called him on it, and he’s stupid enough to post endless actionable details here trying to get a free legal pass on the matter.
---
### Author:  [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2013, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-crime/675944/31 "2013-12-10T16:24:21Z")
Are people really stupid enough to mail their newspaper carrier tips/holiday bonus to a random PO Box? I guess maybe so! I think I’ll stick to including it with my monthly invoice.
---
### Author:  [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2013, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-crime/675944/32 "2013-12-10T16:47:32Z")
I’m confused, people still get newspapers?
Generically this is theft by deception. Since its not my state I’m not sure if it fits specifically in any of their statutes because I don’t know the precedents. It certainly is a shitty thing to do and immoral as hell. I’m also 100% sure the OP is not giving all the information.
---
### Author:  [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2013, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-crime/675944/33 "2013-12-10T16:51:18Z")
> [@Loach](#):
>
> I’m confused, people still get newspapers?
Hard habit to shake. 🙂
---
### Author:  [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2013, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-crime/675944/34 "2013-12-10T17:35:03Z")
Keep in mind, the only evidence we have that ANY of this story is true is the OP’s post.
---
### Author:  [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2013, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-crime/675944/35 "2013-12-10T18:04:07Z")
Two men, in Milwaukee, sentenced [to jail for the same](http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/181044881.html)thing.
Looks like the worst place to try to pull this off would be Milwaukee. There was [a public outcry just a few years ago](http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/carriers-tips-diverted-to-slimy-scam-artist-nl3e386-135555018.html), the cops are probably hyper vigilant
---
### Author:  [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2013, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-crime/675944/36 "2013-12-10T18:24:40Z")
> [@Loach](#):
>
> I’m confused, people still get newspapers?
>
> .
Are you really this clueless or is this a poor attempt at humor? :rolleyes:
At least three newspapers have circulation figures of over one million.
---
### Author:  [@BoBettie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BoBettie)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2013, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-crime/675944/37 "2013-12-10T18:29:10Z")
I would bet my nonexistant xmas bonus that the “police” that called was the actual paper carried pissed off when someone told him/her about the letters that went out.
---
### Author:  [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2013, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-crime/675944/38 "2013-12-10T18:49:49Z")
> [@DrDeth](#):
>
> Are you really this clueless or is this a poor attempt at humor? :rolleyes:
>
> At least three newspapers have circulation figures of over one million.
Lighten up Francis. Sorry I poked your sacred cow.
---
### Author:  [@lawbuff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lawbuff)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2013, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-crime/675944/39 "2013-12-10T19:03:48Z")
> [@notmikeymadden\_gmail.com](#):
>
> The detective alleges that I am impersonating the actual newspaper carrier and and solicting money from the people who I allegedly delivered the letters to.
I read your same post over on findlawanswers, but did not answer over there. Until an actual charge is made, you do not know what crime, if any, is being possibly violated, could be a bluff?
ASK the detective for a SPECIFIC law he is contemplating charging you with?
---
### Author:  [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)
#### Post date: [December 10, 2013, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-crime/675944/40 "2013-12-10T19:47:54Z")
I’m confused about the OP.
Is he the person who delivered the candy and the message, or does he just have the same name?
On the FB page for a Michael Madden, Franklin WI, there’s one of those e-card posts with the caption: “It’s not worth the jail time.”
WTF?
[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-crime/675944.md?page=1)
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-this-a-crime/675944.md?page=3)