I got snail mail

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Hello I'm New here! Joined: 20 Jan 2012 Posts: 3

Hi!

I just got a physical scam letter from "Authority Law Firms" sent to my home address with my name almost correctly spelled. I'm not sure how they found my name/address, but I guess it'd be best to respond using some other identity. How should I go about it?

Their website: www.f-wiglerneto.com

Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 2:32 pm

First off, welcome to eater Smile

I would say that you should leave this lad alone. He has your address, so you simply wouldn't be baiting safe. Post the content of the letter here, if you're unsure of it. If not, then go to the local law enforcement (I doubt they'll actually do anything, but it's worth a shot).

As for baiting, all the advice I have for you is:
- sign up for a mentor
- read the stickies
- bait safe
- have fun

Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 2:33 pm

Do they expect you to communicate by snail mail or do they give you a email address to communicate via (or do they expect you to make contact via the website)?

I would be very careful about using the contact us form on the website as it is likely to capture your IP address, which could theoritically ID you if they kept a record of all of the people they wrote to.

The website is a fake and I have listed it to be investigated and killed. It would be helpful if you could scan the letter (hide your personal details of course) and post it in the topic here http://forum.419eater.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1791828#1791828

Master of Master Baiters Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 669

Hmm...maybe I'm wrong, but something seems fishy about the OP.

Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 2:58 pm

If you're in the U.S., the Postal Inspector would be the appropriate authority to report the letter to.

Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 3:05 pm

I occasionally get snail mail scams; the lad gets my name and address from the Companies House register of limited companies in the UK (I'm a director of a small company and all directors are registered, I guess imilar things operate in other countries).

They are baitable as they'll normally include an email account to respond to so you can bait from a safe box the same as any other bait you might get in your catcher account, just don't use your real name, obviously.

Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 3:43 pm

Welcome Shellee,

Could you post the letter here, either in a picture or just the text?

As Sunshine said, these can typically be baited the same as any other scam if they gave you an email address, assuming this is a more general scam and not one that is specifically targeted to you. There is always a higher malware risk associated with visiting scam websites, so in general it's best to avoid entirely unless you are certain of your system security. If you do visit, using a proxy is a good idea in this case.

If the scam is specifically targeted to you and shows knowledge of specific personal information (beyond what can be picked up from a general directory listing), then it is best not to bait.

Hello I'm New here! Joined: 20 Jan 2012 Posts: 3

I don't have easy access to a scanner, so I took a photo instead: http://oi42.tinypic.com/fkxo36.jpg

Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 5:37 pm

I take it this person had the same last name as you? If it is a very common last name, it's probably not a big deal--but if it is an unusual last name, you would need to be a bit more careful. I would do some online searches and see if I can find any other scams tied to this email and/or website before baiting, then be very nonspecific in my response.

Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 7:16 pm

It would appear starting a baiting account and proceeding from that safe haven might be advised. The email address shoudl be the point of contact. While phone numbers are listed, I wouldn't recommend phone baiting at this time.

As previously mentioned, please read the stickies for the forums. Peruse the Eater University forum for further information (especially that wonderful treatise on straight bating by our Otterfan. Great way to get started in the baiting world.

Being your scam was sent via snail mail, I highly doubt the scammer would be sad if you simply tossed it in the bin and went along your merry way.

Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 7:51 pm

If you respond from a baiting account with a different last name, the lad will probably change the last name of the dead guy to match.

Welcome to Eater!

Posted: Fri Jan 20, 2012 9:52 pm

^^ Or simply ignore the fact that it doesn't match, since it obviously didn't stop you from replying Laughing

Hello I'm New here! Joined: 20 Jan 2012 Posts: 3

Thanks for the welcoming, everybody!

I've been looking at some baits on the site for some time and was quite surprised to find this letter in my mailbox, and it made me want to try some baiting.

My last name is quite uncommon in my country (1 in 5000 has some variation of it including the sender's spelling; my specific spelling has only 1 in 30000).

I went on and sent an enquiring email from a newly registered email address with another name... we'll see if he responds.

419Eater is my life Joined: 10 Jul 2008 Posts: 366

Last week my wife received a loan scam snail mail sent from Spain. This is the first snail mail spam I have seen in several years. It was actually quite elaborate with realistic looking forms and personalized letter.

The scammers mistake was they were offing loans in pounds to dollar based Canada

We have two postal addresses 150 miles apart the one that it was sent to is the address that my wife never (never has) used. It was addressed to her actual name not Mrs. Pablo...

p.

Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2012 5:26 pm

If you had a membership, you could use the site drop box function. Have the "letter" forwarded to the drop box and mail the lad back from your new address. Due to the economy you just got a new job, moved, etc. The time to forward the letter will be a good excuse for a delay in a reply. Be sure to keep using the wrong name.

Baiting Guru Joined: 27 Mar 2011 Posts: 21158

An internet friend sent me a copy of a snail mail and pictures that her husband received just before he deployed. I have been watching and hoping that that one shows up somewhere with more information.