🚀 go-pugleaf

I believe that it was on Mon, 07 Mar 2005 01:33:51 -0500, that Brian D.
Gifford wrote:

> Okay I am going to shoot right from the hip here.
> 
> I found this message in a newsgroup, and of course it caught my eye. It was
> one of those get rich quick schemes that we see or hear about quite often. I
> actually read it, thought about it, and thought some more, and then
> researched it. Well, what I found out is these scams are usually quite
> illegal. They try give you an out by saying that all the mail you receive
> that has cash is for a mail list. Ummm yeah.
> 
> I have here three (3) sites for you to peruse on the legalities of these
> schemes:
> 
> 1. Is for Cornell's online US Code listing. You can find the actual laws
> here that are quoted by the scammers, that are actually true laws. The area
> for the specific laws is in the second link to title 18 part I chapter 63
> MAIL FRAUD.
> 
> http://assembler.law.cornell.edu/uscode/
> http://assembler.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode18/usc_sup_01_18_10_I_20_63.html
> 
> 2. Is the United Postal services website and their page on chain letters,
> which also references the US Code above.
> 
> http://www.usps.com/websites/depart/inspect/chainlet.htm
> 
> 3. A decent site on other get rich quick schemes and other follies that use
> the internet. Has some great links to follow to track down all of those
> scams you hear about and always wondered "How good are they?".
> 
> http://www.stopspam.org/
> 
> 
> Now after reading up on all of these things I notice something. They all
> pertain to sending items in the mail.
> 
> This new one I read about actually thought a loop hole on the legal side as
> far as I can tell.
> 
> It does NOT at any time use the United States Postal Service.
> 
> What you do is set an account at PayPal http://www.paypal.com which is a
> secure money transaction site affiliated with eBay. You put six (6) dollars
> in that account. You use either a credit card or even a bank account.
> 
> You then take the list of email addresses (usually six (6)) sent with the
> chain letter, and through PayPal send cash (one (1) dollar) to those email
> addresses. You then erase the top name on the list and add the yours at the
> bottom.
> What you just did was send cash to their PayPal account that is referenced
> by that email address.
> 
> You then distribute the new letter with your name at the bottom of the list
> to some number of news groups or email friends with it.
> 
> The way they catch you with the idea is thinking that the next people in the
> line will send you their one (1) dollar.
> Well as I see no obvious legal repercussions (I may be mistaken), I am
> giving it a try.
> 
> I tried to find as many facts and use them the way they were meant. What I
> found is that doing this stuff by snail mail is illegal. E-mail is not.
> 
> Well, the email addresses I got off of the letter were these guys here. Mine
> is at the bottom. And yes I actually sent one (1) dollar American cash to
> these people's PayPal accounts (not mine of course I did take the fist name
> off and mine at the bottom).
> 
> 1. kbmybaby@hotmail.com
> 
> 2. yourwebsiteprofits@yahoo.com
> 
> 3. advanced_laptop@hotmail.com
> 
> 4. Schnoor@hco.kollegienet.dk
> 
> 5. dtinc88@hotmail.com
> 
> 6. timefade@611.com
> 
> If you have found a problem in the legality of this posting / e-mail please
> notify the poster / sender.

Multi-level Marketing, Pyramid and Matrix Programs
You may not use PayPal to send or receive payments for any form of 
multi-level marketing programs (including online payment randomizers), as
well as matrix, pyramid and Ponzi schemes, "get rich quick" scheme, or
other similar ventures.

http://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=p/gen/ua/use/index_frame-outside&ed=rich_quick
http://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=p/gen/ua/use/index_frame-outside