Silk Road forums
Discussion => Shipping => Topic started by: TheUsualSuspect on March 03, 2012, 07:27 am
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So there is an alarming trend happening lately. It could be a fluke and two isolated incidents but they are not good at all. I will try not to ramble:
I read a post earlier tonight about a buyer getting a voice mail from a postal worker saying that they were trying to move a package but needed to speak with him. If I remember right, he did not return the call, the package showed up and he wrote RTS on it and never even took it out of his mailbox. It had inspection stickers on it and such. I think the poster did the wise thing and possibly thwarted a controlled delivery attempt.
Secondly, a customer of mine, who can come forward if he sees this but I will not name of course, PMd me a few days ago. He had an order open with me and coincidentally got a call from the Postal Service. He answered and the conversation was geared toward a package being sent to him, troubling contents, and an attempt to get him to admit that he knew it was coming and what was inside. Wisely, he denied any knowledge and as far as I know nothing has happened so far (no it was not my shipment.) The Postal worker said that a bunch of parcels had been dropped off bundled together in some way, obviously in a way that drew attention but I am unsure exactly how. Upon further inspection, the return address on the packages was found to be non-existent, which raised the flag and probably got them sent straight to the closest inspectors office or whatever (proof that a totally fictitious address is a no-no.)
Anyway, has anybody else had any experiences like this recently? Give details without giving away the farm; did you have an order you were waiting for? Did you talk to the PO or did they just leave a message. Did they say or insinuate they knew contraband was inside and try to get you to admit ordering it and knowing the contents.
This could be one or several shitty packaging jobs by one or more vendors and if so, they need to know and the buyers need to know to avoid them. It could also be some kind of setup attempt by LE. Bottom line is if you are a SR buyer and you get a call from the PO, something is majorly wrong.
TUS
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I recently read the first mentioned thread, it's slightly alarming, but a simple denying will do the trick and as for the future you will most likely be watched carefully.
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I'm pretty sure I'm aware of at least one of the threads you're referring to, but could you please provide links for the two threads in question so we're all on the same page?
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this scares me...another reason to sell all my coins.
BE SAFE GUYS!
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They wouldn't do a controlled delivery by placing it in your mailbox... yet he still did RTS?
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These appear to be isolated incidents. Let us hope so too.
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I too have noticed an uptick in this sort of thing. But, it could be that I'm just on the look-out for these type of stories now that I've been receiving by mail. These things should just be a warning to everybody to stay on there toes in terms of there physical security. Change drop spots as needed. Sign for nothing. If something smells fishy walk away. I'd rather be out a fee buck than out a few years in a cage.
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They wouldn't do a controlled delivery by placing it in your mailbox... yet he still did RTS?
I was thinking this too. :-\
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I'm pretty sure I'm aware of at least one of the threads you're referring to, but could you please provide links for the two threads in question so we're all on the same page?
http://dkn255hz262ypmii.onion/index.php?topic=13930.msg136620#msg136620
Above is the post I was referring to, this is essentially the second post. I am talking about info I gained from a PM exchange with a customer, not the forums. I brought the second issue to the forums when I saw the above thread.
For some reason, I think that at least one of these incidents was a direct setup attempt by LE or a non-LE adversary of the buyers in question. My hope is that the first thread was due to an addressing issue since the call was from a sort facility (I think) and that my customer's experience was due to a foolish drop by a vendor using a non-existent return address. Let's all stop and remember that the USPS has a database that lists EVERY valid postal address in the nation. Just try to look up a fake address on the USPS website, you will see. I don't think that return addresses get checked on all pieces of mail, but if there is any red flag or delivery or recipient addressing problem you can be sure it will be checked.
Keep on your toes everybody and be careful who you order from. I would be very wary of newer vendors as a buyer. As a vendor I would change up styles and drop locations as often as possible, and change return addresses every day / shipment / drop. Above all, just be careful. I think a comfort level sets in at some point for buyers and vendors as well and people let their guards down a bit, which is exactly when bad things happen.
TUS
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Stay safe guys, but remember that something happening twice can just be coincidence.
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So there is an alarming trend happening lately. It could be a fluke and two isolated incidents but they are not good at all. I will try not to ramble:
I read a post earlier tonight about a buyer getting a voice mail from a postal worker saying that they were trying to move a package but needed to speak with him. If I remember right, he did not return the call, the package showed up and he wrote RTS on it and never even took it out of his mailbox. It had inspection stickers on it and such. I think the poster did the wise thing and possibly thwarted a controlled delivery attempt.
Secondly, a customer of mine, who can come forward if he sees this but I will not name of course, PMd me a few days ago. He had an order open with me and coincidentally got a call from the Postal Service. He answered and the conversation was geared toward a package being sent to him, troubling contents, and an attempt to get him to admit that he knew it was coming and what was inside. Wisely, he denied any knowledge and as far as I know nothing has happened so far (no it was not my shipment.) The Postal worker said that a bunch of parcels had been dropped off bundled together in some way, obviously in a way that drew attention but I am unsure exactly how. Upon further inspection, the return address on the packages was found to be non-existent, which raised the flag and probably got them sent straight to the closest inspectors office or whatever (proof that a totally fictitious address is a no-no.)
Anyway, has anybody else had any experiences like this recently? Give details without giving away the farm; did you have an order you were waiting for? Did you talk to the PO or did they just leave a message. Did they say or insinuate they knew contraband was inside and try to get you to admit ordering it and knowing the contents.
This could be one or several shitty packaging jobs by one or more vendors and if so, they need to know and the buyers need to know to avoid them. It could also be some kind of setup attempt by LE. Bottom line is if you are a SR buyer and you get a call from the PO, something is majorly wrong.
TUS
Personally, if shipping to a P.O. Box--If you get mail from the previous user of the box, just use their name (and PRAY) they don't forward along. I still get all kinds of stuff from the owner before me...I've yet to figure out if it's "Junk Mail" or "real mail"---as some "real mail" (collection, bills, other important things come to my box).
If that does not work, I would simply mail them with the "name" address saying "Vitamin Samples" put a face return address as whatever Vitamin Healthcare, INC. At the very least, it will allow the Box owner to say Plausable Deny ability
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Once is happenstance.
Twice is coincidence.
Three times is enemy action.
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return addresses scare me... i dont think itd take much for leo to order once from a vendor, SUPERredflag that address, and match it to other packages with same return across the country.
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yea, using a fictitious/fake address is asking for it. huge red flag. what i do, is when i'm standing in line at the POST OFFICE, sometimes you can see the return addresses on other people's mail/packages who are waiting in line. record their address into your smart phone, and you have a legit address to use. you could also use google maps and use business addresses that they list. going inside a post office is kinda risky with their cameras and i may start only using the blue outdoor mailboxes starting soon.
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The post office called my mom and said a pkg destined to me ripped and white powder spilled out. They sent in this to a lab, apparently they all freaked like it was anthrax. But it was really just some legal psychadelic RC i forgot which ones. They were asking her all sorts of questions. The only question I could get her to repeat was they asked her " how many people live in your house and who?".
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I have second hand info about this:
If a package is addressed to a name that doesn't appear correct, the PO will often call (foaf uses burn #'s for this reason) to verify if the package is supposed to go there. One incident involved calling and questioning, to which the person said, yeah there's plenty of roommates that order things, move out, move in etc... and the PO clerk said the package will go out next biz day. It went out and was delivered. It was multiple P's.
One way to get around an intercept if they insist on you picking up, is to explain you can come in 3 or 5 days later, that you're out of town, and arrange to pick it up on whatever day later. If there's suspicion they may set it up for that day, but what you do is instead you go down a couple hours later or very next morning and ask for it, and by law they have to give it to you (can't guarantee this is true).
Some friends always use burner numbers to make sure they are contacted if any questions arise. As long as it's not signed for and delivered and you write RTS, you should be fine.
Sometimes it's just the local PO clerk doing their duty to check on something that may be false or incorrect. Smaller towns have this happen sometimes. If you say something like you think your cousin said they were waiting for a package, or they asked you to receive it might help out too.
Hope this helps.
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There is a simple solution to all of this, and I intend to do it.
As soon as LE start taking the line: "you can't just get multiple packages of contraband turning up at your address without your knowledge, you MUST have prior knowledge, bend over", here is what we ALL do:
Spend our own money sending regular, small amounts of SR items to unknown people (or better still, to public figures who won't be able to ignore it publicly for long). The idea that having contraband sent to you means that YOU are who authorized the sending of it reverts back to the fallacious bullshit that it actually is.
Who's with me? (get the blessing of the vendor beforehand IMO)
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I had this happen to a buyer of mine once. I remember it was a padded envelope that I had overstuffed and it probably tore. Luckily, it was just my rice krispie edibles, and the buyer was wise enough to deny any knowledge of it and asked if it "was a prank call" then hung up.
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I remember reading on a safeorscam entry about somebody who imported RCs and the package was leaking some white powder so they seized it and phone him. He denied all knowledge and asked them to destroy it, never used that address again.
The people who sent to him didn't adequately vacuum seal so got torn as stuff is kicked around, processed through machines.
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On the united states postal service website there is a big red banner at the top that says watch out for mail or e-mail scams about fraudulent delivery or some shit. Might wanna check that out.. not sure if it has anything to do with this or not. It leads to a .pdf and my computer won't open it for some reason
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Here's the text:
BEWARE OF SPAM!
BOGUS E-MAILS SENT TO POSTAL CUSTOMERS
Some postal customers are receiving bogus e-mails about a package delivery or online postage
charges. The e-mails contain a link or attachment that, when opened, installs a malicious virus
that can steal personal information from your PC.
The e-mails claim to be from the U.S. Postal Service and contain fraudulent information about
an attempted or intercepted package delivery or online postage charges. You are instructed to
click on a link or open an attachment.
But Postal Inspectors warn: Do not click on the link or open the attachment!
Like most viruses sent by e-mail, clicking on the link or opening the attachment will activate a
virus that can steal information—such as your user name, password, and financial account
information.
What to do? Simply delete the message without taking any further action. The Postal Inspection
Service is working hard to resolve the issue and shut down the malicious program.
If you have questions about a delivery or wish to report spam, please call 1-800-ASK-USPS or
email spam@uspis.gov.
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and yet, the trolls are saying that this is paranoia in another thread. "Postal Inspectors aren't out to get you! Are you wearing a tin foil hat right now!?"
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that is really some scary staff, alarming as hell :'(
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and yet, the trolls are saying that this is paranoia in another thread. "Postal Inspectors aren't out to get you! Are you wearing a tin foil hat right now!?"
Lol, now I'm a troll.
No, maybe just a freemason, or better yet, Illuminati...lol
You keep it entertaining for sure.
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and yet, the trolls are saying that this is paranoia in another thread. "Postal Inspectors aren't out to get you! Are you wearing a tin foil hat right now!?"
Lol, now I'm a troll.
No, maybe just a freemason, or better yet, Illuminati...lol
You keep it entertaining for sure.
LMAO! So you just outed yourself as being the loser who made that comment. GIANT *facepalm*
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Actually, you mixed my comment with someone elses. I said the PO is not out to get you, someone else asked you if you wore tin hats. Lol. I'm really trying not to feed the troll here, but it's so easy...
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yea, using a fictitious/fake address is asking for it. huge red flag. what i do, is when i'm standing in line at the POST OFFICE, sometimes you can see the return addresses on other people's mail/packages who are waiting in line. record their address into your smart phone, and you have a legit address to use. you could also use google maps and use business addresses that they list. going inside a post office is kinda risky with their cameras and i may start only using the blue outdoor mailboxes starting soon.
not sure if this is cool, but you could just look up names and addresses in the phone book. Those are generally valid.