Trust your instincts. Don't respond if you're unsure. Sometimes not everything is quite what it seems.
Let me give an example. Packages are delivered to my building by mistake. I would collect the errant packages and take them to the rightful owners who were sometimes a mile away as a nice gesture. Well it turns out one of those homes turned out to be a very dangerous situation. No longer a problem since the house is torn down. But then I started taking the packages back to the Amazon store. They told me NEVER attempt to deliver or respond to people you don't know.
I don't like the suggestion of responding to the letter as the OP seems to have made it clear the contact is unwanted.
Hey Stix-
Those are the same ones I got from Phil.
Mark B.
NorthsideChiDon't respond if you're unsure. Sometimes not everything is quite what it seems.
Oh I'm quite sure about this guy, and it's exactly as it seems! There's no way I want to have any contact with someone this unhinged.
BTW Lou - some things are for $3.
I was very interested to find this thread. This guy started sending letters to me about 2 weeks ago. I've received 5 in the past 2 weeks. The creepy thing for me is that he somehow tracked down my work address and is sending them to my place of employment. I need to find a way to make this stop. Many have suggested call him, but them he has my phone number. I don't need him calling me in addition to the letters. I may write him back, but I have no confidence that will make it stop. I don't want to do anything to encouorage him.
Ron
Wonder how he is getting addresses?
Jim
Rons Trains N Things I need to find a way to make this stop.
1: Throw in trash.
2: Mark unopened letter in red: NOT AT THIS ADDRESS RETURN TO SENDER and drop in nearest mail box.
I'm getting the same stuff in Canada. From search I think he is 60+ years old. Had his phone # but left message. This has gone on for 3 months. He spending a lot on postage. $3.00 every time
Just talked to him and told him not to send anymore and if it happens again the authorities will be notified re harassment. I don't know what else to do.
I just saw this thread.
My first job after residency, I met with the group's insurance agent and got a very good disability policy. Fast forward 10 or 15 years later this guy calls me up and wants to meet with me.
He showed up with his wife, who drove him and he made his pitch. When I started asking him questions, it was clear he no longer knew anything about insurance. His wife looked embarrassed and apologetic. He was clearly senile but thought he still needed to sell insurance.
I think you would be wasting your time if you called him.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
I totally agree with Maxman..... mark the envelopes "Return to Sender" - "Moved, no forwarding address".
He/She is likely harmless, older, and "losing it".
I've seen similar behaviours in others over the years, and it isn't funny or pretty.
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
As a former USPS employee, I'd strongly suggest taking the letters to your post office first and talk to someone there so they know what's going on. Going forward, they may be able to return the letters without them ever being delivered to you, or at least your carrier will know why every so often a letter is left in the box saying you've moved or 'return to sender' etc. I'm just concerned if you start sticking letters back in your mailbox saying that the addressee (you) has moved and left no forwarding address, the post office might decide to hold all your mail since you apparently are no longer living there.
I've also worked for many years for our state tax department responding to calls and correspondence from people ranging from mild confusion to violent anger. I'd say it would be best not to try to contact Phil, by phone or by mail. In his letters, he says many times over to call him; if you call him, you are in engaging him in a voluntary conversation as he requested. In his mind that could be interpreted / remembered later as meaning that you want him to keep contacting you - even if the actual words you say to him say the exact opposite.
FWIW if you do nothing at all, as I chose, it does seem like he eventually just quits on his own. After getting several a week for a while, I haven't gotten one from him for some time now.
I got one today.
-Kevin
Living the dream.
SeeYou190 I got one today. -Kevin
Maybe there's enough of us now to start an NMRA SIG?
wjstixMaybe there's enough of us now to start an NMRA SIG?
The one that I received is six pages long, and he writes several times that he has trains to sell and I should let him know what I want.
He also writes about how much he likes my layout.
This makes me wonder if he actually reads these threads, because I post often about how neither do I want to buy anything, but I also do not have a layout right now.
Also, he used my middle initial, which I never use, but it is part of my email address because that was the only way it was available. He must have my email address, and it is public on this forum, but he did not email me.
Anyway, I use my real name, and I post honest things about myself in here. I am easy to find if anyone wants to. No big deal.
The OPP should rename this thread:
I have three now.
All are exactly the same as far as content is concerned.
How long before it stops?
I, too, get these letters. Same content, identical every single time. Same guy...
Nope, im not replying to them. The handwriting makes me think it's someone who has had a stroke?
This thread has creepy Nigerian prince scam written all over it.
kasskaboose This thread has creepy Nigerian prince scam written all over it.
I received four letters. All basically the same.
I did not respond, I did nothing.
After four letters it stopped.
Haas the list changed over time indicating stuff sold? I would think at this point he would be going bankrupt not selling anything but sending countless mailing a month. It has to be a huge expense. Normal people would be frustrated and have a rethink at this point. Do it differently perhaps, unless it is a grifting scam.
A pessimist sees a dark tunnel
An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel
A realist sees a frieght train
An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space
Could also be a what if I do this thing. Knew a guy that used to send packages of things all over the world to general delivery or other things like that, just to imagine what people would think. Knew a lot of guys in the trades that would leave notes or items in the walls of houses they were working on, knowing they would never know what people thought or if they were ever found.
rrebellKnew a lot of guys in the trades that would leave notes or items in the walls of houses they were working on.
I have put all kinds of surprises in the walls of this house for the next person that does a major remodel on it!
SeeYou190 rrebell Knew a lot of guys in the trades that would leave notes or items in the walls of houses they were working on. I have put all kinds of surprises in the walls of this house for the next person that does a major remodel on it! -Kevin
rrebell Knew a lot of guys in the trades that would leave notes or items in the walls of houses they were working on.
When our school put in new lockers, I had every kid write his name on the wall before the lockers were installed. Years from now when the lockers are again replaced (or they tear down the school), I hope someone will see the 200 signatures on the walls.
York1 John
I asked my doctor if I gave up delicious food and all alcohol, would I live longer? He said, "No, but it will seem longer."
I doubt he's ever sold anything, I suspect what he's trying to sell is from his own stuff rather than trying to be a dealer. Some of the ones I've gotten has been an envelope with several envelopes inside, all addressed to me and each one stamped, each with one piece of paper inside.
Speaking of leaving things in walls, when my wife was a kid there was a new house being built on the lot next door. The owners of the house gave the construction guys a very hard time. They criticized everything. A few weeks after they took possession stains started to appear on the walls inside the house. There was also a funky odor. The construction guys had filled the walls with rotting garbage! They must have had to haul it in because it wasn't construction waste. It was real wet garbage!
It pays to be nice to people!
Cheers!!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
I just received one the letters from Mr. Larson today. It looks just like what everyone else has described. He did include a return address, but no stamp. It's just kind of creepy to know someone I don't know, knows enough about me including my address and interest in MR to send me a letter. I guess I'll just wait and see if any more come, but I'm glad I found this thread and know I'm not the only one receiving these letters.
Thanks.
Welcome to the club!