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PHIL LARSON - Berwyn IL. Many letters

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  • Member since
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  • From: west coast
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Posted by rrebell on Saturday, June 29, 2024 8:44 AM

Someone on this thread must have a freind who would love to comunicate with this guy, you know the type that love the adventure but have no fear, used to know a few but they are no longer here so I have no one to help.

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
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Posted by wjstix on Friday, June 28, 2024 1:33 PM

richhotrain

 wjstix

I got another one today, been quite a while! Only one page (inside a self-addressed envelope), saying "Dear Bill call me (his phone no.) call me after 7pm only". 

 

are you going to call him?

 

No.

Stix
  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Dearborn Station
  • 24,281 posts
Posted by richhotrain on Friday, June 28, 2024 12:08 PM

wjstix

I got another one today, been quite a while! Only one page (inside a self-addressed envelope), saying "Dear Bill call me (his phone no.) call me after 7pm only". 

 

are you going to call him?

Alton Junction

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
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Posted by wjstix on Friday, June 28, 2024 11:53 AM

I got another one today, been quite a while! Only one page (inside a self-addressed envelope), saying "Dear Bill call me (his phone no.) call me after 7pm only". 

Stix
p51
  • Member since
    March 2013
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Posted by p51 on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 1:27 PM

Just got another one today, the first in almost a year.

Same as before...

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Posted by wjstix on Tuesday, February 6, 2024 3:32 PM

Welcome to the club! Welcome

Stix
  • Member since
    September 2019
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Posted by shootingstar57 on Saturday, February 3, 2024 4:15 PM

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.

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  • From: Bradford, Ontario
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Posted by hon30critter on Saturday, August 26, 2023 5:48 PM

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!

  • Member since
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  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
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Posted by wjstix on Saturday, August 26, 2023 4:41 PM

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.

Stix
  • Member since
    February 2018
  • From: Flyover Country
  • 5,557 posts
Posted by York1 on Saturday, August 26, 2023 10:11 AM

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

 

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       

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  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Saturday, August 26, 2023 9:48 AM

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

Living the dream.

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Posted by rrebell on Saturday, August 26, 2023 9:03 AM

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.

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Posted by NVSRR on Saturday, August 26, 2023 7:13 AM

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

  • Member since
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  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Friday, August 25, 2023 5:50 PM

I received four letters. All basically the same.

I did not respond, I did nothing.

After four letters it stopped.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
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Posted by wjstix on Friday, August 25, 2023 2:18 PM

kasskaboose

This thread has creepy Nigerian prince scam written all over it.

 

 
Take a look at my 12/13/22 reply in this thread where I scanned in a page of one of the letters. I'm pretty sure it's not a carefully crafted scam, it's just someone with some serious "issues". 
Stix
  • Member since
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Posted by kasskaboose on Tuesday, August 22, 2023 4:14 PM

This thread has creepy Nigerian prince scam written all over it.

p51
  • Member since
    March 2013
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Posted by p51 on Tuesday, August 22, 2023 2:58 PM

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?

 

  • Member since
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  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Wednesday, June 14, 2023 11:18 AM

I have three now.

All are exactly the same as far as content is concerned.

How long before it stops?

-Kevin

Living the dream.

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    October 2005
  • From: Detroit, Michigan
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Posted by Soo Line fan on Friday, June 2, 2023 1:00 PM

The OPP should rename this thread:

PHIL LARSON - Berwyn IL. Never ending letters

 

Jim

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Friday, June 2, 2023 12:04 PM

wjstix
Maybe 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.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
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Posted by wjstix on Friday, June 2, 2023 10:50 AM

SeeYou190

I got one today.

-Kevin

 

Maybe there's enough of us now to start an NMRA SIG? 

Smile, Wink & Grin

Stix
  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Friday, June 2, 2023 12:07 AM

I got one today.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    February 2002
  • From: Mpls/St.Paul
  • 13,892 posts
Posted by wjstix on Wednesday, May 10, 2023 10:08 AM

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.

Stix
  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: Southeast Texas
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Posted by mobilman44 on Wednesday, May 10, 2023 5:58 AM

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 

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Posted by BigDaddy on Monday, May 8, 2023 5:53 PM

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

  • Member since
    November 2013
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Posted by BRIAN ODELL on Monday, May 8, 2023 4:34 PM

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.

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    November 2013
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Posted by BRIAN ODELL on Monday, May 8, 2023 4:21 PM

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

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    February 2008
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Posted by maxman on Monday, April 17, 2023 7:57 PM

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.

  • Member since
    October 2005
  • From: Detroit, Michigan
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Posted by Soo Line fan on Monday, April 17, 2023 6:35 PM

Wonder how he is getting addresses?

Jim

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