scottymac is back!

[scottymac]

Never imagined anyone would miss me, but thought l'd write to let interested parties know I'm back. My problems began in May when a supposed agent of Paypal wrote to let me know a person in Florida had billed my account for $900. Thought things were straightened out until September when a supposed agent of Microsoft wrote to tell me my account had been hacked. Tired of the rigamarole, I tossed the laptop and printer, and decided to start over fresh. Someone mentioned not imagining being without a modern phone, well, that's me. I have an android phone, but it's never been connected to a network, and I get along fine. Apologize to anyone concerned with my silence, took a while to find $750 for a new laptop and $100 for a new printer. Apologies to anyone I was negotiating with for parts, and then, silently dropped out.

[Rotary FP46]

All is well, Scott. Glad you are okay. Computer issues aside, what have you been up to?

[Phil Dally]

Welcome Back Buddy!!

While you were off the grid our dream car went way up in price.

https://rmsothebys.com/auctions/dd24/lo ... y-bertone/

[66vairguy]

Never imagined anyone would miss me, but thought l'd write to let interested parties know I'm back. My problems began in May when a supposed agent of Paypal wrote to let me know a person in Florida had billed my account for $900. Thought things were straightened out until September when a supposed agent of Microsoft wrote to tell me my account had been hacked. Tired of the rigamarole, I tossed the laptop and printer, and decided to start over fresh. Someone mentioned not imagining being without a modern phone, well, that's me. I have an android phone, but it's never been connected to a network, and I get along fine. Apologize to anyone concerned with my silence, took a while to find $750 for a new laptop and $100 for a new printer. Apologies to anyone I was negotiating with for parts, and then, silently dropped out.

Online and phone scams are a big business. Read how a U.K. phone company uses "fake Granny" to combat it.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/26/business ... index.html

[jjohnsonjo]

Guys please pay attention, this is a slight hack, but don't you need a computer or smart phone to get ripped off. About 2 years ago my wife put outgoing mail in our mailbox. It contained the checks for our real estate taxes and quarterly IRS and state taxes. It was in the thousands. A short time later she noticed mailbox door was open and the flag was still up, also too early in the day for the mailman as well. We called the cops immediately and found we were the 3rd caller that morning with same issue. Canceled all the checks and closed the account. Then had to change everything on autopay. Then we started everything to the post office. A few weeks later the newspaper said that isn't good enough, bring the mail inside as they found ways to empty the outside mailboxes that were right under security cameras. Hundreds were hit in our township and they were never caught. We didn't get hit financially, but it still was a PITA

[66vairguy]

Guys please pay attention, this is a slight hack, but don't you need a computer or smart phone to get ripped off. About 2 years ago my wife put outgoing mail in our mailbox. It contained the checks for our real estate taxes and quarterly IRS and state taxes. It was in the thousands. A short time later she noticed mailbox door was open and the flag was still up, also too early in the day for the mailman as well. We called the cops immediately and found we were the 3rd caller that morning with same issue. Canceled all the checks and closed the account. Then had to change everything on autopay. Then we started everything to the post office. A few weeks later the newspaper said that isn't good enough, bring the mail inside as they found ways to empty the outside mailboxes that were right under security cameras. Hundreds were hit in our township and they were never caught. We didn't get hit financially, but it still was a PITA

Yes it is a PITA, but necessary. It is safer (no postage) to bill pay online via your bank and use two part log-in confirmation (Passwords are very weak security. You log in, then get a code via phone, text, email to open your account). I haven't put a thing in the mailbox to send in years. You can do property taxes and auto registration ONLINE in most states and use a credit card so you can cancel a phony charge. Many credit card companies will send email or texts of charges to your card so you can respond quickly.

If you must send something in the mail, then YES put it in the INSIDE POST OFFICE slot. In the last year several mail carriers have been assaulted here because thieves are after their KEYS to unlock the big blue mail boxes!!!

If you think this is a "city" problem, it is not. My Aunt got so tired of "rural crime" she sold her house and moved back to the city!!

[caraholic4life]

If you must send something in the mail, then YES put it in the INSIDE POST OFFICE slot. In the last year several mail carriers have been assaulted here because thieves are after their KEYS to unlock the big blue mail boxes!!!

Once in a while I get mail for another Corvair friend at my address. Sometimes I need to forward that mail.
Rather than put a forwarding address on the envelope and stick it back in the mailbox, the mail goes in a Manila Envelope with adequate postage then send it out. This usually works without any issues.

This past Saturday I needed to visit the Post Office to handle inquire about a damaged package claim from a month earlier and had some mail to forward to my friend that had been opened. As always it went in a Manila Envelope with more than adequate postage.
Since I was going to the Post Office anyway, I took it with me rather than placing it in my mailbox for the carrier to pick up. I put the Manila Envelope in the indoor drop.

Monday when I got home, the contents of the Manila Envelope were in my mailbox including one piece that had not been in an envelope but had my address on it and no postage. The Manila Envelope was nowhere to be found.

This evening I returned to the Post Office as the individual I needed to deal with on Saturday had not been there on Saturday. Fortunately I was able to finalize the damaged package claim.

While at the Post Office, I mentioned the issue with the returned mail and missing Manila Envelope but got no answers other than Idunno.

In the end, anything entrusted to the USPS can not be counted on to be safe and delivered without issues.

[scottymac]

Well, Matthew, you're one of the people I especially missed conversing with, anxious to see how you were getting along identifying and selling your father's parts. I've never had luck posting photos here, but since you asked, I'll try sending photos of my new instrument cluster to your phone. Phil, I'd already sent pics to your phone.

Since my car is Aztec bronze, thought I'd add some red accents. While I had the teli column apart, had the casing powder coated in wrinkle black, decided to set that off with wrinkle red on the cluster and glovebox. Discarded the clock and vacuum gage, substituted dual cylinder head temp gages, and the oil pressure gage from an '84 up C10.