I received an anonymous letter in the mail today.
This is second letter I’ve received… spooky!
I received the first letter over a year ago. Both letters contain promotional literature. The first one promoted a public speaking product and this one is promoting martial arts or so. They are all personalized with the text, “Avinesh, Check this out! -J”, written in blue ink and block letters. My address is written neatly on the front of each envelope in the same manner. The first promotional piece was taken from a computer magazine and the second piece was from a newspaper advertisement.
The originating postal code on the envelope appears to be: M4L 3T0. The ‘0’ almost looks like a ‘D’ on the envelope, but using a ‘D’ for the last character doesn’t follow Canadian postal code standards. A quick Google search shows that ‘M4L’ is Toronto, Ontario. It was mailed out at 8:11 AM on August 21. I never realized letters from Ontario get to BC so quickly — regular mail, no less.
Further research indicates that I’m not the only one that’s received an anonymous letter from the same postal code. I don’t think I know anyone in Ontario with a name starting with ‘J’.
Well, on to other things. I’ll update this post if I discover anything else.
Update (09/02/2007):
It appears several individuals received similarly addressed letters in the mail. Please read the comments to this blog post for details. Someone sure has lots of free time (and money) on their hands.
I attempted to use Canada Post’s Post Office Locator to determine the address of the post office, to no avail: “Postal code M4L3T0 was not found.” Very strange, considering the envelope was postmarked from that postal code.
This almost leads me to wonder if this is an inside job, by a disgruntled Canada Post worker. Perhaps, we can collectively contact Canada Post to help identify the culprit.
Update (09/04/2007):
I contacted Canada Post directly regarding the matter. I am awaiting a response.
Update (09/07/2007):
Canada Post indicated that as long as there’s a stamp on it, they will process it like any other piece of mail. They haven’t contacted me for more information.
Update (10/01/2009):
This Google query should answer most of your questions about this mysterious “J”:
http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=Hand+Addressed+Direct+Mail
As you can see, there are marketing companies that deliver hand-addressed envelopes with notes. Their reason for doing so? It increases the likelihood of someone opening a piece of mail. So, there you have it — an answer to this mystery.
on Aug. 24/07 I received a letter with my name but no return address, this was mailed on Aug. 21/07.
The contents were a newspaper item
the left hand side of newspaper was – “weekly journal”
the middle section advertisement
the right side June 21/07
Personally written was – Beverly,
Check this out!
J
It was an advertisement for “Cho-Wa, a medicinal medicine from the secrets of the Japanese – now on sale, with price and place to order.
Thanks to your blog, I no longer have to call my friends, such as Jim, Jason etc.
Thanks again for making us aware
Bev – Edmonton, AB.
I too have been recieving the same annonomous letters from newpapers from a person with the letter “J” and have no idea who it is…I am not sure how they got my name and address…any one know anything more…
I JUST RECEIVED THE SAME THING YOU GOT. I DON”T KNOW WHO SENT IT, ONLY THAT IT WAS FROM THE POSTAL CODE M4L 3T0. IT WAS AN ADVERTISEMENT FOR WRINKLES, AND SIGNED J.
hey!
I live in ontario and I got one of those letters too. It is about the third or fourth one I have received. It is creaping me out too. it has a newspaper article in it similar to what you are describing. The postal code appears to be M4L 3T0. Mine was mailed out yesterday and I received it today. Spooky is right!!
I found your blog by putting in the postal code M4L3T0. I too received an anonymous letter today from the same postal code. Mine was an advertisement for a product called Immuderm. Interestinly enough, it was also signed by J! Personally I find it annoying that I am getting personalized junk mail.
Hi,
I too have received two letters, same idea as yours. One over a year ago and one today. Mine contain promotional literature taken from some kind of newspaper, for wrinkle cream, both times the same advertisment. The paper it’s come from is unidentifiable, except to say it came from the “Weekly Journal”.
Also, same as you is the postal code and the blue pen in writing on mine that says, “Bev, Get it. It works! J.”
No return address, my address is neatly written in blue ink on the front and the postal code is M4L 3T0. I am in Ontario and the post mark states it was post marked yesterday at 3:34am.
Not sure what this is about, but don’t really appreciate it and it can stop any time!
Regards,
Bev
Hi! I too have received a letter in the mail that is exactly as you described! I received one last year, around this same time and I just wrote it off as a prank by one of my family members. But I just received another one today in the mail so something weird is going on. Both envelopes contained a newspaper page with full page articles about some skin care products from Russia. Very strange! I’m going to do a bit more searching on this just to see if I can satisfy my curiosity
Hello!
Today my mother received the same letter in the mail today. No return address and only the words “Diane! Get it It Works! -J”
I believe we must have something in common????? Recently my mom enrolled on a fortune telling type thing website. Did you aswell? This might be the link.
Hi, my name is Cindy,
I too get advertisements (for skin products). Written on the newspaper it says, ” Cindy get it it works! J. From the Weekly Journal newspaper,Thursday, July 26, 2007.
I don’t know who sends these to me. They are in a white envelope with no return address. This one is post marked, “070820 04:37 M4L 3T0 067. The stamp is a red irish flower with no Monetary stamp on it. ie. $.51 cent. and has Canada on it with a little red leaf with a white capital ‘P’ in it. This is to the right side of the scripted word, Canada. I wish this would stop. I have been receiving these over a 2 year period. Probably about 4 or 5 in total.
What do you know about this?
Love to hear your comments.
cindyjoe (at) primus.ca
I too received an anonymous letter today. It was a full page, newspaper advertisment for Immuderm dated July 26, 2007. I do not know the paper, only that it is called Weekly Journal but do not know what city produces it. The postal code is M4L 3T0 and was mailed from Toronto (?) on Aug 29 to arrive in Calgary on Aug 31. I got a very strange feeling from this letter and would be interested if anyone has found out who this “J” is. Good luck.
Upon arriving home this evening, to my surprise, was an anonymous letter. Inside, like yours, was an advert for anti-wrinkle cream, with the hand written note in blue ink “Angela, Check this out! J”. I checked to see what the originating postal code was and immediately came to the computer and googled it and found your blog. Strange indeed, these letters. I hope I don’t get another one, cause this one was a bit offending. You see, I’ll be 40 in a few months and one look in the mirror and my reflection shows the blunt reality that I’m no spring chick anymore – and yeah! the wrinkles are starting to show. Was glad to find your blog so that I know there are others out there receiving this stuff. Take care.
Hey, I just did a google search and found your site… my wife just got one of these letters too with the same postal code as yours, no return address and a handwritten note signed by “J”.
Who the hell does advertising in this way? Where do they get the addresses and names from? The newspaper article (Ad) appears perfectly cut and folded from a newspaper called the “weekly journal” and its dated July 26, 2007 – although the envelope is postmarked August 29, 2007…weird
The product promoted is “Immoderm”, this really pisses me off!
I recieved one yesterday for the first time,it was a newspaper advertisement and had the message *my name* get it it works J.
The spooky thing is that the papres clipping is from the weekly journal and it is dated on my birthday which was last month and it was sent 070829
I got a letter just like this, can you tell me others who have as well, you said in your blog you’ve done soem research…email me at bibuddy1971 (at) hotmail.com
My mother also received the same letter in the mail from the same postal code also signed by J. It was an advertisment from a newspaper for wrinkle cream. This is the second one she has received in two years. My mother doesn’t know anyone in Ontario whose name starts with J. Who would take the time to send out these stupid letters. It must cost them a fortune in stamps!
Hi Bev,
Interestingly enough, the second letter I received also contained the same advertisement for ‘Cho-Wa’.
This series of hand-written, personalized ‘spam’ is very creepy. I hope someone can shed some light on this.
– Avinesh
Me too.
M4L 3T0 with the 0 sort of looking like a D, Weekly Journal, Immuderm, “Laurie, Get It. It works! J”.
Too crazy.
I live in the back end of nowhere in central BC.
Thank you Avenish & everyone else for sharing, I was really scratching my head over this.
After some researching , I found a site called payback.com where they send this kind of thing out. Its people who want to pull a prank or get revenge and it is sent anonymously.
Don’t know if this it but its kind of hard for someone to find so many people and address it personally unless they were getting paid for it. JMO
Hi Katie,
I checked out payback.com and it appears to be some sort of motor distributor. I performed a Google search on ‘payback anonymous’ and found ‘thepayback.com’. Is that the one you are referring to? ‘The Pay Back’ appears to be based out of the US, and they appear to use Fedex for International/Canadian shipments.
– Avinesh
Thanks Avinesh, i also saw the postal code mentioned in OnlineDVD rentals.
**Postmark: 060216 02:34 M4L 3T0 Shipping ID: 3738661 Warehouse: ON39 … Postmark: 060216 23:04 M4L 3T0 Shipping ID: 3732437 Warehouse: ON39 …**
I checked out the OnlineDVDRentalGuide thread you mentioned earlier. It’s interesting that ZIP.ca uses the same ‘M4L 3T0’ station to process some DVD rentals. However, the post office locator yielded no results for that postal code, which means it could just be a postal processing plant.
Also Freaked Out, I just got the same newspaper article from July 26, 2007, also stamped August 29/07.
I’m guessing it’s the same, for a face cream. Same date anyways. I believe this might be a new form of spam. People being paid to send out ads in a “stuff envelope” type of way.
Mine is signed a big D, or a big O, I can’t tell for sure. Now this non existent postal code leads me to believe these folks have fake stamps that they use to avoid being traced????
As if email spam wasn’t bad enough, now we get postal spam addressed to our name and home address.
Laurie, I got the same thing, mailed from M4L 3T0 with the 0 sort of looking like a D yesterday. Weekly Journal, Immuderm a wrinkle cream, ?Marlene, Get It. It works! J?. I’ve been racking my brain trying to figure out who I know with the initial J and if they were insulting me or not. Glad to know others are getting it too, give me a sense of relief. I emailed Canada Post about it today.
i sent a letter and picture with stamped addressed envelope to a musical artist when they were playing here in Winnipeg and today got it back from this postal code. I think it is the post office as here in Winnipeg, our main post office’s postal code doesnt come up on the locator website either http://www.canadapost.ca/tools/pol/bin/search-e.asp
I received mail today dated july 26 2007 it is a news paper article for wrinkle cream.Same postal code you all have, and it is hand written my address in blue ink and it says on the article for me to try it it work signed J This stuff is scary who gets that personal for an ad promotion?
My mother has just received one of these letters. It advertises Cho-wa and says “J, check this out! J”.
The envelope’s postmark is Santa Ana 92789.
We live in the UK, and I am putting this message on here so no-one else is freaked out about it.
Hi everybody.
We live in New Zealand, and got one of the Cho-Wa articles sent to us. It was a little odd, and after a few weeks of confusion, have figured out that it does seem to be a marketing technique. However, the article was a really good read, and we have since ordered the product. The reviews I have found seem to be promising. Perhaps try to email the company (via cho-wa.com) and ask to be removed from any of their advertising databases? Enjoy.
My mother got the same letter as mentioned here in this website and she was almost taken in. I am glad that she told me about it. Any way, I think that there is probably a company who has purchased information about a lot of people who are probably over 40. It doesnt take much to get our information. This company would hire people from all over the world who would be sent the clipping, envelopes etc and then they would mail them out. These people probably have to send out hurndreds in order to get paid anything substantial. Its probably a cheap form of advertising. We on this website at least checked it out, however, think of all the older women out there who don’t have access to a computer. Also older people and I am talking over 70 who get this might not have the abilities either and might just think it is a genuine letter. The product is very expensive. It is probably just some cheap cream that does nothing being sold. My Mom even went as far as to check out the cream and to look for a canadian distributor. She came close to purchasing it. Perhaps I will contact a news show and see if they would investigate this. It is something that the public should know about.
Could someone please (if this is possible) scan one of these things – I would be interested in seeing the ‘J’ (may have received something else signed by this person). Thanks.
I as well recieved one.
Titled “want perfect skin?”
advertising for Immuderm
Hand written on the top “ELIZABETH, GET IT ITS”
signed with what looks to be a letter ‘J’
Post marked Jan 11th 2008, Ana. CA. 92789.
The article is from a “weekly journal” dated November 8th 2007.
I recieved it on January 22nd 2008.
Glad I found this site so I know that I am not the only one.
If only someone could do a search to see what actual newspaper these are coming from.
I to have experienced the same questionable news actacle “Want perfect skin” “Check it out, it works. J” At first I thought, hmmm maybe it could be a friend……but in santa ana CA 92789. I don’t think so! I was puzzled……I told my cousin, she suggested to check out the internet! To our surpise I found this site…….I’m so glad that I did cause I to was almost taken by it. I”m so freaked out, how did this person get my address, I wonder if i’m the only one in the Yukon that has received this “news paper clipping”? i’m so freaked out…..”my address………………….i’m spooked out and concerned
I have been wondering for weeks now who sent me this same article.
I am gald to know that I am not the only one that got this letter and article in the mail.
What worries me is where did they get my Name and Address from?
Love to know any updates.
Hi everyone,
We just got this same advertisment today. Weekly Journal at the top, Advertisment in the center. The last page of the “newspaper” type article was US Mutual Fund prices. The advertisment was for CHo-Wa. The usual note was also at the top of the page. It said, Stephanie check this out!J. This was postmarked from Santa Ana,CA 92789. We did a little research and 92789 is not even a valid zip code, according the US postal service website. Then we looked closely at the postmark and it says ISAL mailers. Which are companies that send out mass mailers for companies. Clearly, this is some type of marketing scheme.
Stephanie
I received an article about CHO-WA dated January 24th, 2008 in an envelope dated Feb 19th, 2008. Check this out! J. was written on it, similar to everyone else’s experience. I have received other notes on Stock Tips from J as well. Initially I thought it was an old teacher from 1995. My wife was not terribly impressed, I can tell you! CHO-WA does have a site and I would suppose that the cost per day would be considered pretty high. If anyone has tryed the concoction for a few months, could they please post their experience?
I just received my second of these strange letters today in my mailbox.
I can’t believe other people have gotten them, it makes me feel a bit better about the whole thing.
I got my first anonymous letter about 4-5 years ago. It was sent to my maiden name and hand written in blue ink.
It was postmarked from California, can’t remember where now because I burned it in the trash! lol Same thing, “Amanda, Check it out! J”. This first letter was an ad for weight loss pills, you know the bad kind that make people reject all the fat they eat.
I thought it was a personal attack because a few years before that I had gained some weight and then lost it, but I never took or ordered any pills to do it. I thought someone I knew from back then was being malicious about my weight at the time.
Now today I get another one, in the same blue ink, in my maiden name again, signed by “J” in the same way. But this newsletter is titled “CHO-WA”.
This one is from “Santa Ana, CA 927” on the stamped envelope front. The zip code doesn’t look complete.
I don’t know, I am not over 40, not even close to it yet. Don’t know how these people got my name and address. We are unlisted.
It’s creepy.
It’s like someone with a serial killer’s way of thinking decided to become a salesman.
I to got the same “CHO-WA” newspaper from the states and find it a little to creepy! Rec’ved Mar 25 2008, I never like people that think they know you or act like it.
Apparently, “J” likes to send fake newspaper articles (untraceable of course, from the “Weekly Journal”) & mine had a new date: Feb. 14, 2008. The story is interesting, & I’m astonished that my internet searches have not found anybody who has tried it & “raved” about it since “word of mouth” was supposed to be working so well… I’ll just chalk this up to another disappointment in misleading salesmanship.
I received one for Cho-Wa, from “J”, no return address as well postmarked from Santa Ana dated Mar 26 2008. The author does not even use proper english.
And one of the biggest things I noticed is that my last name is spelled improperly. I believe whoever sent this is going off of a mailing list. What “legitemate” business does not provide a return address — none!
I would love to contact the publisher of the article to find out who is behind the article
omg me too! I got the Immuderm news advertisment that said weekly journal on the top left and then the date on the right top corner. saying that i should try it out and that it works good! and it was signed by J as well. Weird! It had my name and address and no return address! What is going on.
HEY HEY LISTEN HERE! I called that freakin’ number in the ad and I asked about how they advertise and why I received a newspaper clipping from “J.” They replied “this is our advertising technique” and hung up. alskfjaslkfjaslkfhsalfha So now we know.
-sarah
Hi, I got one of those letters today also, and I just read the last comment, about them calling the actual number for the product and them saying “thats how we advertise!” , what an anti climatic ending ! I’ve been getting these letters, I think about 3 or 4 times, always signed ‘J’, I got so far as tracking the Ontario postal code, (I then thought it was my uncle Joe, who lived in Ontario !) but I thought, he’s pretty old to be driving across the province just to mail this!! lol …then the one that came today, from Santa Ana, Ca. 92789, big loping,maybe left handed womens writting, I just had to “Google” the product!! so now we know!! I’m disapointed!!
Hmm. Well, what we do know so far is that we all have a mutual acquaintance “J”, living in Santa Ana, who thinks we are a bunch of prunefaces and is to chickens**t to let us know face-to-face. Immediately, I suspect Avinesh (host of this blog). What better way to get feedback on a mailing / marketing campaign than for all of us to find it and report back?!? In any case, I have begun distancing myself from all of my friends whose names begin with “J” (that’s first, middle, and last – just to be thorough). I was, however, thinking of buying a tube of Immuderm for my hemorrhoids (makes ’em “wonderfully radient”) to try to de-wrikle them; maybe give the doc a pleasant surprise next time he’s pointing out that I have them – like I don’t know. Of course, all I have to do is strain and they firm right up, so maybe not. Sill, he could be back there exclaiming how firm and shiny they are and i could say “Read the card! Read the card!” the real news is the stock figures on the other side of the newspaper advertisment. I think it says something that Immunocorp. is not listed. This stock is a real sleeper! Another picture that I take away from this is the creamy orgy that ensued among the medical staff at Russia’s City Hospital Number One (as opposed to City Hospital Number Two which took longer to make). All greased up like that, how do they hold on to each other’s equipment?!? Given the whole orgy feature alone, this stuff’s a real bargain at $95.90 a tube! A real turnoff, however, is the product’s mistreatment of yeast. I mean, imagine having your skin peeled of so that some guy could rub it on his hemorrhoids and try to get dates with medical professionals! If I were the Baker’s yeast, I would expect at least a 50% cut for the price I paid. Given the going rate, that would amount to $47.95 per tube going to the SPCBY (Soceity for the Prevention of Cruelty to Baker’s Yeast). So I need to reflect on my priorities some more before I order. If I do decide to go ahead, I will post a note here…medical porfessionals need only respond.
Hi Stewart. Thanks for thinking outside the box, but no, I am not behind these anonymous letters. Rather, the purpose of this blog entry was to inform others about the anonymous letters I have received. It turns out hundreds (based on the traffic this blog entry gets) of other individuals have received similar anonymous letters. A co-worker also mentioned receiving an anonymous letter, which was identical to the ‘Cho-Wa’ one I received. Nevertheless, this twist on direct mail marketing is annoying and deceptive to say the least.
I got one today from same Canadian postcode, containing a check for $4850. This is about the fourth one I have received in four years, a variation of the Nigerian Lotto Scam, with a fake “Continental Clearing House”, fake phone number and fake address in Las Vegas Nevada. The check is from some freight company in Brooklyn. I got a previous one from a pipeline company in Houston … all posted in Canada with no return address.
This one’s going over for a little trip to the Postal Inspectors.
DON’T CASH ANY CHECK LIKE THIS. You may get some money now, but they’ll zing your account for it later, plus any criminal jcharges for passing hot checks.
Hi John. I had a similar incident wherein UPS delivered a cheque for $25,000 to my front door. It was for consulting fees that I had not rendered, and it was from a rather large Canadian corporation. I won’t name it here as I already embarrassed their accounting department. I took the cheque to the bank and had them examine it. My doubts were confirmed — it was a hot/illegal cheque. In the shredder it went. So, I concur with you, if you receive such a cheque, do NOT cash it. If you do, you will likely face some criminal liability and will be locked out of your bank account.
So here is my issue. Last year, my children’s 36 year old father (my ex) was killed in a very tragic accident that killed him, the driver, the passenger in the front seat and the two occupants of the SUV that they hit. Five men died in this accident, not one was over the age of 36. Days before he died, I received a letter from him. It was beautiful letter regarding our daughters. We had been split up for a number of years and he had a child with another woman, who shall remain nameless as she is a fat-a$$ ignorant b*tch who won’t release his cremated remains or give ANY of his belongings to our 17 & 15 year old daughters….AAAANYWAY……The letter was an apology to myself and our daughters and he said some really nice things to us. He died 15 days after this letter was written. The letter has this EXACT SAME postal code on it. M4L 3T0. The reason I am curious to know, is I’d like to know where he was when he wrote it. The fat-a$$ say’s she helped him write it (we don’t believe that she did) and I can more than likely prove it, if I know where he was when he wrote it…SOMEONE PLEASE HELP! I’ve tried to reverse search it on the “Canada Post” website, however it comes up with nothing. I NEEEEED to know where he was when he wrote this letter. There is NO way she helped him write this letter, as there were things said in it that she NEVER would have allowed him to write to us….I just need to know….My girls and I have never had any closure in this situation and Saturday was the one year anniversary of his passing……His mother is currently dying of cancer, and we just wish to bring some closure to this situation…If anyone has any answers, please feel free to email me….We are desperate…
a_browneyed_girl@msn.com
I just received a letter without a return address from that same postal code: M4L 3T0. The sender, from “Spain”, claims to have come across $20 million in the premium deposit box of a man with the same last name as mine who died in a plane crash in July 2000. Apparently all of his family have passed away and if I just share my account number and pretend to be this man’s relative I can have a share of the money. This is not the first time I have received a letter like this, and would just like to warm others that this is dangerous – DON’T SHARE YOUR ACCOUNT NUMBER! They will clean your account out and you will be left with nothing.
The letter is from a man named Julian – another J name connection.
i think we all have a common link to this mysterious J. person. i for one am in the cosmetology industry so for me to get one is really bizarre. are any of you other people in the same or similar industry? just curious and annoyed.
Justin — I think individuals affected by this are from various backgrounds; not a common link. The marketer in question likely pulled our names from a database sold by a list broker (eg. marketing firm). I had one addressed to me personally and another addressed to my consulting business. I think we have all signed up for a newsletter or online subscription at various times, only to have our personal information handed to marketers without our consent. It happens all too often. Online marketers use various terms of use and privacy agreements on web site forms. If you are not careful (eg. skipping a checkbox), you can have your name and personal information traded without your consent. I guess the marketers are trying other forms of unsolicited advertising — e-mail gets blocked by filters, but snail mail usually doesn’t. Every week I spend at least 30 minutes opening junk mail and running it through the shredder. It’s a waste of our time and resources.
I JUST GOT THE LETTER ABOUT THE SKIN CARE YESTERDAY….WITH AN INKED PERSONAL NOTE THAT SAID
BONNIE… TRY THIS..IT WORKS!!
SIGNED J