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Too big to fail
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Is this legit? Energy use survey
My wife got a letter in the mail claiming to be from the Department of Energy, with a $5 bill attached to it. The letter directed her to go a site (energyusesurvey.com) to fill out a survey and get another $20. This smelled fish; I looked up the domain and it's registered in the Virgin Islands. I searched online and found a similar campaign by our local electric utility (SMUD) from 2013 as part of their push for a rate increase, but I can't find much else about it.
Is this a scam or ???
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"You go to the track with the Porsche you have, not the Porsche you wish you had." '03 E46 M3 '57 356A Various VWs |
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03-02-2016, 03:58 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: NW Ohio
Posts: 9,733
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Is it a real $5 bill......just saying !
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03-02-2016, 04:20 PM
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Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 10,364
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Quote:
Of course, whois info is easy to fake ... |
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03-02-2016, 04:25 PM
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Too big to fail
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Quote:
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"You go to the track with the Porsche you have, not the Porsche you wish you had." '03 E46 M3 '57 356A Various VWs |
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03-02-2016, 05:28 PM
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Too big to fail
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Quote:
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"You go to the track with the Porsche you have, not the Porsche you wish you had." '03 E46 M3 '57 356A Various VWs |
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03-02-2016, 06:25 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 557
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Um yeah, the DOE is going send you money to do a survey. Go and have a drink on whoever sent it and forget about it.
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03-02-2016, 06:45 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 10,364
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Quote:
Trying for small size since it is a blast of text Domain Name: ENERGYUSESURVEY.COM Registry Domain ID: 1951419721_DOMAIN_COM-VRSN Registrar WHOIS Server: whois.networksolutions.com Registrar URL: Website Design and Hosting | Domains | Website Builder | NetworkSolutions.com Updated Date: 2015-08-06T15:09:15Z Creation Date: 2015-08-06T15:08:35Z Registrar Registration Expiration Date: 2016-08-06T04:00:00Z Registrar: NETWORK SOLUTIONS, LLC. Registrar IANA ID: 2 Registrar Abuse Contact Email: abuse@web.com Registrar Abuse Contact Phone: +1.8003337680 Reseller: Domain Status: clientTransferProhibited https://www.icann.org/epp#clientTransferProhibited Registry Registrant ID: Registrant Name: RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE Registrant Organization: RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE Registrant Street: 3040 Cornwallis Road Registrant City: RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK Registrant State/Province: NC Registrant Postal Code: 27709-2194 Registrant Country: US Registrant Phone: +1.9195416000 Registrant Phone Ext: Registrant Fax: +1.231231234 Registrant Fax Ext: Registrant Email: hostmaster@rti.org Registry Admin ID: Admin Name: RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE Admin Organization: RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE Admin Street: 3040 Cornwallis Road Admin City: RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK Admin State/Province: NC Admin Postal Code: 27709-2194 Admin Country: US Admin Phone: +1.9195416000 Admin Phone Ext: Admin Fax: +1.231231234 Admin Fax Ext: Admin Email: hostmaster@RTI.ORG Registry Tech ID: Tech Name: RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE Tech Organization: RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE Tech Street: 3040 Cornwallis Road Tech City: RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK Tech State/Province: NC Tech Postal Code: 27709-2194 Tech Country: US Tech Phone: +1.9195416000 Tech Phone Ext: Tech Fax: +1.231231234 Tech Fax Ext: Tech Email: hostmaster@RTI.ORG Name Server: RTISVC18.RTI.ORG Name Server: RTISVC19.RTI.ORG DNSSEC: Unsigned URL of the ICANN WHOIS Data Problem Reporting System: http://wdprs.internic.net/ >>> Last update of whois database: Thu, 03 Mar 2016 02:59:55 GMT <<< |
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03-02-2016, 06:58 PM
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Too big to fail
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I'll admit - I didn't try very hard doing the whois.
__________________
"You go to the track with the Porsche you have, not the Porsche you wish you had." '03 E46 M3 '57 356A Various VWs |
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03-02-2016, 07:01 PM
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Registered
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 2,354
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A few months ago I got one from some research firm representing NOAA soliciting info on my Salt Water Fishing activities that included a brand new crisp 2 dollar bill.
Probably 3 questions on salt water fishing. The others were how many people in my household, race, age, if I own a house or rent; "Age of person filling out this form?" with the choice of 0-12 months suggesting I use zero...... It had a letter with it that said the info was strictly confidential and absolutely voluntary, but the actual survey document had a very small long number at the top right of the page that was obviously printed separate from the document and an OMB number below that. At the bottom of the form in very fine print it also stated the answers and return were voluntary UNLESS the form had an OMB number and then it was supposedly mandatory and "by penalty of law" or the such as for completing it and sending it back. I answered the fishing questions and sent it in. I was curious as the the OMB number thing but oh well its gone. Then a few weeks later they sent another one identical to the first but without the 2 dollar bill. I kept that one to show to my neighbors and other conspiracy theorist friends! |
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03-02-2016, 08:35 PM
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Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Växjö Sweden/Hannover Germany
Posts: 1,135
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Such letters goes directly to the trash at my home, including any bills.
Annoying *******s! |
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03-03-2016, 12:11 AM
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You do not have permissi
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: midwest
Posts: 40,015
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Got several offers for a free android tablet. Survey was optional.
I tossed them in the trash. Spyware and Google is not welcome in my home.
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Meanwhile other things are still happening. |
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03-03-2016, 08:50 AM
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Unregistered
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: a wretched hive of scum and villainy
Posts: 55,652
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If you're not the customer, then you're the product.
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03-03-2016, 09:25 AM
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