While my late mother-in-law was alive, we knew she was getting some pretty weird solicitations for money. She constantly fretted that "they" were trying to steal her social security, and she had to "protect it." It was only after she was hospitalized and we got access to her home and checkbook that we realized how great the theft was. An interwoven network of fake charities and action groups is terrorizing the nation's senior citizens on behalf of the Republican party--and is protected by them. Check with seniors in your family for this mail.
To connect the dots between these scams, you have to google Gary Jarmin. Don't be surprised if you get so many diverse hits that you think you've found a whole group of different people. In fact, he's (a) a former moonie; (c)legislative director of Christian Voice; (c)national field director of the American Coalition for Tradition Values; (d) head of the American Federation of Senior Citizens, E) Freedom, USA; (f) American Intelligence Council...
US Public Policy Council, aka US Seaport Commission, aka US Intelligence Council, aka Safe Borders Coalition. Then there is the Seniors Center, the American Federation of Senior Citizens, and The Liberty Committee, just to name a few. She gets letters about the Red Chinese, violent/militant homosexuals, the United Nation's global IRS tax, you name it. Whatever prejudices a senior citizen might have, they prey on it.
That site quotes one recipient's child:
It's a disgrace, but I can't get the mail to stop, no matter how many times I write them.
Check out this site for samples of the language and frightening context of some of these letters. We stopped checks and filed complaints. Absolutely nothing happened. The "charities" are heavily protected by the Republican watchdog agencies and can't be touched.
It's hard to tell what other titles he has, since once Grandma sends a $20 to one of his charities, she's sure to get letters from a dozen others.
..the mailing address given on the Social Security scare letters match that of five other organizations registered by Gary Jarmin. That address–208 North Patrick Street, Alexandria, VA 22314–is little more than half of a row-house, possibly a mail-drop point.
They don't stop with social security.
"Our children are in desperate trouble," read a recent appeal from a group called Christian Voice. "Because the Militant Homosexual Lobby has unveiled a dangerous new scheme to shove their evil agenda through Congress."
This source cited one Wood County woman who received 2,579 pieces of junk mail. I found at least 1000 pieces in my mother-in-law's apartment, and eight months after she died it's still coming.
Why did she keep all that stuff? She wasn't that senile! The letters are exceptionally personal ("We haven't heard from you, Katherine...I'm worried about you.") and threatening in a way that only a senior could relate to: "What would your day be like if your social security check was stolen?...that's what that Mexican crime boss Vincente Fox wants to do to you. Only we can help you..."
They come in hand addressed envelopes, in "certified mail," in forms that indicate surveys, prizes, and threaten a tax audit if the senior doesn't respond. One asked for personal information, and a month later we found out that a credit card had been opened in her name. (Since she never had one in her life, it was pretty easy to check and stop.)We got stamps and special envelopes, gifts and pleas.
The first onslaught of mail came when Bush was trying to push his privatization scheme. Don't be surprised if it doesn't start again.