Posted By:
Dan MathewsonFirst of all, I would not doubt the word of Tim. Tim and I were involved in an auction together that went kinda weird, and Tim was instrumental in helping me get it squared away. For that I am very appreciative, as he is very honest and terrific at complete follow-through.
Secondly, since Mr. Koos was the purchaser of the insurance, and has knowledge that fruad was likely in that the recipient may have misrepresented himself as Tim Sedlock at the Oklahoma address, Mr. Koos is within his rights to file for a fraud investigation with the USPS. It is not a "done deal" -- I don't care what someone at a local post office might say. The USPS website will probably instruct you on how to file a complaint focused on the USPS insurance tracking number of that parcel. It will be an easy investigation. The USPS finds out who the resident was at Tim's last address when the parcel arrived there, and asks for the merchandise or files charges. The recipient(s) in that apartment (if they decide to deny involvement) will be subpoena'ed to provide a handwriting sample for analysis, and the USPS will know which person, at that address, signed for the package and kept it. Then, they get charged with fraud (a felony...with the mail, sentencing is especially worse than non-mail felony-forgery). Generally, the postal inpector doing the investigation explains this to "nut-grease" (the guy who illegally signed for it) and "nut-grease" will usually cave-in 9 times out of 10 befroe it ever gets that far, once he realizes a full-fledged felony charge is not worth a $170.00 baseball card.
It's worth a shot. I don't like letting any criminals get away with the crap they pull. Go get 'em! But, Dr. Koos will have to initiate the complaint, especially since he has the insured info, he bought the insurance, and Tim never received the package. The only time Tim would typically be the filer (as an addressee) is if the package arrived and the merchandise was damaged.
Another bottom-line: If the USPS cannot find the perpetrator, they are liable, guys. Since Tim can show proof of relocation prior to that delivery, the USPS will have to eat the loss. They are REQUIRED to make sure that parcel is delivered to Tim Sedlock, and nobody else. If they are not sure, they are required to ID the recipient. If someone signed for it in Oklahoma, while Tim was living in Ohio, especially if he already filed a change of address, the USPS gets to buy the card. In that respect, they will be prosecuting "nut-grease" on their own behalf. Even if it is for only $170, the USPS doesn't like to be defrauded.
Can any of you tell, yet, that I talk forever? <grin>