| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
MicroHydro
Light Sweet Crude
Joined: Apr 10, 2005
Posts: 1286
|
 Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 8:00 pm Post subject: THE Homeland Security Thread (merged) |
  |
|
Miracle on 34th Street, this is not.
My old business in US used a "Rewards" credit card for business purchases. Before I left the US, I asked for the rewards. The card company was so slow, I was in Aotearoa/New Zealand before the Macy's gift cards arrived. There is no Macy's here in Waikato, so the cards were useless.
However, I knew that my 22 year old former receptionist in US could certainly use US$175 in Macy's store credit. So I sent the gift cards in a NZ Post envelope with the required customs declaration attached.
Weeks later, Nicole got the Xmas card, but the envelope had been opened by Homeland Security in US and the $175 gift cards stolen. Is there any recourse for this petty theft? Of couse not! The US is a banana republic.
_________________
"The world is changed... I feel it in the water... I feel it in the earth... I smell it in the air... Much that once was, is lost..." - Galadriel |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
MattSavinar
Elite
Joined: May 09, 2004
Posts: 1999
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 8:52 pm Post subject: Re: Robbed by Homeland Security |
|
|
They probably thought you or your secretary were drug-smuggling Al-Qaeda sympathasers (sp?) who were laundering money for terrorists:
"Prepaid Gift Cards: Terrorist Tool" Prepaid
There are a lot of sheep down in NZ, correct? You should be aware of this: link
"instances of terrorists actually using disease agents against livestock, a realistic potential for such a contingency exists. . ."
Best,
Matt |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
MicroHydro
Light Sweet Crude
Joined: Apr 10, 2005
Posts: 1286
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 9:19 pm Post subject: Re: Robbed by Homeland Security |
|
|
| MattSavinar wrote: | They probably thought you or your secretary were drug-smuggling Al-Qaeda sympathasers (sp?) who were laundering money for terrorists:
"Prepaid Gift Cards: Terrorist Tool" Prepaid |
A fine excuse for postal larceny. Macy's doesn't sell many terrorist supplies. I do not think that these were universal cards.
I also understand that the US has adopted a definition of what constitutes numismatic gold coins versus bullion gold coins. (2X bullion value is numismatic). And they are complaining about Al-CIA(duh) using bullion gold to support terrorism and money laundering. It doesn't take a very big tinfoil hat to guess where this is heading. US residents wanting hard money might be better off buying bags of old silver coins.
_________________
"The world is changed... I feel it in the water... I feel it in the earth... I smell it in the air... Much that once was, is lost..." - Galadriel |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
MattSavinar
Elite
Joined: May 09, 2004
Posts: 1999
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 9:46 pm Post subject: Re: Robbed by Homeland Security |
|
|
Yep, you're right: Jeweler
Best,
Matt |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
coyote
News Editor
Joined: Oct 23, 2005
Posts: 1798
Location: East of Eden
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 10:42 pm Post subject: Re: Robbed by Homeland Security |
|
|
| MicroHydro wrote: | | I also understand that the US has adopted a definition of what constitutes numismatic gold coins versus bullion gold coins. (2X bullion value is numismatic)... |
That's their new definition? That sounds odd... as I understand it, numismatic simply means a coin that has a face currency value. They'll be traded for whatever collectors are willing to pay for them.
I'm interested in metals news, but I can't find anything about this. Do you happen to have a link?
Apologies, btw, for my government's childish behavior. Not all of us voted for the people in charge here...
_________________
"If a path to the better there be, it begins with a full look at the worst." — Thomas Hardy |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
seldom_seen
Light Sweet Crude
Joined: Apr 12, 2005
Posts: 1979
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2006 11:57 pm Post subject: Re: Robbed by Homeland Security |
|
|
how exactly do you know "homeland security" stole your cards? did they stamp it "opened by homeland security" or something?
not trying to defend "homeland security" whatever that is, but I'd imagine a lot of hands touched your mail between NZ and the mailbox in the US. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
blukatzen
Intermediate Crude
Joined: Apr 11, 2005
Posts: 588
|
| Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 1:27 am Post subject: Re: Robbed by Homeland Security |
|
|
[quote="seldom_seen"]how exactly do you know "homeland security" stole your cards? did they stamp it "opened by homeland security" or something?
MSNBC Homeland Security Opening Private Mail
Story about Homeland Security Opening private mail.
Last month Goodman, an 81-year-old retired University of Kansas history professor, received a letter from his friend in the Philippines that had been opened and resealed with a strip of dark green tape bearing the words “by Border Protection” and carrying the official Homeland Security seal. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
gnm
Expert
Joined: Jul 08, 2004
Posts: 2654
Location: plundering eco-villages
|
| Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 8:38 am Post subject: Re: Robbed by Homeland Security |
|
|
| MicroHydro wrote: | | A fine excuse for postal larceny. Macy's doesn't sell many terrorist supplies. I do not think that these were universal cards. |
You know what would really be interesting is to find out if the card have been subsequently used.
-G 
_________________
All right, you primitive screw-heads, listen up! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
smallpoxgirl
Moderator
Joined: Nov 08, 2004
Posts: 5720
|
| Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 9:09 am Post subject: Re: Robbed by Homeland Security |
|
|
I would
A: Talk to the Post Office about it. They have postal inspectors and such that are supposed to investigate mail thefts. May be less helpfull though being international.
B: Talk to Macys. If you report the card stolen and still have the reciept for it, they might be able to replace it. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
FoxV
Light Sweet Crude
Joined: Mar 02, 2005
Posts: 1337
Location: Canada
|
| Posted: Fri Jan 13, 2006 12:24 pm Post subject: Re: Robbed by Homeland Security |
|
|
| MattSavinar wrote: | | http://www.professionaljeweler.com/archives/news/2002/022002story.html |
any chance that the Homeland security could bring back the ban on gold ownership (or some version of it) because of its use in terrorism.
Doing this would collapse the gold price and give a huge boost to stocks, bonds, and the US dollar.
Fight terroists, prop up the US economy, sounds like a win-win for all 
_________________
Angry yet? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
NevadaGhosts
Intermediate Crude
![]()
Joined: Aug 20, 2004
Posts: 752
|
| Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2006 7:24 am Post subject: THE Homeland Security Thread |
|
|
Bank of America & Compass Bank managers were told Homeland Security will confiscate safe deposit boxes
| Quote: | While all the other points I mentioned in a previous post are fairly well documented and discussed elsewhere on the Internet, the bank information I reported is not. This information is from my own experience and research. I discovered the disturbing news quite by accident - and by virtue of its importance, I decided to post my findings here and on a few other forums.
What did I hear?
A family member from Irvine, CA (who’s a branch manager at Bank of America) told us two weeks ago that her bank held a "workshop" where the last two days were dedicated to discussing their bank’s new security measures. During these last two days, the workshop included members from the Homeland Security Office who instructed them on how to field calls from customers and what they are to tell them in the event of a national disaster. She said they were told how only agents from Homeland Security (during such an event) would be in charge of opening safe deposit boxes and determining what items would be given to bank customers.
At this point they were told that no weapons, cash, gold, or silver will be allowed to leave the bank - only various paperwork will be given to its owners. After discussing the matter with them at length, she and the other employees were then told not to discuss the subject with anyone.
The family member has since given her notice to quit the bank.
I found the news alarming and decided to find out more myself. On a trip to my bank here in Houston, I remarked to a young bank employee (who’s new there), "well I guess you’ve been told all that stuff by the manager and the Homeland Security about what to tell your customers" - and to my amazement, the young woman came right out and said yes she’d been through all that, then whispered to me across the counter, "but we’re not supposed to talk about - I could lose my job." |
story here
Take this article at face value. Not sure if it's true. But interesting nonetheless. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
KiddieKorral
Light Sweet Crude
Joined: Jun 18, 2004
Posts: 1037
Location: 28° N 81° W
|
| Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2006 3:10 pm Post subject: Re: Homeland Security To Confiscate Bank Safe Deposit Boxes |
|
|
Definitely in the "interesting if true" category. Or "scary if true", whichever you prefer.
_________________
American by birth, Muslim by choice, Southern by the grace of God! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
beechdriver
Tar Sands
Joined: Jan 28, 2006
Posts: 23
|
| Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2006 3:12 pm Post subject: Re: Homeland Security To Confiscate Bank Safe Deposit Boxes |
|
|
| Why worry? Guns, ammo, gold & silver should be in a home safe. If things get that bad - no one will show up to open the bank anyway. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
leal
Heavy Crude
Joined: Oct 24, 2004
Posts: 179
Location: Sweden
|
| Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2006 3:17 pm Post subject: Re: Homeland Security To Confiscate Bank Safe Deposit Boxes |
|
|
I am not sure if this story is true or not but maybe you should consider to use something else than a bank safe deposit box?  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Specop_007
Expert
![]()
Joined: Aug 12, 2004
Posts: 6235
|
| Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 4:41 am Post subject: Re: Homeland Security To Confiscate Bank Safe Deposit Boxes |
|
|
I've always felt if it isnt stored someplace you and ONLY YOU have access to, it isnt "safe".
This mean cache it in a field or keep it in your house. Keeping it somewhere that is dependent on someone else opening a door to let you in isnt SAFE.
24 hour access storage rental units would be acceptable as well as long as YOU are the ONLY one with access to the unit (put your own lock on the door).
_________________
"Battle not with monsters, lest ye become a monster, and if you gaze into the
Abyss, the Abyss gazes also into you."
Ammo at a gunfight is like bubblegum in grade school: If you havent brought enough for everyone, you're in trouble
كا&# |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
News
Discussions
Resources
Members
Forum FAQ
Search
Usergroups
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
