Fwd: Mystery book

[Caroline Bissell]

update on the mystery book. 6 people have received it so far.  one got 2 copies. see pix below for more info. no one has gotten brave enough to download the app, open the QR link or insert the zip drive. i can only send a few pictures at a time. i will keep you all posted.

caroline

Sent from my iPhone

[Representative CPOA]

FYI

I recd a warning that the latest scam is sending people something I. The mail they did not request and asking to scan the QR code. When you do that they can access all your data.

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[Sue Davis-Gillis]

If you are certain it’s not a gift…

There is a new scam where items are sent to your home address that you didn’t order.  It looks like they are getting slicker as they peak your interest about contents.      Do not interact with any links.  

This is known as a “brushing” scam.   

If it came via Amazon: use the unwanted package form.   If it came via UPS report to the FTC

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[Mark Grinder]

Just so happens that I live in Orchard Park, NY and go to the same post office as the sender. Their PO Box 1322 is

about 10 ft from my own.

Scheeler Foundation

PO Box 1322

Orchard Park, NY 

Showed package and contents to a supervisor, but couldn't get any info.

Tracked down the sender's address.  

6445  W. Quaker St.

Orchard Park, NY 14127

More to follow.............

Mark Grinder

12 Morris

[Carol Greetham]

My sister got one. She sent the sender an email and here is his reply:

Hello! Thank you for inquiring about the CHQ Book, which chronicles the unique love story of two remarkable people who met and lived at Chautauqua. They cared deeply about this special community, located in what is now one of the ten poorest counties in New York State. It is hoped by one of their descendants that sharing this account might help improve the lives and opportunities of those who call this place home.

The “book” is in the form of a PDF file stored on a flash drive card in the pocket inside the back cover of your very own “journal” (this is a gift for you, should you wish to chronicle your own experiences, simply remove the book jacket). The CHQ Book flash card contains 216 high-resolution color images of a vintage postcard collection and antique maps. These are all in the public domain and can be freely shared however you wish.

Likewise, should you desire to pass this gift onto others, the CHQ Book PDF file size is approx. 18mb and suitable for attaching to most emails, and may be copied and shared freely. In addition, the flash card is light and thin enough to mail with a U.S. 1-oz. stamp to anyone you prefer. A flange on the card flips out and can be inserted into standard USB ports so the book PDF and JPEG image files can be downloaded and viewed.

Also, since you took the time to inquire so politely, you will receive an exclusive copy of the Special Printed Version when published, which is planned after distribution is completed of the original gift package sent to all “Chautauquans” like you, in accordance with the Author’s wishes.

Thank you again for caring about that extraordinary place, Chautauqua.

 

Kindest regards,

Paul Scheeler

Scheeler Foundation Historic Trust

scheelerfoundation.org

Carol Greetham

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[Kathryn Hubbard]

I went to the Scheeler Foundation website noted in Carol G's email below.  The photos of CHQ artifacts and postcards certainly all look legitimate.  While I cannot speak for the mailing of the mystery book journal, nor the card flash drive, the website seems legit.

I also looked on Linked In and Paul Scheeler is a risk management consultant in the Buffalo are and is CEO of the Scheeler Foundation Historic Trust.

I enjoyed viewing the images of old postcards, maps and other artifacts on the Scheeler website but I did not click on any links.

Kathy Hubbard

16 Miller Park

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From: chautauqua...@googlegroups.com <chautauqua...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Carol Greetham <carolg...@gmail.com>
Sent: Sunday, January 19, 2025 8:50:34 AM
To: advan...@gmail.com <advan...@gmail.com>
Cc: Chautauqua Grapevine <chautauqua...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: [CHQ-G  Chautauqua-grapevine] Re: [CHQ-G Chautauqua-grapevine] Re: [CHQ-G Chautauqua-grapevine] Fwd: Mystery book

External Email. Think before you click or reply.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/chautauqua-grapevine/CAKTiYiaGwqqxYF5LVn1153zJV8%2BULnL2SGuUjT9csQOqLcd-5Q%40mail.gmail.com.

[Stephen Liberatore]

Hello all-

I was also lucky enough to receive a copy of the book yesterday to my home address in Pittsburgh, PA. While this appears to be a scam, I can't believe the lengths these individuals would go to if their goal is merely to have use the QR code or USB drive... why the elaborate story, the physical novel, the wax-sealed envelop, color printing of the materials, postage costs of the USPS package. You'd like a simple postcard with the QR code would have been enough to get people to take a further look.

I contacted the local CHQ police yesterday to see if they had any reports of this, they had not heard of it before. I can also confirm one of my lake neighbors has also received a copy to their address in Mayville.

Rather than using the foundation website contact us form, I sent a note to Paul Scheeler on LinkedIn... his profile does appear a bit suspect, but it's hard to tell if it's indeed fake. When asking Paul to explain the book, I was sent the message below. I find it interesting how much it differs from the response sent to Carol. If this is indeed a legitimate effort this couldn't have been handled any more strangely - if it's a scam, I am baffled by the lengths they would go to execute this.

Hello, Stephen:

It seems the explanatory note card that should have been included in all the mailings was inadvertently left out of several, including yours. Here's what it says: These literary materials are a gift in honor of the 150th anniversary of the 1874-1875 founding year of the Chautauqua Institution (originally the Chautauqua Lake Sunday School Assembly). The living descendant who provided content for this publication felt that Chautauqua cottage and property owners deserved recognition of their effort and expense in keeping Chautauqua historically unique. The hard cover book is being printed and will be sent separately. It is designed to fit the enclosed book jacket on the similar-sized personal journal, included here for your use.

In the pocket inside the back cover is a USB storage card containing the PDF e-book, plus JPEG images of antique maps and a vintage postcard collection, also available for viewing in high-resolution via the website below (note: there is no software or malware of any type on this card).

The woman featured in the book had some sort of chronic lifelong medical issue, perhaps a rare genetic disorder, which she and her physician husband attempted to treat and cure, to no avail of course. In the midst of that, they had quite a love story, even running a hotel at Chautauqua for many years. My Foundation absorbed the +$100K cost of this project since I felt the story had historic relevance, and coming from a real estate family, I certainly agreed that Chautauqua property owners deserved more than just another tax bill, in honor of the Sesquicentennial. The hard cover book had to be printed separately due to availability of genealogical documents and the integration of QR code postcard image links with the website, but we wanted to get the initial materials in the mail before the season starts.

 Hope this all makes sense, and apologies for creating more of a "mystery" than intended. Watch for the hard cover edition in the mail, and thanks for caring about Chautauqua.

All the best,
-Paul

[Marie Duke]

Hi Caroline,

Out of curiosity I opened the QR code.  It took me to the Scheeler Foundation and then one option was to click onto the CHQ book.  https://scheelerfoundation.org/chq-book/.  The book has 36 historic postcard like picture of CHQ.  You can also click on to a page with pictures of historic relics from WNY.  Then I wanted to know who Paul Scheeler is.  Saw his Linked In profile.  The most important interesting thing I found out about him was this article https://www.observertoday.com/life/sunday-lifestyles/2015/10/exploring-family-history/ about him and his family.  Everything I read shows he has an interest in history.  Still can't figure out how he's sending out these "free' books.  Very odd.

Marie

[Stephen Liberatore]

Hi Marie-

I can't exactly tell if the response was sent to me or the entire group, but another member of the Grapevine community last night messaged me saying they had an IT person investigate the USB drive and confirmed it indeed contained a 360 page book, described as an interesting puzzle. They said they would post more information to the grapevine soon.

So, it appears this might not have been a scam after all, just a strange process.

Thanks!

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