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Councillor warns against cruel hoax chain letter
NEWS RELEASE
Councillor warns against cruel hoax chain letter
Campaigning Councillor Stuart Bruce (Labour, Middleton) is warning Leeds residents not to be taken in by a cruel hoax letter pretending to be from John Craig, a seven year old boy suffering from cancer. Victims of the hoax usually receive a letter from a friend asking them to send a card or compliment slip to John Craig so that he can achieve his ambition to enter the Guinness Book of Records for receiving the most cards or compliment slips sent to him.
Councillor Bruce, who runs NetworxPR a public relations company, used to provide public relations advice to Royal Mail in the late 90s and says at that time John Craig used to receive approximately 3,500 letters a week from people who had been duped.
The hoax originated in the late 1989 when Craig Shergold was diagnosed with cancer and the UK media and the American Make-a-Wish charity publicised his desire to be in the Guinness Book of Records. Craig received successfully received treatment for his cancer and made a full recovery, as well as appearing the Guinness Book of Records.
However, the cards and compliment slips keep coming. There are now several variations on his name including Sherwood, Sherfold and Sheford, as well as John Craig. The address for John Craig in Carshalton, Surry is the same one as for Craig Shergold.
"People shouldn't be taken in by this cruel hoax which is preying on gullibility of well-meaning people," explained Councillor Bruce, "I would advise anyone who receives this request to simply put it in the bin."
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To date 448 Comment(s)
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Shirley Bruce
(26.11.03 13:46)
Thank you for your news release on hoax letter. Having spent time setting this up for sending this morning, I had a nag in my head regarding the name and therefore must have sent some letters out from a previous company that I was working at, so decided to check out the web. Naturally all our letters have been placed in the bin. Once again I thank you. Shirley Bruce
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Shirley Moody
(26.11.03 17:00)
I would like to thank Shirley Bruce for bringing this chain letter hoax to my attention. I'd like to get my hands on the person who has recently re-introduced this hoax (maybe if they or their child was dying of cancer they would think twice!) With regards to the many unwanted Compliment slips received.. cant these be utilised to help Great Ormond Street or some other charity? Maybe some good can come from this. shirley Moody
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Pearl Allan
(11.12.03 13:04)
I have received two requests for compliments slips for a John Craggs, 332 Selby Road, Charlton, Surrey, SB2 7LC. I was wary because of the similarity of name (John Craig) so have not responded. I will e-mail those who sent the request to me so they are aware of the unfortunate misuse of their time and sympathies.
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Hannah
(15.12.03 13:15)
John Craggs - 332 Selby Road, Charlton, Surrey SB2 1LC We received this letter and got ready to send off compliment slips and forward this on to 10 other companies. When it came to the postcode which we received as SB2 1LC I thought something wasn't right. I checked it up, realized the address wasn't Charlton either as written, but Carshalton. I also noted there was no 332 Selby Road in Carshalton. Obviously I decided to check further and came upon this website. I have thrown away everything we were going to send and would caution anyone who receives letters of this type. Never send out blank comp slips of letter heads.
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(12.1.04 11:53)
We have received many of these letters lately, and each time I have contacted the person who sent it, and told them it is a hoax. It is amazing how many people don't know this, despite it going on for some time. I first heard about it back in 1996. Thank you for this article, which I have now e-mail to the whole Firm I work for, and friends.
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(14.1.04 19:49)
Thank you for publicising this hoax. I have recieved a variant which I am almost certain is the same basic chain letter slightly modified. The story is the same, but the name is now John Craggs and the address is 332 Selby Road, Charlton, Surrey SB2 1LC. You may have access to better checking than me but I am not going to send on the letter. I always break chains on principle!
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Liz Tomlin
(20.1.04 11:47)
We have just received the requestfrom the Thistle Group of hotels who have circulated (all in good faith) to their whole group and other hotel groups and large companies - it will take some time to stop. I recognised it immediately as it has been sent several times to our company with the name and address changing slightly each time. I imagine that this may not necessarily be a malicious hoax, but a "Chinese Whisper" situation where names and addresses have been mistyped over the years. Has anyone tried contacting GMTV or Watchdog or some other TV programme in an attempt to stop it?
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Justin McKenna
(26.1.04 15:35)
The John Craggs variant is now circulating in Ireland. I was suspicious and Google searched for "John Craggs compliment slips" and was directed to this site. Well done for publicising this. Regards, Justin McKenna
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Emily Must
(27.1.04 11:59)
we have had the John Craig letter and have now recieved a letter requesting compliments slips for 'John Graggs' this has been circulatinig in Lincolnshire for some months now. thanks for confirming the hoax. Emily
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Samantha Brooks
(6.2.04 15:23)
We have received the letter and i look up on the net as i have heard of these hoax's before. Thank you for making this site knowledgeable.
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gemma pearson
(9.2.04 12:49)
I have recieved this letter regarding a John Craggs, 332 selby Rd, Charlton, apparantly being started off by the Wallbrook group.....I contacted the wallbrook Group who assured me this letter was genuine...apparently known about by their Chief Exec. Can you please clarify.
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Mandy Cobley
(20.2.04 10:34)
20/02/04 I have received the chain letter for John Craggs this has gone straight in the bin and i have forwarded this web site to the people that sent it to me. Thanks for posting this it has been very useful.
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Mark Steed
(23.2.04 10:36)
I have just received one of these hoax letters from a well-meaning person from another similar establishment. Attached to the letter is a list of some 130 well-known companies who are circulating this letter. Although not one of these other letters has a name attached, so that may be part of the hoax?... This really leaves a bad taste in the mouth.
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Richard Drew
(2.3.04 09:51)
This is more than a hoax, I understand that the compliments slips are used to construct entries in a trade directory and thus have a considerable value to the recipient. It is a free form of information gathering and relies on others to pay the postage. Simply a sad reflection on someone who presumeably does not care.
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Richard Drew
(2.3.04 09:56)
This is more than a hoax, I understand that the compliments slips are used to construct entries in a trade directory and thus have a considerable value to the recipient. It is a free form of information gathering and relies on others to pay the postage. Simply a sad reflection on someone who presumeably does not care. better still return the with compliments slip but no postage.
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Mark Ingham
(3.3.04 10:20)
Thanks for this public spirited information. You have saved a lot of schools lots of time.
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June
(4.3.04 19:53)
The letter is now circulating round the Rochdale area. Unfortunately our company was duped, have just been informed by a branch in Manchester that it is a hoax.
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Sarah
(6.4.04 10:42)
We received the "John Craggs, 332 Selby Road, Carshalton, Surrey SB2 1LC" letter this morning from another central London property agency, and have notified them it is a hoax. Of interest, I checked the address and postcode on Royal Mail. The postcode is invalid, and the numbers on Selby Road in Carshalton only go up to 69. To the gentleman who was assured that a chief exec verified the authenticity--no one wants to believe they've been had.
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Richard
/ Website
(23.4.04 10:45)
Its still going strong. (19th April 2004) Name now is 'John Gragg' of 'Carlton' in Surrey, documentation shows it is being passed to government agencies, the NHS, the HRH Prince of Wales charities as well as companies. Luckily the address didn't look right so I checked the web and found your page.
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Rachel
(27.4.04 12:32)
Was just about to forward this chain to our subsidiaries in the USA and Canada - I thought a post code may help for the compliment slips to be returned from the US and did a search on Royal Mail - only to discover that although there are 27 million addresses at your fingertips, this wasn't one of them!!! Then found this website when I searched for the address on the internet. NB address is now: John Graggs, 332 Selby Road, Carshalton, Surrey (no postal code)
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Sarah Pearson
(5.5.04 12:04)
I received this letter last year and have received it again this morning! The request is for John Craig of 38 Shelby Road, Carshalton, Surrey SM4 1LD. I have now advised the company who sent it to me. Many thanks for confirming my suspicions.
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Sharon Eastwood
/ Website
(6.5.04 10:36)
Very pleased to have found your web-site. We received first chain letter c.3 years ago & of course responded. Since then we've received it again & again, the latest dated last Monday 3/5/04. We found out it was a scam about a year ago and have since tried to convey this to the companies involved. This will definitely help to convince people that they're wasting their time. Thank you. Sharon Eastwood
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Paul
(6.5.04 11:01)
Its certainly still going round! 6 May 2004 The name is changed to John Craggs 332 Selby Road, Carshalton, Surrey, SB2 1LC. Thank you for publicising this hoax, we have done our best to contact people that have unfortunatly circulated this letter.
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Sharon Eastwood
(6.5.04 11:13)
With reference to my comment earlier today I should have added that we noted another new address on our chain letter. It has changed from 332, Selby Road, CARSHALTON,Surrey. SM15 1LD to ..... 32 Selby Road,CHARLTON,Surrey.SB2 1LC ! Best regards Sharon Eastwood
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Rachel Hargreave Mawson
(12.5.04 17:30)
We received John Craggs 332 Selby Road Chorlton Surrey SM2 11C. Like many others, I thought the post code was a bit "strange" and just for curiosity googled the given name. I too shall tell my supplier who passed it on to me.
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Liz Coates
(27.5.04 13:29)
I have been duped along with lots more just last week and have just been sent this attachment what a waste of time/paper/postage it does leave one feeling a bit green.
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Denise Craig
(28.5.04 12:10)
We got our copy of the letter today, I have seen it before so knew it was a hoax. Now have to spend informing the company that has sent it that it is a hoax so they can then get in touch with the companies they have sent it to.
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Rebecca Lawrence-Lake
(1.6.04 16:22)
This is still in circulation. I have received a letter re: John Craggs today, I had a feeling it was a hoax so I'm glad I checked and found your website. A colleague has informed our local newspaper. Many thanks.
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Douglas Robertson
(7.6.04 13:06)
Unfortunately this is still going around. The address is now: John Craggs, 32 Selby Road, Charlton, Surrey, SB52 1LC I would suggest anyone else who receives this, immediatley contacts the most recent sender to ask them to notify their customers/friends that this is indeed a hoax.
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Andy Dean
/ Website
(18.6.04 14:22)
Just received this hoax today. Fortunately the postcode looked suspect and multimap.com confirmed it as invalid. Address is now 332 Selby Road, Charlton SM2 1LC.
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Helen A. Phung
(21.6.04 23:22)
Dear Councilor Bruce: Thank you for this. My company received just such a letter. Rather than respond to it, I checked a search engine, remembering the Craig Shergold case. When I found it was indeed a hoax, I was glad I looked. I will contact the business associate who sent the request to me and inform her as well.
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Paul Waterman
/ Website
(23.6.04 13:41)
This hoax has reared its head again, this week I received a letter from someone who thought it was genuine and I have sent out the ten letters as requested. I think its despicable that people can stopp this low.
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Erika
/ Website
(24.6.04 17:59)
Just got this today as well and was in the process of typing out the letters. The address said Chalton, Surrey and as we thought that was odd, we wanted to look up the post code, and found this! Thanks for letting everyone know!
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Liane
(30.6.04 10:42)
Still going the circulation is now in South Wales. Thanks for the website confirmed my suspicions that it was just another chain letter.
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Des Senior
/ Website
(8.7.04 17:37)
John Craig, 38 Selby Road, Carshalton, Surrey, SN5 1LD this time (incorrect postcode though SM5 1LD would be an address in Selby Road, Carshalton). I now have to tell my MD he's fallen for a hoax.
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Dawn Swift
(12.7.04 17:06)
Well it is still doing the rounds, my office sent me a fax this morning 12/7/04 it took about 10mins for all the attached lists of companies to be printed off. Thank goodness I looked on the net before doing all that photocopying. Thank you for saving my valuable time.
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Dawn Swift
/ Website
(12.7.04 17:09)
Well it is still doing the rounds, my office sent me a fax this morning 12/7/04 it took about 10mins for all the attached lists of companies to be printed off. Thank goodness I looked on the net before doing all that photocopying. Thank you for saving my valuable time.
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Martyn Welsby
(14.7.04 14:39)
The hoax is still going strong, and upsetting people who have been taken in by it. A colleague recognised the letter, and commented that the boy was 7 years old some years ago. It amounts to something along the lines of a chain letter, and the only ones to profit from it are the Royal Mail. It was lucky that I found this site through Google.
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Dave Anderson
(15.7.04 11:05)
Hi, Hoax still going strong and now circulating in Northern Ireland and has been passed to a number of pharmacy organisations there! Dave
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Emma
(16.7.04 16:52)
Still going strong (we're in Kent). We received the letter a week or so ago. It just happened that I was looking through the filing cabinets and stumbled on the same letter (although name was Cragg this time and Craig before) from 2 years ago. All company names, addresses, phone numbers etc are being entered into a database and then probably sold on and / or used for marketing purposes. I'm glad we realised before we sent the letters out!
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Sam Sparey
(16.7.04 16:54)
I must say our company was totally duped also! We recieved the letter from a good client of ours, we presumed that it was real. We quickly answered due to the nature of the time issue and sent covering letters to all ten companies and now we have to send apologies to them for our crime of caring. How these people can get away with this unbelievable. In context the paper and time is nothing to us all- but the thought that a small child was suffering and these people are playing on our compassion to further their business is unforgivable. I hope that one day these people realise what a disgusting thing they have done and give what profit they have made to a real Cancer charity!! But honestly I know that that will never happen.
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Elizabeth
(22.7.04 10:15)
Just to let you know that the letter is still doing the rounds but I knew it was a hoax as soon as I opened it at work this morning. Many of our associates were obviously unaware. This is where it stops and it is now in the bin.
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Elizabeth Minogue
(26.7.04 06:23)
This has made it's way to Oz. The letter has sadly collected alot of With Comps slips!! Thank God for the internet...it has saved alot of time and effort for no good reason!! In the bin it goes!!
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Joanne Slater
/ Website
(26.7.04 17:02)
We too have been involved in this hoax, twice!!! Until searching on the web and confirming our thoughts. We will be contacting all the people on the letter that we have to try and stop this hoax.
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Debbie Grier
/ Website
(2.8.04 13:33)
We have received yet another letter concerning compliment slips for John Craggs again. This is the fourth time! The first time we fell for it. From now on we just bin it. The lad must have the secret for eternal youth... he is consistently 7 years old!
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Richard
(3.8.04 16:05)
We have seen this for a second time. Name has now evolved to 'John Gragg' and the address is now 332 Selby Road, LEEDS LS15 0PR
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Erin
(4.8.04 04:47)
Yup, its still going. I was a bit sus and hence did a google search and found over 1000 pages confirming it was a hoax. But it has been sent through to us with an long attached list of mainly building related companies, many of which are recognisable, that have already read and responded to the letter. This has gone too far!
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Mark Rowley
(9.8.04 15:55)
Just put a stop to it here in the Midlands - and not for the first time! I wonder just waht happens to all the mail sent if the address is false - its no wonder my ONLY delivery of the day arrives a 14.00 hrs.It is interesting though to note how difficult it is to stop something like this.
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Gail Clayton
/ Website
(20.8.04 15:30)
Thanks for the warning about this. I received this letter this morning and set up a mail shot. I dont know what made me do it before I sent them out but I did a search on the internet to see if this was a hoax. Thanks again for posting this information.
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Jackie Lynch
(25.8.04 13:34)
The company I work for received this about 5 years ago - I was the receptionist and was the one who did the copying etc so it stuck in my head. The name then was John Craig, we received it at least twice since and today we received one with the name John Craggs. I will contact the company who sent it on and let them know its a con.
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Lyn Crump
(27.8.04 04:50)
I'm pleased I 'google' any thing suspect. The paper trail with my letter reads like a whos' who of UK and Australia. Pity they don't all have email addresses so I could alert them of the scam. Thanks for the site.
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Simon Hewitt
(3.9.04 16:09)
Believe it or not this hoax is doing the rounds again. We (NHS Tayside) recieved it today. So thank you for the warning!
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Mark Allen
(15.9.04 18:34)
Just received a version of this with the name/address: John Craggs, 232 Shelby Street, Charleton,Surrey SB1 1LC
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Sharyn Fairlie
(24.9.04 03:39)
Just wanting to let you know that the John Graggs Letter is now circulating in Australia. Address on the letter I received is 332 Shelby Road, Carlton Surrey, England SB2 1 LC
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Lorna Mercer
(28.9.04 18:02)
What a sick sick world we live in that this kind of thing happens. Regrettably, i fell for it and sent off letters to everyone i know, and have just spent the afternoon phoning them to warn them its a hoax. I can only hope that these people get what they deserve, afterall, what goes around, comes around.
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Emma Hemmins
(30.9.04 14:23)
I have also just received this letter for John Craggs of 332 Selby Road, Charlton, Surrey, SM12 1LC. Glad I thought about checking this out online before sending it onto other reputable companies to get sucked in! Thanks.
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Michael Todd
(2.10.04 12:32)
I have just recieved this hoax letter from a trading company relevent to are trade and thanks to staff at the Belfast Telegraph checking this web site THE BUCK STOPS HERE! many thanks steven for your reserch in to this matter.at BT.Its about time this scam was drawn to a swift close. THANKS AGAIN!
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Dave Barber
(6.10.04 09:52)
just received this letter as John Gragg 322 Selby Road Carshalton Surrey LS15 0PR. The postcode is LEEDS!!
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Karen Walker
(6.10.04 10:35)
We just received this today, address now John Craig, 332 Selby Road, Charlton, Surrey SB12 1LC. Can't believe I haven't heard about this before! Will be contacting the people who sent it to us to try and get it to stop. What a waste of everyone's time and resources - especially Royal Mail's...
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Margaret Collins
(7.10.04 17:39)
We received this letter at work yesterday from a customer as John Gragg,322 Selby Road, Carshalton, Surrey.LS15 0PR As I was addressing the envelope I realised (being local)that Carshalton is an SM postcode. What on earth do the originators get out of doing this,Their letter wouldn't get delivered as the numbers only go up to 69. The company that sent it to us have wasted their time sending it to 10 other companies with 5 pages of previous reciprients. It's a pity this scam can't be better publicised.Then there would be so much time wasted.
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Harriet Rich
(11.10.04 12:20)
We received this letter at work today (11th October) It just so happens that I encountered a similar letter several years ago in another job and so alarm bells rang. I have printed out this web page and sent it to the company that forwarded the letter to us. Such a cruel hoax that plays on companies and their employees kind heartedness.
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Paul Harper
/ Website
(12.10.04 11:22)
Thanks to your website found in Google (lucky you are submitted to the search engines) I did not send the letters. I have advised all my clients (over 1000 in the UK) by email to watch out for this and advise it is a hoax.
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Mimi Parsons
/ Website
(12.10.04 12:56)
Due to the suspicious address on this chain letter I googled the postcode and was redirected to this site. Thank you for your website, it has saved a lot of embarrassment for our Chief Executive.
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Denise Moloney
(18.10.04 14:46)
Believe it or not this chain letter is still going around (in Ireland). I received a request last week to send a compliment slip to "John Craggs" at the address in Surrey. I wondered if it was genuine because I remember the original one for Craig Shergold all those years ago. Lo and behold, I check it out on the Net and find this website! I will be dumping the letter I received but I was amazed to discover that it had already been sent to 150 companies before it got to the company I work for!
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Nicola
(22.10.04 12:19)
I've just received this chain letter this morning, but recognised the name and address from when I worked at a previous company. Glad I went with my instincts before I bought the stamps. Thanx for clarifying.
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Sima Miller-Bridger
(1.11.04 12:02)
I too along with many others received this letter. Again thank you for your article, which I read and decided to bin. It is a shame that someone thinks it great fun to use a misfortune to waste valuable compnay time.
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Tony Seymour
(3.11.04 06:13)
This chain-letter in its various incarnations has been doing the rounds of Australian businesses for many years as well. After a lull, they have surfaced again and my organisation in Tasmania has recently received letters for "John Craig", the latest one from New South Wales. The world really is a small place!
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Tony Seymour
(3.11.04 06:14)
This chain-letter in its various incarnations has been doing the rounds of Australian businesses for many years as well. After a lull, they have surfaced again and my organisation in Tasmania has recently received letters for "John Craig", the latest one from New South Wales. The world really is a small place!
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G Masters
(4.11.04 01:28)
Unfortunately we have been caught by this chain letter in Regional NSW Australia. So it is still going strong.
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lorraine goulding
(30.11.04 10:51)
Just received the letter this morning RE: John Craig - 38 Selby Road, Carshalton Surrey SM15 1LD. Felt I recognised the name. So just put it into Google and arrived at this site. My letter has already been to South West Dorset Primary Care Trust, and the Metropolitan Police, North Lanarkshire Council Dept. of Education and Somerset Coast Primary Care Trust. It might be appropriate if organisations like this had a policy on Chain Letters as it seems like a waste of resources if this is a hoax. Anyway I will be binning the letter.
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Jon Dean
(2.12.04 21:37)
Got the letter from one of our suppliers this morning. I had written out a slip beofre thinking that 'John Cragg' seemed like an odd name for a 7-year old. Not many young Johns around are there? Did a Google search & got here. Slip now in bin. Thanks, all!
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Joanne
(6.12.04 10:43)
I fell for it I have to say, but had a niggling feeling about it so I decided to check and came across this site!!! It's horrible because if we ever receive an honourable request we're forever going to be cynical.
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Sarah Minchin
(6.12.04 12:55)
We had a letter requesting compliment slips from one of our customers, it was all set up to get them from all our customer with our drivers and one person mentioned about it may be a hoax so i checked it on the internet and i found your letter, i would like to thank you for this entry and i have notified the customer it came from. My collegues and myself find this very distrubing as some one who is realy ill may lose out on this in the future.
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Simon Murphy
(6.12.04 13:23)
Received a request for John Craggs today forwarded by my brother from his company. I know this was done in good faith as we lost a sister to cancer some years ago so would never participate in a hoax of this type. The address has now "moved" to 322 Shelby Road Charlton Surrey CB2 1LC - another fictitious post code and Charlton is halfway across London from Carshalton. All the companies on the list I was sent are national organisations so I am sure they are acting with the best of intentions - as others have said it's shame this effort and goodwill is being diverted away from genuine charities.
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Arianne Cross
(7.12.04 04:52)
Thanks for entering this on to your site. I had a gut feeling which led me to see what I could find on the internet, some of the dates on the photocopies I had received went back a few months and if he was terminally ill, well, the request could have been too late. I am on the Gold Coast, Australia and the current name and address on the letter I received is John Craggs, 332 Selby Road, Surrey England SB21LC.
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Maia Riley
/ Website
(8.12.04 18:04)
Dear Councillor Bruce, The John Cragg letter s are still going strong - the address this time being 32 Selby Rd, Charlton, Surrey, SM12 1LC. I work for the Spar Group and I recieved it from one of my suppliers with over 220 other companies names on the list! I will forward a copy of this website to the lady I recieved the letter from.
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allison mc givern
(10.12.04 17:30)
I too along with many others received this letter. Believe it or not this chain letter has reached Port Glasgow and Greenock (Scotland )
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John Allan
(14.12.04 10:15)
Received in HOBART TASMANIA as John Craggs - 331 Selby Road, Charlton, Surrey, England SB2 1LC.
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william hartley
/ Website
(16.12.04 17:09)
ohn Craig letter has today reached me in a Teesside NHS clinicand seems to have been doung the rounds of north yorkshire.
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rob catherall
(5.1.05 23:49)
Received the letter just prior to Xmas here in Melbourne Aust. Have seen variants before so checked and found your website. Well done. Seems that the address details are incorrect. Isn't mail being returned? I'll advise my sender to notify their contacts.
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Jo Hudson
(27.1.05 04:15)
This hoax is far and wide. I'm writing from Sydney, Australia where our company was almost duped. The only reason we weren't was that I searched the web in the hope of finding some positive information about "John" before I wrote to him. Unfortunately 200 companies joined this "cause" in good faith before it got to us. I don't have the heart to tell them what a waste of time & effort they have made. An act of a truly vile human being who deserves fitting punishment. Thanks for the warning - we have never heard of this here before! Jo
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Cobina Crawford
/ Website
(28.1.05 05:00)
Yep. Our Company in Melbourne copped it too. We do PR work for trade unions, and it's gone right across the movement. *raises glass to google*
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Adrian Hearsey
(28.1.05 16:42)
Reading,bershire.uk.....Will this letter ever stop as we've had it and fell for it...Trouble is, it did ring bell's but it was years ago so thought real !!
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Judy Wilkinson-Reed
(31.1.05 01:23)
Now it's in Tasmania - remembered the "story" from a newspaper article last year some time. Have contacted the organisation who sent it to us and hopefully they will advise all the companies they sent it to.
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Carrie Winfield
(1.2.05 16:36)
I cant beleive how somebody can be so cruel. I was among the many people who fell for this and spent an afternoon at work sending off letters to other companies
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Jenni Tompsett
(2.2.05 11:59)
My Company received a forwarded letter this morning detailing John Craggs, seven year old terminal cancer sufferers request for compliments slips along with 15 other letters from various Motor Dealers countrywide who had fallen for this cruel hoax. I was suspicious and on searching the web found this page and have now put the letters in the bin. On reading this page, I am horrified to discover the lengths and depths some people will go to dupe kind hearted people. What possible enjoyment do they get out of doing this?
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Rachael
(16.2.05 00:00)
The John Craggs letter just landed on my desk....but thankfully a quick google search found me on this page, saving me a fair bit of time and effort! It is well and truly doing the rounds of Sydney. Pity more people don't google (or maybe its good that the world isn't as cynical as I must be!!)
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Cathryn
(16.2.05 15:57)
I received a copy of the letter yesterday. The name of the boy changes from time to time in different letters. I found the following on the net today: - Craig Shergold is real and in 1989 when he was 9-years old, a campaign was started on his behalf to try to break the Guinness world record for greeting cards. The Make-A-Wish Foundation had nothing to do with it, however, and Craig is now a 22-year old young man who is alive and well. The story began in 1988 when Craig first complained of earaches. Antibiotics didn't help and one day when his condition seemed desperate, Craig was taken to a hospital for tests, which revealed a brain tumor. He was so ill his parents were warned he might not survive. Surgery removed the tumor, but it kept growing and the outlook was not good. When the staff at Royal Marsden Hospital in London saw how much get-well cards cheered it up, it was suggested that a card project be started to break the Guinness world record. The London office of the Children's Wish Foundation (not Make-a-Wish) got on board and the British press gave visibility to the story. The old Guinness mark was slightly more than a million cards. That record was broken by Craig within a few months, but the cards kept coming. Then along the way, the rumor said he wanted business cards, not greeting cards. The mail load got so heavy that Craig's family ultimately halted mail delivery to their home and chose to move to a different residence. Now, Craig's old address has its own postal code and more than 350 million pieces of mail have been received. Volunteers remove the stamps, which are sold, and the mail is then recycled, with the proceeds going to cancer research. The folks at Guinness have retired the greeting card category. Although Craig and his family became overwhelmed by the volume of mail, they ultimately became grateful for one aspect of the visibility. Word of Craig's condition reached Virginia billionaire John Kluge, chairman of Metromedia. He arranged for Craig to be flown to the U.S. for life-saving surgery at the University of Virginia Medical Center. A PAX-TV movie about Craig was the result of producer Robert Woods having received the rumor and sending a card to Craig. Through that, he learned that Craig was no longer a little boy, but a healthy young man and the story struck him as a good one for the screen. He and the family have hopes that the film will help quiet the rumor.
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Christine
(23.2.05 06:07)
Hi This is Christine from Australia. I actually just received this one for the first time, under the name John Gradss. It's sad what some people waste their time on....
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Chris
(2.3.05 04:13)
Managed to pull them out of the mail tub before it got sent out. I thought i would google it thinking for sure that if it was real, there'd be some publicity on it. I'm really glad that i wasn't the only one duped though (sorry!)
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Larry JW
(2.3.05 09:26)
Just received a request from one of our customers. The name this time is John Craggs. They have sent out 10 requests. Don't these people ever think before they act? What is the internet for? The hoax comes up at the top of any search, but I feel really sorry for the poor devil who is constantly receiving all this mail. It is not as if he can make anything out of it! If you do get a request, make sure you go back to the company concerned and TELL THEM, at least this may stem the flow a bit!
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chris
(4.3.05 06:00)
Yeah i rang the company who sent it to me and the girl was laughing so hard she was crying! she couldn't believe it. I'm in melbourne, Australia by the way. x
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Mark
(4.3.05 12:38)
I have just received notification from colleagues that indeed this a scam/fraud/prank.The address at this point in time is as follows John Craggs Selby Road Charlton Surrey SM2 1LC
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simon
(7.3.05 17:02)
We received a letter requesting comp slips on friday 4th March from a customer.Just before sending anything i had a quick look on the web. This site came up first. Good thing. Does this poor lad still get all this crap through his door. My god, you wouldn't want to buy that house!!
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laura
(14.3.05 05:34)
Unfortunately i fell for it. I read the letter, and because it came of one of our respected clients, i did what it told me to do. Only now checking the internet to see if the boy got into the world book, and found it to be incorrect. If any of the companies look onto this site to see if it is correct, i do apologise.
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Carmel
(17.3.05 01:47)
Hi there, I arrived at this site via Google. A version of the John Craggs letter is doing the rounds of welfare agencies in Victoria. 322 Selby Road, Charlton Surrey, England SB21LC
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Belinda from Cairns, QLD Austr
/ Website
(17.3.05 07:07)
I googled before I was duped, thank goodness. It has succesfully reached Cairns & is making it's way around!
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Christine Robinson
(18.3.05 00:51)
Hi, This is now going strong in Queensland, Australia. Thankyou for posting the warning on the web site. I have been sent a list of 300 organisations who have been contacted since August.
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Tracee Taylor
(18.3.05 04:21)
This scam is also currently circulating throughout Wollongong, NSW Australia. Looks as though many professional organisations and government agenices have been caught. Thank goodness for google!
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Alina
/ Website
(21.3.05 22:17)
Hello! We have received this on the Central Coast of NSW. Unfortunately we have sent out various slips from neighbouring companies, as well as a well wishing card and some stickers! If this person is still collecting these they would have made it into the Guinness Book of Records for sure! Cheers!
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Jan
(23.3.05 05:42)
Received this in Brisbane, Queensland, Australian and checked the website first - thank you. The name and address I received were John Gradss, 322 Selby Road, Charlton Street, SURREY. I discovered the hoax when I tried to check the address on the internet.
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Shann
(30.3.05 01:51)
Hi I received the chain letter at work this morning 30th March 2005 from a business associate. Was amazed to see that so many local businesses were willing to support the cause.. Pity that its a hoax..Because there are many many people out there who could do with support in difficult times... Cheers Shann.
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Arthur
(31.3.05 13:53)
Received this in Brisbane, Queensland, Australian and thought it sounded funny so I checked google and found your website. The name and address I received were John Gragss, 322 Selby Road, Charlton Street, SURREY. Its a shame that there are people out there wasting others time...If only it could be channelled into doing good...
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Luisa
(6.4.05 12:46)
We received this hoax on 4th April for JOHN CRAGGS, 322 Selby Road, Charlton, Surrey CB2 1LC. I had my suspicions regarding the Cambridge postal code for the Surrey county. What a pointless hoax to play on people with a good nature when there are genuine causes to contribute to.
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Office Worker
(12.4.05 11:11)
We have received this letter today 12/04/05. The name on the letter and information are now as follows; John Gregg - 332 Selby Road, Charlton, Surrey, SB12 1LC.
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Rick Smith
(15.4.05 08:58)
Many thanks for the alert from Rick Smith, MACKAY, Queensland, Australia. I only checked out the name (John Graggs)on the 'web' because the address on the letter I received was: 322 Shelby Road Charton Street Surry SB ILC England UK Clearly the address was corrupted,i thought possibly by a series of transfers. I think probably even more amazing is the number of businesses and other organisations which are prepared to forward the letter without bothering to see that it would actually arrive at correct address. Thanks again, Rick.
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Laura Knight
(21.4.05 09:55)
I received a letter this morning with the name John Gregg of 332 Selby Road Charlton London SE12 1LC. I thought it to be a bit strange so looked up on the web and found this. Can't believe that people are actually falling for this.
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Jane Cox
(21.4.05 17:50)
Letter dated 12th April 2005 received. Address as John Gregg of 332 Selby Road, Charlton, Surrey, SB12 1LC. Thanks for the warnings.
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christina
(26.4.05 00:41)
This hoax letter is now circulating Sydney legal and professional firms with about 20 attached letters confirming disbursement to 10 firms each. I did a quick google search as the letter sounded suspicious and thought if there was any validity behind it, then there would be web coverage.Unfortunately my gut feel was spot on......... will send this website to those that sent the letter to me.
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POSTIE CHARLTON, LONDON, S.E.7
(30.4.05 17:00)
I JUST KNEW THERE WAS SOMTHING DODGY GOING ON HERE. I WORK AT THE ROYAL MAIL SORTING OFFICE IN CHARLTON SE7 WHERE THOUSANDS OF THESE LETTERS END UP. ITS BEING GOING ON FOR YEARS AND I JUST COULD'NT UNDERSTAND HOW SO MANY PEOPLE COULD BE SENDING SOMTHING TO THE WRONG ADDRESS. IT WAS ONLY WHEN I TYPED THE NAME "JOHN CRAGGS" INTO GOOGLE THAT I FOUND THIS WEB SITE.IM GOING TO PRINT THIS PAGE AND PUT IT ON OUR MISSORT BAY. IT MAY NOT PUT AN END TO THE LETTERS BUT AT LEAST IT'L SOVLE THE MYSTERY.
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Office Administrator, Kingston
(4.5.05 14:07)
This malicious hoax has now returned from Sydney! Address now corrupted to John GRAGGS, 322 Selby Road, CHARLETON STREET(!), Surrey SB2 1LC. Our version seems to have originated from the Ozzy construction industry. There was a similar one about fifteen years ago which involved collecting bar codes. HELP STAMP IT OUT!
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Chris
/ Website
(6.5.05 12:19)
Another one here in Nottingham circulating around construction and property companies, thought I saw this a few years ago. Put it in the bin and made the originator aware
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Michelle
/ Website
(10.5.05 01:31)
Just turned up on my desk at Melbourne Uni. Its awful to see how many good people have been duped just looking at the list that accompanied it. I'll notify the company that I got it from and hopefully this message will go back down the line. Its a shame with so many people trying to help others that this kind of thing exists. Its in my bin already.
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jayne
(11.5.05 07:09)
hi, i'm from australia and we have a letter here about a john graggs who is a 7yo from uk tyring for the guiness worl records (he has terminal cancer) and to get in needs a record amount of "with compliant slips" can someone please answer this to this email info@cdautos.com. and let me know if this is real or not? there are so many now it's hard to tell if it's ture or not but at the same time i'd be tempted to do it anyway just in case it is real i mean the kid is only 7 and will die i'd hate to think that just to save myself the hassel i've deprived dying kid of achieving something that would mean a lot to them.
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jayne
(11.5.05 07:20)
just for the record mister councillor i think it's quite cruel to label the people who reply to this letter as gulliable nor should they feel embarrest or ashamed that they answered to such a plea in fact i think it just goes to show that in the world we have today there are still well meaning and kind hearted people and it's good to for people in other countries to realize this about each other too. also we don't really know if what your telling us is real either since this is the only site i've been able to find so far that even mentions this as a cruel chain letter. since i can neither contact you or this supposed child i wonder which i should trust!
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jayne
(11.5.05 07:32)
just for the record mister councillor i think it's quite cruel to label the people who reply to this letter as gulliable nor should they feel embarrest or ashamed that they answered to such a plea in fact i think it just goes to show that in the world we have today there are still well meaning and kind hearted people and it's good to for people in other countries to realize this about each other too. also we don't really know if what your telling us is real either since this is the only site i've been able to find so far that even mentions this as a cruel chain letter. since i can neither contact you or this supposed child i wonder which i should trust!
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Zoe
(11.5.05 12:04)
Sick, Sick, Sick, he has now appeared as John Gregg, 332 Selby Road, Harlton, Surrey, S12 1LC. Lets hope this scumbag gets a bit of Karma. Thank you for your website you have stopped me from sending this on and i only wish that the people who already sent it had seen this too.
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paul
(12.5.05 16:31)
Seems to me the only world record he is going to get is the oldest 7 year old boy in the world!
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John
(15.5.05 08:41)
I have just received this letter and was preparing to pass it on when I decided to check google. My letter came via a University who I will now inform about the scam. Who benefits from this (apart from the Royal Mail)
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Yolanda
(16.5.05 01:13)
Yolanda, Bayswater, Australia Just received a letter for John Grags of 322 Selby Road, Charton Street, Surrey SB2, 1LC England. 16 May 2005
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Kelly, Basildon, Essex
(18.5.05 15:20)
Just recieved letter from a company we work closely with. Attached are over 20 lists each containing 10 more companies that the letter has been forwarded to. I have informed the company who sent to us. Again the name used is John Gregg of 332 Selby Rd, Harlton, Surrey, S12 1LC. The postcode made me suspicious.
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Jane
(24.5.05 11:36)
Circulating from very august organisations who should check it out before sending it to their suppliers. This one is for Joh Craggs 322 Selby Road. Poor people who live at that address.
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Catherine
/ Website
(2.6.05 14:58)
Received the letter today in Manchester from a Leeds based supplier. Had not seen it before, but simply looking up Selby Rd Charlton. on UK pages of Google & there I found this page. Have informed my supplier, there were over 10 pages. I damn well hate chain letters. (Postcode now SM2 2LC)
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Vicki
(9.6.05 05:29)
Doing the rounds in Perth, Western Australia too. Filed it in the "round filing cabinet under my desk" Can't believe people still fall for it!
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Steve
(10.6.05 12:31)
I checked this out two years ago when I first received one at work and found it to be a perpetual, non-stop myth. Although the original idea may have been well intentioned at the time, wherever it originated, it seems that this thing goes on and on. I have just received another one this morning at my new place of work for John Gregg, 332 Selby Road, Charlton, Surrey. There are only three certainties in life, death, taxes and the John Gregg letter!! Please - someone stop this thing!!
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Carol
(15.6.05 09:21)
Received today as John Gregg, 33 Selby Road, Harlton, Surrey, S12 1LC
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Tina
(21.6.05 01:53)
Received today in FNQ, Australia The name has now changed to John Gragass, and the address is starting to skew, but it's the same letter.
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Gemma
(21.6.05 14:18)
Received letter today in Derbyshire. Address is John Gregg, 332 Selby Road Charlton, Surrey SB12 1LC.
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Pb
(24.6.05 01:39)
Just received the letter in Adelaide, Australia. Name on it is: Jason Cragg 331 Selby Road Charlton Surrey UK SB1LC.
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Hannah Triggs
/ Website
(24.6.05 12:58)
Have just recieved a letter with 130 company names listed. The name on it is : John Gregg 332 Selby Road halton Surrey S12 1LC
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Hannah Triggs
/ Website
(24.6.05 12:59)
Have just recieved a letter with 130 company names listed. The name on it is : John Gregg 332 Selby Road halton Surrey S12 1LC
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lynn Wright
(29.6.05 12:09)
MY ADDRESS SHOWS 332 SHELBY RD HARLETON SURREY. I CAN'T BELIEVE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THIS HAS AFFECTED.
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Claire Brady
(30.6.05 04:52)
We have recieved this in Perth, Australia from a very reputable client - As a Brit & knowing a bit about British geography the address we had is somewhat confusing: - John Gragss, 322 Selby Road, Charlton Street, Surrey, SB2 1LC so we googled it and came up with this site. Thanks - also glad to know the original John Craig / Craig Shergold is well
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Ruth
(1.7.05 15:24)
This has arrived my desk and I had a feeling it was a hoax. It is indeed very, very cruel and has wasted a good amount of my time today!
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Amelia
(7.7.05 13:56)
Still doing the rounds in NE England as John Craggs, 332 Selbey Road, Charlton, Surrey, SB12 1LC. I thought that I would google the boy's name to find out what publicity there was for this. I am glad that I did and will contact the organisation who sent this letter to me to try to stop their other contacts from responding to this.
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Janey
(11.7.05 10:11)
I received it this morning from a local company in Worcestershire - the address is gradually getting more distorted.
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Carmel
(13.7.05 05:17)
A variation on the theme is circulating in the Education area in West Australia. Name used is John Craggs with a Montessori school at a PO Box in Mosman Park. Not able to confirm with the school due to it being holidays at present. Privacy laws do not allow the PO to confirm the address. Draw your own conclusions.
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Monique
/ Website
(18.7.05 15:26)
Sorry , but yet another name change. Received the letter a couple of days ago and thought it strange that cancer seemed to affect only boys of 7 and in the surrey area!! As have seen this letter quiet a few times. The name now is John Clegg. Thanks to your site I was able to save my and other company's time. I would rather give the money that it costs to reproduce and post this letter to genuine cancer victims.
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Shelley
(26.7.05 11:12)
Just received this too, contact John Craig, address 37 Shelby Road, Carshalton AM15 1LD. thought it was a hoax as the postcode looked odd so checked it out, glad I did.
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Sarah
(26.7.05 15:39)
I received a letter from a neighbouring business with many attachments of other businesses who have sent off comp slips. I was just about to send one to John Gregg but decided to check it out on the web. I cam across this website and then checked on Royal mail website. The address of 332 Selby Road, SM5 1LC doesn't even exist!
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Jill
(3.8.05 07:19)
I'm in Brisbane, Australia and thought I'd check the address on BT's white pages. When I couldn't find anything I did a web search and found your site. Thank you. There are, indeed, some sick people in the world!
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Catherine
/ Website
(3.8.05 09:01)
Received on 2/6/05 and again today on 03/08/05 from a Manchester based charity (who is a client). I'm suprised it's still doing the rounds!
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Jane
(9.8.05 11:45)
Letter received on 9/8/05 and warned the sender. Amazed no-one remembers the initial escapade years ago, it rang bells with me so checked the internet and found it was an ongoing hoax. Name has moved onto John Gregg.
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Amy, Chesterfield
(9.8.05 13:11)
Hi, My company received this letter this morning 9/8/05. I was fairly convinced we'd had one not so long ago, but being a Mum I decided I might just send the compliment slips and not forward a letter on to other clients. However, something in the back of my mind made me check on Google - glad I did. Shame I wasted so much time with my conscience. I'll get back to my work now!
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Tracey
(10.8.05 15:37)
Hi 9th August 2005 I have also received this from a Rochdale Company and as a Heywood based company was about to send to my clients glad a did my research. There are some mighty sick people around
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Trisha
(18.8.05 02:51)
I am in Brisbane Australia and we have recieved an email about Jason Craggs, 331 Selby Road, Charlton Surrey, UK SB1LC. Our National (and International) charity organisation has forwarded this around - I have now advised of the hoax. Thanks for the info - I am glad I searched Yahoo!
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Trisha
(18.8.05 02:51)
I am in Brisbane Australia and we have recieved an email about Jason Craggs, 331 Selby Road, Charlton Surrey, UK SB1LC. Our National (and International) charity organisation has forwarded this around - I have now advised of the hoax. Thanks for the info - I am glad I searched Yahoo!
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Trisha
(18.8.05 02:53)
I am in Brisbane Australia and we have recieved an email about Jason Craggs, 331 Selby Road, Charlton Surrey, UK SB1LC. Our National (and International) charity organisation has forwarded this around - I have now advised of the hoax. Thanks for the info - I am glad I searched Yahoo!
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Trisha
(18.8.05 02:53)
I am in Brisbane Australia and we have recieved an email about Jason Craggs, 331 Selby Road, Charlton Surrey, UK SB1LC. Our National (and International) charity organisation has forwarded this around - I have now advised of the hoax. Thanks for the info - I am glad I searched Yahoo!
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Trisha
(18.8.05 03:29)
I am in Brisbane Australia and we have recieved an email about Jason Craggs, 331 Selby Road, Charlton Surrey, UK SB1LC. Our National (and International) charity organisation has forwarded this around - I have now advised of the hoax. Thanks for the info - I am glad I searched Yahoo!
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Trisha
(18.8.05 03:30)
I am in Brisbane Australia and we have recieved an email about Jason Craggs, 331 Selby Road, Charlton Surrey, UK SB1LC. Our National (and International) charity organisation has forwarded this around - I have now advised of the hoax. Thanks for the info - I am glad I searched Yahoo!
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Ian
(19.8.05 10:22)
Address is now John Cragg, 332 Selby Road, Carshalton, Surrey, SM12 1XX. Interesting how it mutates.
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Liz
(23.8.05 09:28)
Received a letter this morning from a customer of ours in Swansea. Details read John Gregg - 332 Seby Road, Charlton, Surrey, SB12 1LC. I have known of this hoax for nearly ten years and inform the people who send it on to us.
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Helen, Ewell
(30.8.05 11:33)
We originally received this letter a couple of years ago and it rung a bell when I received it in the post this morning, although the name and address are slightly different. Name now used is: John Greg of 331 Selby Road, Harleton, Surrey. I think that Watchdog have done something on this a couple of years ago and it is sad that people are still being duped by it!
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KBurke
(31.8.05 03:43)
I received this letter today 31st August GOODOOGA AUSTRALIA John Craggs 332 Selby Road Charllton, Surrey ENGLAND 2B21LC I'm glad someone told me b4 i wasted valuable time with this crap.
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Deidre Abdy
(2.9.05 04:57)
I am in the Lake Macquarie region of NSW Australia. We too have been getting these letters. I felt a bit awaful when I first did it but mine went in the round file. Thought there was something strange
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Maureen
(5.9.05 10:00)
Receieved today in Basingstoke, Hampshire, for John Gregg, 32 Selby Road, Carshalton, have thrown in bin and informed the sender
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mike
/ Website
(5.9.05 10:07)
Got the letter this morning from a company that we work for, and that in turn works for us. Address on mine is John Gregg, 332 Selby Road, Harlton, Surrey. S12 1LC. The letter is now circulating through the transport industry. I 'Googled' the name before I continued the chain and found this page. I've notified the company that sent me the letter and have asked them to do the same to try to put an end to this. Glad this page existed.
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Glenys Settle
/ Website
(6.9.05 11:48)
Thanks for info. I noticed this when I received two requests within a year. The addresses and postcodes had changed slightly so thought I'd use Google to check it out. Will send your info back to those who forwarded it to me.
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Felicity
(9.9.05 08:47)
It is now coming round as John Cregg of Charlton in Surrey (as at September 2005)
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sharon
(13.9.05 15:47)
13 september 2005, i have recieved the John Cragg letter, currently rip roaring through the building industry and the new home construction industry. I have forwarded your comments on to a few people to try and stop the chain. I had the same letter 6 months previous and did actually respond.
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Wendy
(14.9.05 03:25)
Well, it would seem that the hoax continues. I am in receipt of a letter dated 13th September from: John Craggs Beehive Montessori School PO Box 81 Mosman Park, WA, 6012 Australia Unfortunately, the actual school DOES exist and I telephoned them today to discuss this matter. They are being flooded by With Compliments slips from well-meaning people, however there is NO SUCH CHILD nor any such attempt at a Guinness record. This is a cruel hoax from which only Australia Post will benefit. Feel free to the contact the school and confirm these details ... International Number is (+61) 8 9383 1283.
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D J DAVIES FUELS LTD
(15.9.05 16:25)
Name now appearing as: John Green 332 Selby Road Surrey S12 1LC Thrown the letter we recieved in the bin suggest everyone else does the same.
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Wendy Waters
/ Website
(16.9.05 16:50)
We received a copy this morning - John Gregg, 332 Selby Road, Harlton, Surrey, S12 1JC. Slightly varied name and address. Thanks for putting this on your site. It's now binned.
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karen
(20.9.05 13:50)
I have over the past 2 - 3 years thought this just cant still be going on and am glad I found your site or I too would have wasted more time, paper and postage
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Kirsty Anderson
(20.9.05 13:57)
I work for the City of Edinburgh Council and received this letter this morning, I felt a bit suspicious but ran off some letters. Decided to google before sending them and found this site so letters have been binned! Hopefully this information gets around so this cruel hoax can stop.
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Melanie Gawthorpe
(21.9.05 10:15)
Received a copy this morning Re: John Gregg, 322 Selby Road, Harlton, Surrey, S12 1LC. I can't beleive people can be so stupid as to fall for this sort of thing. I checked out the address - it does not exist. I figured in this day and age there would be a website with details of poor John's plight. I found this site! What a waste of everyones time.
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Jess
(26.9.05 06:28)
I'm from Canberra, A.C.T AUSTRALIA, and received the letter today. My variation is Jason Craggs, 331 Selby Road, Charlton Surrey, UK SB1LC. My suspicions were raised because the company names listed on all the attached sheets dated back to August 2004. I googled it to try and find media about the story, and if the story was true to see if the boy was still alive. We were going to send a with compliments slip and not pass on the chain letter. Gotta love google.
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Daniel Hudson
/ Website
(26.9.05 10:26)
I'm from a company based in Burton on Trent (In the UK). Out HO got sent this hoax today, I thought it sounded a bit suspicious so googled it. Variation was: John Gregg, 332 Selby Road, Harlton, Surrey, S12 1LC Mr Gregg is doing remarkable well for a boy terminally ill with cancer, especially if this started in 1989
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Karon Guest
(27.9.05 09:14)
Got this letter today, we received one (different name) about 3 years ago so I became a bit suspicious. Googled and found this site. Ours was from John Gregg-332 Selby Road, Harlton, Surrey, S12 1LC
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Diane Moore
(29.9.05 11:42)
We received the letter this morning, not for the first time. I make a point of contacting the sender to let them know it's a hoax and then put it in the recycling bin. I've lost count of the number of times I've seen this letter.
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Bethia McKinley
(4.10.05 12:40)
I received the letter this morning, coming from Surrey originally and thinking the address sounded suspicious I checked it out. It is now John Gregg, from 'Charlton', and from the looks of things this letter is currently circulating Cornwall.
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David Clarke
/ Website
(5.10.05 08:26)
Received letter today. Now John Gregg,322 Selby Rd,Charlton,Surrey. Fortunately checked out on internet and came across your site. There are some seriously sick in the head people out there !
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Emily Wilson
/ Website
(6.10.05 13:32)
variation John Gregg, 332 Selby Road. recieved a letter from a company who asked us to forward it on to another 10 companies of our choice. The backlog of paperwork attached shows it has circulated quite rapidly since 18th aug starting with SMART 421. It is abusing peoples trust and good faith, one is not amused!
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Peter
(12.10.05 01:49)
Just received one of these letters via my CEO from a CEO at another company here in Australia. Why doesn't anyone evr check these things before they act?
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Mohamed Ibrahim
/ Website
(12.10.05 12:34)
Hi this mohamed Ibrahimfrom Tabreed Dubai,United Arab Emirates . imagine this hoax reach gulf region as well ,and as well no one check what it is and it keep going around our larg farme company ,the address now is John Gregg.332 seleby road Harlton,surrey,s12 1LC . You cannot imagine the number of CEO sign this paper over hire . I think i will send it to our news paper to warn the people about it ,it is huge waste of paper and against enviroment because they keep photocopying all the serise of company
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Andrea Williams
(12.10.05 17:06)
Just received another letter this time the name is John Gregg of 322 Selby Road, Hartlon, Surrey, S12 1LC. When will these stop! How can so many people fall for it?
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Vicky Drinkwater
(13.10.05 08:57)
12th October 2005 - I received a letter from a friend, who unfortunately fell for this and sent a compliment slip plus a letter to 10 organisations re: John Craggs, 332 Selby Road, Charlton, Surrey, SB12 1LC - a seven-year-old boy who has been diagnosed with Terminal Cancer and is attempting to enter the Guinness Book of Records for collecting compliment slips. I did a search on Google so THANK YOU for letting everyone know.
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Naomi Johns
(14.10.05 13:01)
We received this hoax letter in the post this morning Friday 14th October. I was suspicious as i have received others similar in the past. I checked google and found this website! I think it is terrible the lengths people will go to. Reading some of the responses above, i see it has made its way to Australia. Hopefully more people will check on the internet.
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sheri
(20.10.05 09:51)
we have just recieved this sick letter in our office in Ilford Essex. shocked that anyone would play on such an illness as a promotional stunt!!
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Liz
(21.10.05 11:19)
Received another this morning from the Welsh National Opera accompanied by masses of copies from many other companies. Name has chnaged to John Green, 332 Selby Road, Surrey S12 1LC!!
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Brian
(24.10.05 04:23)
Just got one here in Sydney, Australia, for John Craggs. The address is a Montessori School in Perth. We will be throwing it the bin, sad that already it has gone out to 70 other companies in Australia.
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gemma
(24.10.05 11:10)
Hi just received this letter this morning, thankfully it seemed dodgy so googled and found this website. Will make sure i forward to the person who sent it to me. Name is now John Cregg, 332 Selby Road, Harleston, Surrey, S12 11C. Can't believe someone would be so cruel to do such a thing, but then again i do believe in karma!
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naomi
(26.10.05 07:39)
...when I received this letter (John Craig)from other company, suddenly I researched this name and I found out this helpful website...Thank you very much...what I thought is why this happen even in the companies there's also chain letters? There's a right time for giving your sympathy and help but not like this kind of hoax. Again, thanks for the information....God Bless!!!
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naomi manjares
(26.10.05 07:48)
...when I received this letter from other company, suddenly, I searched this name(John Craig) and I found out this helpful website...Thank you very much...I thought it's only happening in high school days and Im supprised that is also happening in the business world!There's a right time for giving your sympathy and help but not like this kind of hoax. Again, thanks for the information (Councillor Stuart Bruce)....God Bless!!!
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Jodes
(26.10.05 14:02)
received one today - thankfully this website exists. Luckily I googled the name before I tried to send on! I'm now alerting other business that have previously forwarded this on to the sick hoax!
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Karyn
(31.10.05 21:48)
It's here in NSW, Australia and has appeared on my desk as 'JOHN CARGGA' at 332 Selby Road Charlton, Surrey England 2B2 1LC. I knew it was a hoax as the letter didn't give any instructions but to forward it on to 10 other businesses - nothing about helping the so-called John Cargga. A google search on John Cargga was useless, but thankfully the search on 332 Selby Road Charlton brought me here to this very informative site - CONGRATULATIONS ON KEEPING IT GOING UNTIL NOW.
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Suzy
(1.11.05 10:13)
Good job I googled before I did anything with this. I just got passed this from a very high profile client. It is now John Gregg of 32 Selby Road, Carshalton, Surrey with the bizarre postcode. I will e-mail client to let them know...what a shame and a waste of people's time.
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Liz
(3.11.05 14:54)
Just got this letter re John Gregg of 32 Selby Road SM5 1LD. Did all the letters then for some reason decided to look on google. All letters are now in the bin!
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Catherine
/ Website
(16.11.05 10:45)
3rd time received this year. It's now really starting to ANNOY! If more people had their wits about them, they'd do a search through Google.
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Laura
(16.11.05 10:53)
We received the letter today. The name has changed again... this time John Clegg. Using the address 32 Selby Road, Carshalton, Surrey, SM5 1LD. I believed the story at first. It is a horrible hoax. I will notify those who sent it to us, I cant believe it has gone on for so long!
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Amanda Corkery
(22.11.05 11:01)
I have just received the chain letter regarding John Gregg from Surrey asking me to send a comp slips. good job I checked your web site.
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Marie Galvin
(23.11.05 15:52)
Received the letter re: John Cregg today and previously about 2/3 years ago. Did a quick search which lead us to your website. The letters went straight into the bin. We informed former sender of the hoax.It's so pathetic
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Donna Byrom
(25.11.05 03:13)
I am living in Australia and the company I work for has received a letter from a supplier asking us to send on the compliments slip. The request also asks us to forward the letter to 10 other companies. Attached to our letter were 12 pages each containing the 10 companies that each respective company has forwarded the letter to.
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Dawn
(25.11.05 09:01)
My company received a letter asking us to send compliment slips to John Gregg of Selby Road, Harlton, Surrey. I spent a few hours photocopying all the sheets and typing a letter to 10 of my suppliers and then sent them out. My accountant phoned and informed me it was a hoax, sadly too late for me but I will be informing the names on my chain and breaking our side of it. I feel a fool for falling for it.
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Louise
(25.11.05 09:49)
We have received a copy of this letter more times than I can rember over the years ! The latest one today is for John Gregg at 332 selby Road, Harlton, Surrey, S12 1LC. I have faxed to person who sent it to us to tell them its a hoax and now its going in the bin!
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David
(25.11.05 15:17)
From Lancashire received the same letter Address Selby Rd Carshalton Surrey SM5 1LD. I remembered this from a few yrs back so I thought id check it out before putting it in the bin. What a waste of time for genuine people who care enough to send out this cruel letter. I had over 25 copies of letters to 250 companies !!
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Natalie
(2.12.05 12:37)
Just received this letter for John Gregg, 332 Selby Road, Harlton, Surrey, S12 1LC and to add insult to injury the company that sent it to us didn't put enough postage on so I had to actually go to the Post Office to collect it and pay £1.06 for the priviledge of receiving this hoax. I have asked my Director to speak to the sender to ask him to phone round the other companies he sent it to to try and put a stop to it. Thanks for confirming my suspicions of this hoax - its good to hear other peoples experiences.
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Louise
(6.12.05 17:08)
My company received a letter asking us to send a compliment slip to John Gregg of 32 Selby Road, Carshalton, Surrey SM5 1LD. Like many others, I spent a few hours photocopying all the sheets and typing a letter to 10 other companies and then sent them out. We were informed me today it was a hoax, I have informed the names on my chain and breaking our side of it.
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B
/ Website
(7.12.05 02:49)
This hoax has now made it's way to Australia. I have contacted everyone who we sent it to and then unfortunately found out later that it was a hoax. Thanks for letting us know and as for the person behind this, one word. Karma.
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Deb
(8.12.05 01:18)
I was just asked to write out letters on behalf of the office manager for Jason Cleggs, 331 Selby Road, Charlton, Surrey, UK. the only thing that stopped me was checking the postcode, realized it was incomplet and after living in the UK for 2 years, i know what a UK postcode should look like. i had a look on royal mail website for correct postcode an no record of such. googled 'Jason Cleggs' and found this website. luckily i checked otherwise i'd be writing letter for no reason. I'm in melbourne, australia by the way......
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Deb
(8.12.05 01:39)
I was just asked to write out letters on behalf of the office manager for Jason Cleggs, 331 Selby Road, Charlton, Surrey, UK. the only thing that stopped me was checking the postcode, realized it was incomplet and after living in the UK for 2 years, i know what a UK postcode should look like. i had a look on royal mail website for correct postcode an no record of such. googled 'Jason Cleggs' and found this website. luckily i checked otherwise i'd be writing letter for no reason. I'm in melbourne, australia by the way......
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john josephs
/ Website
(8.12.05 12:42)
I'm a solicitor in Kettering and got the "John Gregg" letter yesterday from another solicitor in the town. I recognised it as a hoax and phoned the people concerned as well as the local press. With my letter I also received details of many other companies who have received and sent on this letter including, builders, estate agents and business all over the country. All these people are genuine and well-meaning but very naive especially with all this identity theft about.
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Kate
(12.12.05 10:09)
Now doing the rounds in Norwich, NR3, noticed that the postcode given (s12) is Sheffield, not Surrey so went straight in the bin! What a hideously despicable thing to do- is it any wonder genuine charity can be met with such cynicism?
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lisa Caswell
/ Website
(12.12.05 11:39)
I never do chain emails or text etc but as a business associate sent this to me I sent on my 10. Luckily one of the people on my list looked into it more thoroughly, it just never occured to me it would be anything other than true. I have now contacted all my list and told them to stop. It discusts me people will do this it is such a waste of time and takes away the improtance of other charity work.
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Rosie Goddard
(15.12.05 11:15)
Received the letter this morning from a client, thought it was a bit suspicious so have checked the net and found all the above comments...obviusly a easy way of getting company details for a database maybe? Our letter is going straight in the bin.
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Vanessa
(19.12.05 14:51)
This is now doing the rounds in King's Lynn. Luckily for us a Google search found this site showing it to be a total scam. I feel sorry for the poor posties trying to "sort" all this post! On a more serious note these pranks must cause so much harm to truly deserving causes by making people feel less willing to donate to charities.
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duncan
(20.12.05 17:51)
South Wales received letter 20 dec 05 under name John green same postcode and address though Its going in the bin......now!!!!
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Bryn
(21.12.05 17:56)
Bryn, Bedfordshire - letter received from reputable national retailer with 60 business names attached. Chain has been broken here - thanks for the site. Name is now John Gregg of 'Charlton', Surrey
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D.V. De Silva
(27.12.05 05:38)
Muscat, Oman 27th December 2005. We received a copy of this letter on 13th Dec 05 from a reputed company in Oman. Regretfully we too passed on the letter as requested and learned of this hoax today. We will try to forward the details on this hoax to all the companies that we forwarded. Thank you for updating us through your website
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Joel Lewis
(29.12.05 16:36)
Received this, regarding "John Gregg" from at the end of a chain which contained Christian Aid, Trade Justice Movement, Fairtrade Foundation and ActionAid ... Please people, do a moment's research on Google before using your time and resources on something like this!!
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Ben Pickup
(6.1.06 10:01)
We have just received an incarnation of this hoax - John Gregg 322 Selby Road Harlton Surrey S12 1LC We have stopped the chain here and contacted by fax all the persons contacted by the company that sent it to us.
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Sue Eaves
(6.1.06 10:06)
My company has today received a copy of this letter, now asking us to send compliments slips to John GREGG at 32 Selby Rd, Surrey. I also had a suspicion that this is a hoax, and found your comments through Google. Needless to say, I am breaking this chain and have advised the sender of the facts.Hopefully the word will spread.....
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Keith Atkins
(6.1.06 13:24)
We recieved a letter asking us to send slips to John gregg on 6th Jan 2006. We thought we smelled a rat and your website has confirmed our fears. its disgusting that someone gets kicks in this way!
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Bryan Chriscoli
/ Website
(6.1.06 14:01)
Received the same letter this afternoon, asking for the above to a John Gregg of 332 Selby Road. Thank you Google, and everyone else who posted on here... someones in for an ear bashing at the company that sent it to us!
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Aaran Humphrey
(6.1.06 14:18)
I am utterly flabbergasted at this fact, i did infact take place in this chain, only to find out the truth afterwards, hindsight is a wonderful thing. my apologys to all involved.
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Ed Couzens
(6.1.06 14:55)
My company received this request today, we were wary of the motives, this site has justified our suspicion. For any organisation to try to profit from emotive tales about a childs terminal illness is beyond belief; I would like to send them far, far more than a compliment slip for their sick efforts. Someone, name and shame them.
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Ed Couzens
(6.1.06 15:03)
My company received this request today, we were wary of the motives, this site has justified our suspicion. For any organisation to try to profit from emotive tales about a childs terminal illness is beyond belief; I would like to send them far, far more than a compliment slip for their sick efforts. Someone, name and shame them.
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Dee
(10.1.06 12:28)
We received a letter on 28th December and have since forwarded this to 10 companies, we wasted time on forwarding this information, we are based in Nottinghamshire, I did not suspect anything strange, which I am not sure why not - now it has been brought to our attention I still cant understand what anyone is gaining from doing this? I am not utterly flabbergastered or going to shout at the people that sent it me I am going to put it in the bin and get on with my work!
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Mac
(16.1.06 00:26)
Received in Canberra, Australia. Thrown into the bin! Cheers and thanx for the info.
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Rachel
(20.1.06 12:24)
We received a letter today asking for the compliment slip to be sent to John Craggs, 322 Selby Road, Carshalton, Surry CB2 2LC. I don't know why my suspicions were aroused but they were and, like many others, I googled and found this web site. Thanks so much for saving me wasting my time. I have emailed the person who sent it to us.
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Maura
(23.1.06 11:42)
Received in Co Mayo Ireland on 23 January, 2006. Decided to check google to check on Mr Gregg. Thanks for the info.
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Maura
(23.1.06 11:42)
Received in Co Mayo Ireland on 23 January, 2006. Decided to check google to check on Mr Gregg. Thanks for the info.
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Richard
(27.1.06 10:22)
Thanks for this - it's now reached Plymouth. John Gregg, 32 Selby Road, Carshalton, SM5 1DL is the address we have.
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Karl
/ Website
(27.1.06 14:57)
This letter has now reached us soldiers based in Germany. I'll do my best to slow it down. The address that i received is: John Craggs, 332 Sely Road, Charlton, Surrey. CB2 1LC
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Jena
(1.2.06 10:59)
We received a letter in to day and attached were 12 letters other reputable companies had sent. The address is 32 Selby Road, Carshalton, surrey sm5 1rd. We have called the other companies on the mailing list to advise this also.
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Chris
/ Website
(1.2.06 14:42)
As above we also recieved a letter today, attached were reputable construction companies. Address was :- John Craggs, 332 Selby Road, Charlton, Surrey, SB2 1LC. Letter now filed under 'T' for Trash.
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REBECCA
/ Website
(3.2.06 09:33)
Rebecca. 09.31. I cant believe it, i never herd of the con until now. i am disgusted how anyone could be so cruel. i have sent some letters out, but thankfully only a few. What a sad, sick little hoax.
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Russ
(3.2.06 10:07)
Sadly we were duped and forwarded it to 10 companies before checking the net to discover the scam. To profit from such a story is disgusting
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Lorraine
(3.2.06 13:48)
I received a request today (3/2/06) for a similar request. Slightly different name - John Gregg and an address in Harlton, Surrey. There's no such place and there's no such postcode, as quoted either. For good measure I looked up the name JOhn Gregg on 192.com and he's not there in either Carshaltonor Harlton, as it says in my letter. I hope I am not misjudging but am throwing the request away.
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L Pitts
(7.2.06 10:20)
Now arrived in Horley, Surrey, with the details: John Gregg 32 Selby Road Surrey SB12 1LC Not even bothering with the town any more!
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Lisa
(9.2.06 10:07)
Recieved four letters this week, mayo, Ireland. Was aware of chain mail when and decided to do a search. Thank you for the information. Again the name is John Gregg, 22 shelby Road. I am about to put a stop to it in this area.
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J Davis
(10.2.06 13:28)
Seems like Selby Roads is a long road, according to the e-mail I received today he's moved 300 doors down: John Gregg 332, Selby Road, Carshalton, Surrey, SM5 1LD
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A DEVLIN
(14.2.06 10:43)
Yup - still going - received letter today (14th Feb 2006) asking for us to contact 10 ppl and send in comp slips. How wierd and cruel this is. BUT - Thanks to this website we have stopped our letter (with our comp slips) going out. Many thanks, Alison
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Tracy Cooney
/ Website
(15.2.06 14:52)
Still going now in Liverpool we have received a copy today address now John Craggs, 332 Selby Road, Charlton, Surrey, SB12 1LC. Thought I had seen it before years ago. In the bin now. Thanks to this web site. Great thing the internet. Regards Tracy
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Sue
(16.2.06 13:32)
Just got a letter in Reading - I have had these before and always binned them. I have contacted the person who sent it to me and he will be emailing his contacts. Can't believe this is still going!
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kim.murdoch
(17.2.06 12:23)
Not normally cynical but I thought I'd check John Gregg, 32 Sealby Rd Carshalton Surrey SM5 1LD out before responding. Glad I did. Now faxing all the other trusting well-meaning people on the list. I'm in Ayrshire Scotland.
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Rae
(17.2.06 15:13)
Received request today to send "with compliment" slip to John Gregg of Selby Road, Charlton. Request and name/address rung bells. Thanks to your site chain stopped here.
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Rebecca
(17.2.06 16:05)
Can't believe this thing is still running. Thanks for the info on this page I haven't passed this on. Letter received today also addressed to John Gregg, 32 Selby Road (so he has moved again?)
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Stephen
(21.2.06 05:59)
Canberra, Australia -- 21 February 2006 My partner Kay has just been sent this by an organisation of which she's a Board member. Her organisation attached copies of a dozen covering letters from other Australian companies, dating back to 8 March 2005, each with a list of ten companies to which they've forwarded it. So unfortunately this hoax is very much alive and well here too. As well as the time and postage, think of the paper wasted.. Kay's copy asked for compliment slips to be sent to Jason Craggs, 331 Selby Rd, Charlton Surrey UK SB1LC, which looks like another variation on the theme. Stephen
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Julie
(21.2.06 15:23)
Our company has received this letter from one of our suppliers today. (21/02/06) Thought It looked familiar as I remember doing it a few years ago for a 'John Cregg'! Thanks to your website have now thrown it inthe bin! The address was 'John Cregg, 332 Selby Road, CHarlton, Surrey, SB12 1LC. I wish they would stop. It's not like we all have nothing else to do at work than answer hoax mail!!!
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FIona
(22.2.06 07:08)
I was just about to send it out, i had received the same from a fellow company and was all set to send it out to 10 more, what a shame people actually use this kinda crap and waste people's time, stop playing with the minds of many and get urselves jobs please.
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Liz
(24.2.06 11:09)
Still coming in - this is the third time we've had it. Its now John Gregg of Harleton. Why do people blindly go along with this?
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Cormac
/ Website
(7.3.06 19:46)
It's being circulated around Cork, Ireland at the moment. Smelled a rat and typed it into google. Can't believe how many companies fell for it, solicitors and even a so called 'forensic' engineer!
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Maureen
(13.3.06 14:47)
13.03.06 Yes still going the rounds John Gregg, 32 Selby Road Carlshalton SM5 1LD- curiosity sent me to search probably foolishly to see if this poor 7 year old had a web site.Must say in the last line of the letter the comment regarding the continuation of correspondance as yet being unbroken did sound very like the normal chain letter veiled threat.
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Lisa
(10.4.06 10:22)
The company I work for received this letter from another company. We sent the letter out in good faith as we received this "John Gregg" letter from another company, not thinking it would be a hoax. I would like to say sorry. Lisa - Ireland
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James Morris
/ Website
(25.4.06 14:41)
We have just received this letter at our offices. Luckily one of our employees remembered there was a hoax some time ago. I put the name into Google and found your page. I have written back to the sender and asked them to advise others.
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marty
(28.4.06 12:17)
when you see a listing of companies who have replied it is amazing. i would think a complete listing would be massive. marty
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Amy
(6.7.06 10:53)
Today we received the letter. I seem to recall our company having this some time ago but thought I would check it out again on the internet. When I checked out the address, Carshalton is some distance from Worthing and Durrington (the locations that came up on multimap when I plugged in Shelby Road).
I also will write to the originator of our letter and ask them to inform the others they wrote to.
Cheers
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chris
(18.8.06 11:09)
Still going strong! How many of the complement slips are being used fraudulently. Or, how much is the shredding bill in
Carshalton? Now John Cregg, 22 Selby Road, Carshalton, SM5 1LD
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Sian
(21.8.06 15:54)
What a nasty hoax I have diligently sent out these 10 letters thinking i was genuinally helping this person it will make me wary next time, of what could be a genuine appeal
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Stuart
/ Website
(13.10.06 10:25)
Such a shame it's still going. I've written back to the company who sent me the letter in the first place and I hope they are sensible and pass on this information to others.
I'll be very glad when spam, phishing and scams like this are made illegal. My inbox is full of them!
The name is now John Gregg.
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Karen Electika
(26.10.06 16:23)
We received a letter this morning, I am usually pretty quick in picking up these sort of things, but this one nearly had me. It is worded quite well, until you scrutinise it a little bit more. We are all busy people, so something such as this (not seeming to be heartless) we would read and deal with it, doing our bit for people less unfortunate than ourselves. I have sent a link in an email to all my associates, if we all do this people will be informed and ready, technically we should be able to bring it to a very quick halt. Knowledge is power.
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melanie
(27.10.06 14:14)
Was given this letter this morning to deal with, I was very suspicious of it, but did as I was asked. I did a google search as an afterthought and found this site, I'm very glad I did! At least we won't have the cost of sending the letters out now, although I have wasted time and paper already... His name is now John Gregg at 21 Selby Road, and yes, he's still 7...
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Natalie
(20.11.06 14:34)
I got the request this morning by telephone as i'd never heard about it before I did a google search and found this site, i will be informing the person that asked me.
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Nikki W
(21.11.06 12:13)
Today I have received a letter to our company on a letter head that has been photocopied many, many times. The address on the headed paper is actually from Richard McGlashan, Head Teacher of Atkinson House School, North Terrace, Seghill, Cramlington, although the letter actually originated from a client, and the letter is headed up "John Gregg, 32 Selby Road, Carsholton, Surrey SM5 1LD". The letter goes on to explain that John is a seven year old boy suffering from terminal cancer and is requesting compliments slips to aid his effort to the Guiness Book of Records. I had no idea that this was a scam circulating, however, I always check out anything that is not "the norm" in our office and am glad I did. I certainly won't be recirculating such rubbish and indeed will do my best to contact our clients in an effort to help put a stop to this nonsense.
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Lesley J
(11.1.07 09:42)
Received the request for John Gregg of Carshalton and he's still seven. Glad I checked before sending a slip out.
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Doug
(7.2.07 12:36)
Recieved the letter over fax today, thought it was a bit suspicious. Looked up John Gregg on google.com. Here I am! I'll let people know. Cheers.
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Jo H
/ Website
(19.2.07 18:37)
Received the letter today and went to respond but likewise thought I'd check on Google ... ditto I shall not be sending anything now.
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Pam
(26.2.07 10:05)
Our Company received this letter today. I am disgusted at how people even think of doing something like this? What are they aiming to achieve? Lining the royal mails pockets? Or producing their own database for junk mail?
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Fran
(28.2.07 11:50)
I just got the email too - what a waste of time!!
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Ross
(6.3.07 13:22)
Aye I've just spent 40 mins on this. My colleague read the letter then correctly pointed out that the kid might have been dead for 2 years already. Valid point. I checked the web and here I am. Glad I didn't put stamps on them. I'm now off to buy coffees for being a mug and wasting the company time.
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ann
(15.3.07 22:36)
Having lost both parents to this awful disease i was totally sympathetic to the situation as it appeared and acted on it as soon as possible. I found out the truth just today from 1 of the companies i sent it to. how utterly sick of the person who even thought of starting this!It sent shivers down my spine.
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Penny Hackman
(5.4.07 12:14)
We received the letter this morning and was half way through replying. I had a feeling it might be a joke and done some research. The address doesn't exist and when i searched the name on the net i came up with this web site. I cant belive how long this hoax has been going on for. It horrible but on teh other hand quite funny as Im wondering where all the letter go. royal mail must be doing there head in.
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Helen Pearson
/ Website
(17.5.07 09:30)
17.5.07
For information, it's doing the rounds again.
Fortunately my colleague checked google and now the letter is in the bin.
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Kevin Wells
(24.5.07 10:35)
24.5.07
Just received this, always a little suspicious of such letters, although i am now impressed that the letter would at least get to somewhere near the intended destination, as opposed to CHARLTON, WHICH IS IN LONDON! Address now reads:
John Gregg
32 SLEBY ROAD
CHARSHLTON (not enough vowels!)
SURREY
SM17 1LD
Unfortunately there really is nothing more people can do other than make others aware with websites like this - and Royal Mail aren't complaining, as they're the only one's benefitting. Maybe a nice large donation of their yearly profits to Cancer Research?
Haven't binned it - instead stuck it on the wall with big black writing HOAX so nobody else falls for this.
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Fiona King
(29.5.07 12:28)
Got this letter this morning, something rang a bell, so googled the name. Second on the list of results - this site. Thanks for the info, have let the companies on our list know this is a hoax.
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Deborah Allan
(4.6.07 14:24)
This letter has now arrived in Stoke on Trent - I vaguely remembered something similar with business cards a few years ago and so googled the name - now been filed under "b" for bin. Unfortunately, it looks like a few companies in Stoke have received this and already acted on it.
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marilyn stickley
(21.6.07 15:49)
The letter has now arrived in Dorset. John Gregg now has no town mentioned in his address.
I thought that this might have been a scam started by franking machine companies to increase usage of postage!! How cynical is that
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E
(26.6.07 14:59)
Recieved this in Warwickshire, for a John Gregg at 32 Selby Road, Carshalton, Surrey, SM17 1LD.
I am wary of chain letters and thought that if there were a little boy to be doing such a thing it would have been on the news or something.. I'll check google.
Nothing came up, so I typed in the first sentence, "John Gregg is a 7 year old boy suffering from terminal cancer." and got this site.
Saved a compliment slip I suppose. Will be sure to forward this link to the company who mailed us the letter! Attached were lists of 10 companies different companies had forwarded this too, dating back to January.
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manda
(27.6.07 07:13)
we received the letter today at work (in aus) for terminally ill John Craig. i wrote up all the letters then decided to check it out, the address to send it to was Beehive Montessori School in western Australia. they were binned straight away!!!
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Sue
(4.7.07 18:27)
We received the letter today at our restaurant. I Googled the name first and found this site. John Gregg at 32 Selby Road. It has now find it's rightful place in the bin. Shame these people can't direct their over-abundance of energy into something more worthwhile.
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Caroline
(23.7.07 11:25)
Oh dear it's still going! I was suspect of the address on the letter (John Gregg, Carshalton, SN7 1LD) so did a bit of searching. Thankfully we have now put a stop to this part of the chain and saved a few trees!
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Carolyne
(31.7.07 10:31)
I have just received this letter at work in Southampton - thought it was suspect straight away so searched on good old google. I'll bin it, but it's worrying to think of the amount of people who are believing this is real and still sending it on - it's a cruel joke tugging on people's heart strings like that! Bearing in mind how long this has now been going around for...I wonder will it ever end?!
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Maggie
(11.9.07 16:15)
Thank God for Google! I was preparing to send these letters out to many of our companie's when something told me to check it out so off to Google I went and found this site.
Needless to say We will not be sending any out and are contacting those that sent it to us to inform the others on their list that it is a hoax.
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Helen
(24.9.07 16:33)
We'll we've been duped!!! I sent this out only last week, it arrived at our company in Bolton, Lancashire. Just had the tip off from one of the companies we forwaded the letter on to!!!
It needs to be stopped, everyones time, money and effort from forwading this could be put to better use!!!
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Paul Smith
(25.10.07 13:38)
Well, it's still going strong. Just received a copy for 'John Gregg - 32 Selby Rd Carshalton' - with a list of 24 groups of 10 companies that it has been sent to going back to March 2007.
That's theoretically 10^24 pieces of pointless post that have been sent in the last 7 months. When will people learn...
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Lauraine Coffey
(30.10.07 11:39)
Just checked on Google and came by this article, so I thought I would let you know that I have received this request this morning. So it is now circulating around the Isle of Man!!
Will post a note on the Isle of Man Online Website to let the good people of the Isle of Man know about this scam.
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Natalie Martin-Loat
(19.11.07 10:02)
It's definately still going strong! I have just received a copy of this chain mail along with a list of other conpanies it has been sent to - am now in the process of warning everyone I know that it is a hoax.
Thanks for the help!
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Gwlithyn
/ Website
(4.1.08 10:48)
Still on the move. Has now arrived in Wales. We received a copy of the letter from 'John Gregg, 32 Selby Road, Carshalton, SM17 1LD' this morning. It will now be binned.
Many thanks for this info.
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Leah (NFU MUTUAL)
(13.2.08 15:17)
We recieved a letter 12.02.08 about a young boy John Gregg with terminal cancer who was collecting compliment slips to enter the guiness book of records. We have now been told that this is the same hoax. The address on the letter was 32 shelby Road, Charleshalton Surrey SM17 1LD. I cant believ anybody could do this and i hope no bosy else spent as long as I did writing a letter to this "young boy".
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Ian
/ Website
(22.3.08 12:51)
nearly got done as well glad i checked this out had it all ready for posting and what a waste of time!!!!
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Anita
(7.4.08 11:08)
Just recieved a letter this morning, addressed from:
John Greg
32 Shlby Road
Carhalton
Surrey
SM7 1LD
What a horrible waste of time, postage, & photocopying. Luckily I looked it up before forwarding it on!!!
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Laura
(8.4.08 15:08)
I also just received the letter this morning for John Greg. So glad i checked will save so much effort.
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Sarah
(10.4.08 12:21)
Received this letter today and was going to send out the comp slips, of which we have a few as we are a group of companies. The name is John Greg and the address looked normal; 32 Shelby Road, Carshalton, Surrey, SM7 1LD. I only got suspicious when a colleague told me she remembered something similar and that it had been a hoax, so googled John Greg and here I am!
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Tina
(17.4.08 12:13)
We are in Derby and received the letter yesterday. Luckily one of the people we sent it to thought she would see how well John was doing and Googled his name. We havent come across this before and by the look of the list of Companies, etc enclosed with the letter neither has anyone else in Derby.
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Maria
(29.4.08 11:51)
It's now also in Ireland!
We received one today. I didn't trust it and Googled and luckily I found this site. What a sad joke!
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Sharon
(30.4.08 17:18)
We got this letter in January (in Cardiff) and were going to send it on. I googled the name before we did and found this webpage.
Pleased we didn't waste out time!
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Graham
(5.6.08 09:04)
John Greg has now appeared in Herefordshire. Please don't perpetuate this waste of time and money.
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Emma
(11.6.08 15:08)
We received this today in EVESHAM, it was under the name of John Gregg and the address being 32 Shelby, Carshalton.
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Louise
(19.6.08 11:02)
got a load of bunk in todays post re this, amazed at the amount of solicitors firms that have been duped
Our request was from a John Greg, 32 Shelby Road, Carshalton.
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Sarah
(20.6.08 14:07)
I am in Swansea - I was duped into sending this on to 10 of my suppliers I know have to try and contact them before they do anything. How can anyone be so thoughtless of all the young children that are dying from terminal cancer.
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Vicky
(23.6.08 16:07)
I have just received this letter from a trusted supplier.
Luckily, one of my colleagues immediately guessed that it was a scam and so I checked the internet - and here I am!!
That letter is now circulating Bristol but hopefully not for much longer.
Think I might send a lovely package to them, and might just forget to put the postage on it!
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Alex
/ Website
(7.7.08 12:19)
Got it in Eastbourne, again from a trusted supplier:
John Gregg, 32 Selby Road, Carshalton, Surrey, SM7 1LD.
It came through with a large number of companies headed paper making it believable.
Glad to hear the kid made a recovery though!
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Joanne
(15.7.08 20:26)
I was just about finished photocopying when I decided to google John Gregg I am glad I did.
We are in N.Ireland and there must be well over a hundred companies attached to the letter I received solicitors, estate agencies etc. I will now let the company who sent it to us know it is a hoax.
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Caryl
(8.8.08 12:13)
This arrived today from a trusted source.
Address still 32 Shelby Road, Carshalton. Something didn't seem right to me - thanks to google have put it in the bin and will let our source know.
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Sarah
(19.8.08 15:00)
Recieved this today from head office and this is the second one this year!! we all fell for it in this office and sent it locally to friends and family who have a business. Am abosolutely appalled that this bloke can get away with it!! Has he ever heard what goes around comes around...TWICE. Am sending him back his letter with the print off of a hoax letter!!
He is on my letter as John Gregg, 32 Shelby Road
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(29.9.08 12:39)
Now in name of John Cleggs, 32 Shelby Road, Carshalton, Surrey SM17 1GU - received in Luton - sadly 150 Companies had fallen for this before it reached us.
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Alison
(1.10.08 10:16)
Something didn't add up for me, have just googled "John Greg" & here i'am. We're a company based in Weybridge, Surrey & have received this from one of our suppliers.. In the bin it'll be going now.
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Ian
(13.10.08 10:48)
It's still going.
Name is now John Gregg
32 Shelby Road,
Carshalton
Surrey
SM7 1LD
has reached Cardifff, again, and is going in the bin.
Thanks for the information
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sue Hooper
(14.10.08 09:51)
I received the letter yesteday and emailed a company in Austria who where kind enough to send me this web page. As the Austrian gentlemen pointed out there are some very cruel people in this world.
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Duncan Cliffe
(23.10.08 13:43)
Hi, We received this letter from one of our customers in Goole today. Yes it has gone into the bin. What a load of sad people in the world. Duncan
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Anna
/ Website
(24.10.08 10:32)
Had a nagging doubt about it that I'd seen the Carshalton address before - googled John Gregg and ended up here. What a tremendous waste of paper - mine is heading for the recycling bin!!
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Claire
(24.10.08 13:42)
We recieved the letter today - started to write the letter out and gather addresses - something didn't seem right so I googled the address to check it was real and ended up here! Can't believe somone would hoax this sort of thing! You just don't expect hoax chainmail through the post. What a waste of time....
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Vicki
(28.10.08 14:05)
Received in Sevenoaks, Kent. John Greg, address 32 Shelby Road, Carshalton, Surrey SM17 1TG.
Ignored after Googling - knew straight away it was likely to be a hoax. Some very sad people out there.
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Maureen
(28.10.08 15:17)
It's now racing through Cumbria. I was just about to start photocopying the lists when I decided to google "John Gregg" and found numerous sites about the hoax. I've binned mine, but how will it ever stop? I was about to put a note in with the compliment slip -"Thinking of you"!!!!!!
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Karen
(30.10.08 11:45)
I was almost duped - but thanks to the Internet, keyed in John Gregg's name, and hey presto.
I shall be forwarding this site to all those concerned.
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Caroline
(30.10.08 14:38)
The letter has now reached Somerset (again). Fortunately I sensed it was a hoax from the moment I read it...
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Margaret Court
(31.10.08 08:48)
I responed in good faith to a request from a firm my husband is working for and passed the letter on to my daughter. She in turn passed it on and thankfully someone had heard of this cruel hoax playing on caring peoples emotions I support our local hospice and am disgusted that people can do this. They must be sick in the head!
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Mary Cooper
(6.11.08 12:49)
Thanks for your information in this site it has just saved me a lot of time, postage and typing. The letter has reached the Bournemouth area now.
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Treen Crowther
(10.11.08 15:25)
Yep this sucker is still going, just got one today in Manchester, wrote the letter, carefully picked 10 company names and almost began to photocopy and send out but stopped because i too had a niggling thought in the back of my head, googled him and of course found this page! so thanks for the warning, some people just have too much time and not enough heart these days!
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David Parry
(20.11.08 09:51)
Back in North Wales for the n th time. I see that he has just moved from No 38 to no 32. Not as far as the move he made last year from the top end at No 332 to No 38.
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Jane Chatfield
(24.11.08 15:09)
This has now reached Devon. I unwittingly followed all instructions and sent the slip to John Gregg. I then sent the letter to 10 companies which invloved my time, company paper and postage. I was so trusting I didn't think to google it! Now I know - what an absolute disgrace! I'm so furious.
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(11.12.08 15:17)
This letter has made it to the Scottish Borders, I was just about to send the 10 letters when I was warned it may be a scam so I googled it and found this site! The name and address on our letter is:
John Gregg
32 Sheldon Road
Charshalton
Surrey
SM7 1LD
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(12.12.08 04:16)
Recieved this letter this morning. I was thinking what a beautful story, that poor little boy. I only googled it after another lady here at work aroused my suspicions.
His name is John Craig, he is 7 years old this year - 2008 and its PO BOX is from Western Australia.
Screw the bastard who thought this up....
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(12.12.08 13:34)
This letter is coming from Peter Pan ! He's be 7 years old for at least 8 years
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laura whittle
/ Website
(18.12.08 15:34)
thanks goodness for google - just received here in yorkshire and found over100 companies had fallen fo this before us.
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Tim A
(7.1.09 10:22)
Just received this letter today in Oxfordshire from one of our customers with several lists attached of previous companies that it had been sent to.
Thought there would be some info on the net if it was genuine or a scam so fortunately found this site!
Address on my letter was:
John Clegg
32 Sheldon Road
Carshalton
Surrey
SM7 1LD
Hopefully more people will find this site and realise it is a scam!
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Dianne
(7.1.09 12:55)
Received this letter through our company, it came via a hotel chain. I thought I would check it out first as seen a simialar scam before.
Thanks a lot for this warning cannot believe the number of trees this has cost.
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jon
(14.1.09 15:25)
I thought this was a scam! The current name is John Gleg, 32 Shelby Road, Carshlton, SM5 1LD
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Julie
(15.1.09 10:54)
Just recieved this letter in the post, and felt quite emotional reading it! However I thought it quite strange for a seven year old to be interested in compliment slips... I googled it and ended up on this site. Thank you for the warning. The name I got was 'John Greig'.
I feel sorry for any child that genuinley is ill and really would like to be in the Guiness Book of Records - nobody will believe them!
Very angry, how could anyone be so sick?
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Marni
(22.1.09 12:14)
Its now in Leicestershire although the name is now John Gregg, 32 Sheldon Road, Carshalton, Surrey. I found this site by double checking the post code SMA 0LD on google.
Obviously it was a very touching letter but I also thought why the compliments slips? How gullible a nation we are!
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Cat
(22.1.09 13:00)
Just received this in the Norfolk/Cambs area, also John Gregg. Forwarded to us by a local company with a list of other local companies who have also forwarded it. What a waste of time and paper.
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(21.6.10 06:41)
I'm amazed by one comment asking what's the harm. Is no one listening to the news and the constant reports on identity theft? It's not hard to imagine someone calling another business pretending to be from YOUR business and setting up credit with a different delivery address! They'll have your logo to fabricate a business card - cop yourselves on will ya!
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(15.10.10 11:16)
I imagine that this may not necessarily be a malicious hoax, but a "Chinese Whisper" situation where names and addresses have been mistyped over the years. Has anyone tried contacting GMTV or Watchdog or some other TV programme in an attempt to stop it?
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(22.12.10 05:26)
I was wary because of the similarity of name (John Craig) so have not responded. I will e-mail those who sent the request to me so they are aware of the unfortunate misuse of their time and sympathies.
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