Just got a wierd package in the mail!

Last night my husband was telling me that his company (PPC) had sent out an alert email regarding strange packages. It seems that some people are receiving packages at their home addressed to PPC that have not been ordered or expected. The employees were told that if they were asked to sign for a package at their house to refuse the delivery and if they get anything in the mail to bring it to work to give to the FBI. They said that the contents weren't dangerous but needed to go to the FBI; they didn't say what the packages were containing. I guess there were about 5 or 6 packages that had been received.

So today I get home with the kids, open the mailbox, and there it is. It's a cylinder tube, about 8 inches long wrapped in brown paper. It has custom stickers on it and lots of stamps. No return address, and the To address is written in block letters like you've been seeing in the news. It's addressed to PPC, then my husband's name and our address.

Well, let me just say I kinda freaked out. My husband was in a meeting, so I called the receptionist to track him down. He called me back and told me I was over-reacting and that it wasn't dangerous. He said he'd take it to the office on Monday! Let me tell you, this thing is not staying here over the weekend. I want the FBI to have it NOW! I didn't bring it in the house, I kinda dropped it on the drive way and kicked it onto the front porch. (Told you I kinda freaked out!) My husband told me to bring it inside, but I put it in the garage instead. I'm very worried. Of course, Doug's back in another meeting, so I'm not sure what we're going to do with it. Ugh!!!

Anyway, just wanted to vent. Hopefully it's nothing dangerous.

You did the right thing not putting it in the garage. But you might want to call your local police, or 911 and tell them where it is, so they can come investigate.

Well, I finally talked to my husband again, and his company told him to take it down to the Fort Worth FBI office tonight before midnight. They told him again that it's nothing dangerous but that they want to track down who's sending these packages. Of course, they won't say what's been in the other packages, and they haven't seen my package, so how do they know it's not dangerous! Doug tells me I'm over-reacting, but it's been a long, hard week and this is just the final straw!

Dawn
you are not over reacting, you can never be too safety conscience.
You did the right thing.
We no longer live in a secure world, I would have done the same thing in your place.
I work as a nurse and we were issued with a memo that states " Please make sure you wear gloves when opening mail". its not paranoia its precaution.
I now use the same advice for home.
*hugs*
Tish

Dawn
I'm sure I would have had the same reaction you did! We just can't trust anyone these days. Having the FBI investigating these deliveries sounds really scary. Hopefully, you will be given some information about the packages soon.

Dawn,

Better to be safe than sorry. I would've called the police or nearest FBI office. You did the right thing. You just can't be too careful these days and that is truly sad.

Donna

Doug's on his way to the FBI in Fort Worth right now. Once he saw the package, he understood a little bit better why I interrupted his meeting with the Director at work! Unfortunately, we'll never know what's in the package, but not hearing anything will at least mean that it wasn't anything real.

It's very sad what things have come to these days.

You have every right to be scared witless! Please keep us posted. Doesn't it just *iss you off to have to be worried about a simple thing like opening your mail??!!

Please let us know how things went! I am not worried about getting anthrax by mail, but I can tell you that any unsolicited mail is going right back to the sender. Great excuse to get rid of junk mail

Hey Dawn,

You were right to not want the thing in your house. The protocol we have received at work says not even to touch the thing, wash your hands immediately if you have had contact, remove yourself from the area the package is in, and call police. I don't even think your husband should have taken the package with him to the FBI. Let trained authorities handle it.

We were also told NOT to open an envelope from the end and blow into it (ala Carnac from the old Johnny Carson show).

Of course, my husband had to be a macho man and do it himself. But his company did assure him that they had received a number of these and none of them had been dangerous. So I'm sure we're ok, unless the FBI calls of course...

If it had been up to me, I would have called 911!

You were right to be scared. I really don't understand this strange company policy!

It doesn't have to be anthrax or anything like that. It's just common sense. In Israel the rule is and always has been not to open any package or envelope if you don't know who the sender is. Don't shake it or try to look through it. Just leave it where it is and call the police. Every kid will tell you that and it's nothing new - just common sense precautions.

By the way, in Israel it's not possible to mail a package without a clear return address on it. What's more, the post office clerks will usually ask you for identification to make sure you are the sender and that the name and address are legit. That way, there can be no packages from unidentifies sources within Israel. Of course, it can still happen with packages that come from outside Israel, but then you're not supposed to open the package unless you know the sender.

Dawn,
I don't think you were overreacting, either! I would've done the same thing, too.

Wow, Dawn!!! I don't think you were overreacting one little bit! I would have been totally freaked out!! I hope this doesn't happen to you ever again!!!!!!

that is so scary! I heard on the news today that 2 postal workers from DC died. Where does your husband work?

Archer - That's the weird thing. My husband works for an accounting publishing firm. Not very visible to terrorists I woudn't think. They are a division of Thompson publishing, but still... I'm sure it's all just a big hoax, especially since we haven't heard back from the FBI. But give me a break! (and stop mailing me stuff!)

One of the really sad things to come out of this tradegy are the twisted people who will take this opportunity to create more mayhem and tie up resources with hoaxes. It's very disturbing.

I'm glad that your family is okay.

It seems to me you were perfectly correct in your aprehension about that mysterious package! It sure doesn't help when you're told, "It's not dangerous but we won't tell you what's in it." I'm glad the package is in the proper hands now and away from you and yours.



=^..^=

P.S.: I still want to know what's in it!

Originally posted by Anne
in Israel it's not possible to mail a package without a clear return address on it. What's more, the post office clerks will usually ask you for identification to make sure you are the sender and that the name and address are legit. That way, there can be no packages from unidentifies sources within Israel. Of course, it can still happen with packages that come from outside Israel, but then you're not supposed to open the package unless you know the sender.

Click to expand...

That is such a fantastic Idea,at least you can be sure that the threat is international and not national .


Tish

I think it's interesting that the post office is recommending that people wash their hands after handling their own mail.

Very frustrating, though, since I used to really enjoy mail art but now I'm leary of the kind of packages that I used to think were interesting.