niggle

I received yesterday in the mail a religious letter saying that they had given me a prayer rug that's "Soaked with the Power for Prayer." It had a picture of Jesus's face with his eyes closed. If I kneel and pray before it Jesus's eyes will open. I stared at it and eventually I could indeed see Jesus with his eyes open. The trick was there was subtle shading that clearly resembles eyes but isn't at first obvious.

I was then expected to check off certain things from a list that I want the church to pray for me. Then I should mail the letter, prayer rug, and possibly a donation for "seed" money to continue their ministry. It was important that I do this within two days for some reason.

But wait, there's more. Another SEALED piece of paper urging me not to open it until after I mailed the prayer rug back (which was a piece of paper with a picture). Inside the sealed paper was a "sacred, spiritual prophecy, sealed word, concerning you and your future." "If for any reason [I am] not going to return this Church Prayer Rug, then this sacred prophecy must be destroyed, unopened and unread..."

After I broke the seal, it was generic about how the Holy Spirit was working through me to help me with an important decision that was less specific than most fortune cookies.

It had testimonials from people who claimed that they had followed these instructions and prayed and miracles were performed for them. There were ten stories; seven received alot of money (only one mentioned a job), two were miraculously healed. The most specific story was a woman whose terrible leg pain was healed.

I, of course, find the whole thing absurd, but apparently not everyone. I see that someone in my building already returned the envolope, possibly with a donation in it.

Has anyone come across something like this?

Hyndis

Its a pretty old scam. Also, a very poorly thought out scam. They send you a cheap prayer rug and expect you to pay for it after you've recieved it and opened it.

But if someone sends you something, its a gift. You don't have to pay for it, unless you really want to.

john_v_h

Good grief, that's a very old illusion:

JPD

Ah yes...the time sensitivity of metaphysical thought processes that are so special they are actually bound by reality. Within the two day timeframe one's brain is apparently in a state of easily-foolishness which makes stupid people give other stupid people the time of day for such hopeless wanky cranky quacky crank-pottery.

ziffel

Hmm. I figured the 2-day thing was because the scammers have a cruise booked for the 9th.

niggle

One, they never expressly ask for money, but at the end of the long list of what you want them to pray for, they have an option of "Enclosed is my seed gift to God's work for $________"

Two, the prayer rug is made of paper. You can produce this yourself if you have a color printer. They apparently need it back so they can send it to someone else. How much could they possibly save by that? A nickel?