[Muncle]

Look at this reasonably. Let's say that after a relative croaked, you had two people contact you. The first says, "Good day. I'm from the US Government Department of Redundancy Department. Our records indicate that your cousin Chauncey is in debt to the US Government to the amount of $1,000. With penalty and interest, this amount is now $6,000. You are now liable for that debt. I don't have to tell you why, I'm the Government. If we have not received payment within 30 days of receipt of this letter, action will be taken to garnishee your wages and put appropriate liens on your property."

The second guy says, "Hey, I'm Guido. You buddy Chaunce made some bad bets and owes me six grand. He said you was good for it. Don't pay me and I'll break your friggin leg."

To know which is believable, you gotta know Chauncey. Would he lose money to a hoodlum and use your name to back his debt? Would he stiff the gov't and then maybe forge your name as a co-signer?

And then, assuming you pay, what happens to the money? Give it to Guido and they'd use it to pay gambling winners, buy drugs, support prostitutes, or fund loan shark operations. Give it to the government guy and they'd just waste the money.



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