How to Check For a Mail Scam
Many scams come by email, but some scammers still prefer to use traditional mail to trick people into doing anything from attending a time share sales pitch to cashing bad checks and wiring the money to strangers. Mail scams have telltale signs to watch for to protect yourself.
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Instructions
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Look for a return address and check it for legitimacy. Many scams will not have an return address. This is especially true of scams involving bad checks that ask you to wire money. If there is a return address, look it up online. Scammers often use mail drops or nonexistent addresses.
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Check telephone numbers contained in the mail. Scam victims often report fraudulent telephone numbers on websites such as 800notes.com. Typing the number in a search engine also may turn up scam reports associated with it. Don't make an assessment based on how a phone number is answered. Scammers can answer with a legitimate company name.
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Note whether the mail is stating something untrue or misleading. For example, travel scams often use fake airline names similar to legitimate carriers or use real air carrier or hotel logos without permission. Some mailers also claim to be notifications that you were not home for a package delivery, according to 800notes.com. These scams try to get a homeowner to agree to an in-home sales visit that offers a prize package in return for pitching products such as vacuum cleaners or water purifiers. Others may say you've gotten a mystery shopper job, even though you never applied for one, according to the Crimes of Persuasion website.
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Look up any business mentioned. Start with the Better Business Bureau, and check other sites such as Ripoffreport.com for complaints. Your state attorney general's office also may know about scams associated with the business.
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Ask friends and neighbors whether they received a similar piece of mail. You may receive a winning notification for a cruise, vacation package or other prize and discover that your neighbors also supposedly won the same thing. It's really a solicitation.
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Tips & Warnings
Scam deliveries aren't limited to the U.S. Mail. Paige Hall, president of the AboutFace mystery shopping firm, warns that fraudulent materials and checks often come through private shippers such as United Parcel Service and Federal Express. Scammers do this to avoid federal investigations and mail fraud charges.
References
Resources
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