Postal Mail Scams ::: Tips to Avoid Being Scammed



	Tips to Avoid a Scam: 1. The Golden Rule When an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. 2. Keep Personal Info Private Never give your bank account, social security, or credit card numbers to anyone you don’t know and trust. 3. Avoid High Pressure Sales Say no to any offer or deal that is only available right now. 4. Never Pay for a Prize If you are offered a prize but are asked to pay a “processing fee” or “taxes in advance,”it is likely a scam. You shouldn’t have to pay anything to win a free prize. If you’re still not sure whether it's a scam, call our Scam Hotline at (858) 715-1648.				Scam Menu: Postal Mail Scams Tips to Avoid Being Scammed There are several easy ways to protect yourself from postal mail scams. 1. Shred all mail after reading. This includes, correspondence from your bank, credit card company, insurance company, mortgage provider, all utility bills—anything that has your personal information on it. 2. Shred or throw away any letters claiming you have won money in a lottery or sweepstakes you do not remember entering. 3. Call 1-888-567-8688 or log onto www.optoutprescreen.com to stop the flood of pre-approved credit card and insurance offers. These unsolicited offers are used by scammers to steal your identity—so stop them before they come. 4. Remember that, unfortunately, if an offer sounds too good to be true, it probably is. “LOTTERY SCAMS” This scam appears in many forms, but generally it claims to be from a foreign county. The letter will often claim that you have won a large sum of money and all you have to do to claim it is send in a “processing fee” or “pay taxes in advance.” Please don’t fall for this very common scam. Sometimes the scammer will even include a real check and encourage you to deposit it and send back a portion. But, without fail, their check will bounce and you will have lost whatever “processing fee” you sent in. Remember – never pay for a prize! If you have to pay for it, it isn’t free! “FOREIGN LETTERS” Another common scam is known as the “Nigerian letter.” It is known as the “Nigerian letter” because when this scam first arrived in the United States, the letter claimed to be from Nigeria. Today, however, letters of this sort claim to be from any corner of the world. The letter will claim to be from a foreign politician, member of a royal family, a pastor of a Christian church or even a U.S. solider abroad. Their reason for needing your help varies, but usually they will tell you of hardship, tyranny and lawlessness in a war-torn country. As a result of these circumstances, they will explain that they are looking to move money out of their country to the United States. They claim that if you assist them by providing your bank information, you will receive part of the riches. Please do not fall for this very common scam. If you provide your bank account number, in all likelihood, your bank account will be emptied and you will receive nothing for your troubles. Be aware, the most recent version involves a U.S. soldier bringing home gold from Saddam Hussein’s palace—this is a scam. Scam Menu: