USPS warns of fraudulent mail, phone scams

NORTH BRUNSWICK — A company sends out a check, asking a resident to cash it.

The person goes to the bank, cashes the check, and forwards some of his or her own money on to the company via a wire, a money order or their own personal check.

A few days later, the company sends another letter or makes a phone call saying that the check was sent in error, and tells the person they can keep some of the money initially offered but must send the rest back, meaning the person has to lay out more money.

Instead of benefiting from this, the person, thinking the company is legitimate, is actually scammed out of hundreds or thousands of dollars.

This is one example of fraud that was discussed by United States Postal Inspector Arthur Frevola during National Consumer Protection Week.

Observed annually the first week in March, the national program led by the Federal Trade Commission seeks to draw attention to issues that threaten consumers in terms of fraud, identity theft and other scams.

Frevola spoke to senior citizens in North Brunswick on March 8, warning them not to respond to sweepstakes letters that ask for money, to not send money in the mail to suspect companies, and to never participate in a foreign lottery.

“Generally, with any type of fraud, common sense prevails,” he said. “If it’s too good to be true, it’s not [legitimate].”

According to Jake Truex, the consumer affairs manager for the Northern New Jersey District of the Postal Service, two out of three adults receive some sort of fraudulent contact every week, and 38 percent of people said they or their family members have been a victim of fraud, according to the Alliance for Consumer Fraud.

Frevola cited another fraudulent incident in which people paying high premiums for prescriptions in the United States were offered cheaper prices through Canada. Giving out their personal information, they were instead bilked for money — scammers were withdrawing from their bank accounts and credit card accounts.

“Check your bank statements. Check your credit cards. Make sure all of those charges have to do with something you charged,” he advised.

Truex mentioned other types of scams — mystery shopper, work-at-home, sweetheart, postage-paid label, and sudden riches — that target people of any age.“It takes advantage of a lot of folks who, like you, are at home, people who have some extra time and figure they’ll make an extra buck or two,” he said.

Truex said the most important thing to do is report any type of suspicious mail or phone scam to the police or to the postal service.

He also told the seniors to warn their family, friends and especially grandchildren, who are more susceptible to identity theft through the Internet.

“Our goal is to help you not be a victim. There is no age requirement to be a victim. … One person you tell is one person who may not become a victim,” he said.

For more information on the specifics of various scams or to file a report, call 1- 877-876-2455 or visit www.usps.gov.

Contact Jennifer Amato at jamato@gmnews.com.