Mail

Here are some things to consider doing. Some items may not be applicable to you.

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Receiving items:

If you receive mail indicating you may have won a prize:

• Don’t send money, e.g., to cover handling costs
• Contact the company and request more information about exactly what prize you’ve won, not just prizes you’re eligible for

If you receive a large number of letters for sweepstakes and/or lotteries:

• Suspect that you are the target of mail fraud

If you are concerned about receiving a letter bomb:

• Check the piece of mail for:
  • Evidence of leaks
  • Excessive weight
  • Anything abnormal

If you have an elderly relative or friend who you think is the target of mail scams:

• Ask a trusted friend to screen their mail for them

Sending items:

If you need to get an item to someone quickly:

• Consider using an express delivery service

If it’s inconvenient for you to take the item to the post office, etc.:

• Consider using a delivery service (e.g., Federal Express, UPS)

Before going to post office, etc.:

Take to post office, etc.:

• Addresses of recipients
• Phone numbers of recipients for express delivery

Unclaimed funds:

If you receive notification from a company that they can obtain funds for you to which you are entitled but have not claimed:

• Get your exact previous addresses
• Contact the states you’ve lived in to determine if they have unclaimed funds in your name

If no states say they have unclaimed funds in your name:

• Consider using the company which sent you the notice
• Ensure that company is established
• Ensure the company only gets paid if they help you obtain unclaimed funds

Unwanted merchandise:

If you receive merchandise you didn’t order:

• Call the sender and ask them to send you a pre-paid mailer to return the items

Work-at-home offers:

If you receive an offer to participate in a work-at-home business:

• Be extremely wary most of these ‚Äòopportunities’ are scams which involve high upfront fees, long and hard work and low income

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