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NOTE: This page Under Construction/Conversion
This page has not been completely converted to OFPv2 Standards.
When this is completed, this paragraph will go away.
Meanwhile, all external links on this page open a new window.
Snail-Mail Scams are also known as Postal Mail Scams, Mail Fraud, .
Special Note: For those of the US Postal Service who are
reading this page: Please note that I am using "Snail Mail" as
an affectionate term and only to differentiate
hand-delivered mail from email. While there are times mail
can run slow, there's no indication to me that it's caused
by anything other than the sender not sending it until late.
And there are even more times that I'm surprised I get my
"snail mail" within a day. (Besides, even YOU guys have to
admit that Postal Mail is slower than Electronic Mail the
majority of the time, right? 
)
The Scam
The Mail Scams I'm talking about here are NOT the coupons or checks you receive and must sign or fill out. Since all the information is in the mail, I don't consider these to be scams. BE AWARE though, that with these, if you use the coupons or cash the check, you are accepting the conditions listed on them and/or on other pieces in the same envelope. BE SURE TO READ ALL THE INFORMATION, INCLUDING FINE PRINT on ALL the documents in the envelope, FRONT AND BACK. In the vast majority of the cases, the checks you can cash are actually loans (usually the big dollar amounts), the checks you must send back are applications for loans (usually the even bigger dollar amounts) or partial payment (pre-rebate?) for services, subscriptions or products you may or may not want (usually the smaller dollar amounts). MAKE SURE you understand the conditions you are accepting by your using them.
The postal (or "snail") mail I'm talking about are those attempting to defraud you. For those who understand general fraud and phishing, you know that most of what's now seen in email and on some websites, started through postal mail. (You know... Those pieces of paper you write on, stick in an envelope with a stamp on it, and put in that funny-looking box near your house... The one the guy (or girl) that comes around once-a-day (most of the time) and takes stuff out of, leaving those nasty bills and other stuff? More rural people and many businesses will drop their "stuff" off at those houses or buildings called a "post-office" and some have boxes there where they pick up their bills and stuff.) With the advent of wide-spread email, there seems to be a lot less "junk mail" in my mailbox. Even so, occasionally, I'll get some weird stuff - Chain mail, attempted fraud, etc.
There are too many ways consumers can be scammed through the mail to list them all. (BE AWARE that nefarious characters have switched from Postal Mail to Email. You don't hear as much about Postal Mail Fraud or Postal Mail Scams as you used to, because of this. However, it has never really stopped. And, for those used to email scams, if they receive the same scam in postal mail, they may fall for it. BE CAREFUL!
NOTE: Postal Mail Fraud is ANY fraudulent scheme in which ANY PART of it uses the US Postal Service.
ALSO NOTE: Each link below is another USPS Inspectors' report.
Mail Fraud Schemes
Employment Fraud
- Distributorship and Franchise Fraud
- Phony Job Opportunities
- Multi-Level Marketing
- Six-Cent and Other Short-Paid Postage
- Postal Job Scams: Don't Fall For a Con Game
- Work-at-Home Schemes
Financial Fraud
- "900" Telephone Number Fraud
- Advance-Fee Loan Schemes
- Charity Fraud
- Credit Card Fraud
- Schemes that Charge Money for Services the Government Provides for Free
- Cut-Rate Health Insurance Fraud
- Investment Fraud
- Solicitations Disguised as Invoices
- Oil and Gas Investment Fraud
- Land Fraud
Fraud Against Older Americans
Sweepstakes and Lottery Fraud
- Illegal Sweepstakes Information
- Chain Letters
- Free-Prize Scheme
- Foreign Lotteries By Mail: "Don't Do It!"
- Government Look-Alike Mail
- Free Vacation Scams
Telemarketing Fraud
Other Types of Mail Fraud
- Home Improvement and Home Repair Fraud
- Phony Inheritance Scam
- Receipt of Unsolicited Merchandise
- Missing Persons Fraud
- Prison Pen Pal Money Order Scam
- Fraudulent Health and Medical Products
Source: USPS (US Postal Service) Inspectors: Mail Fraud Schemes
External Snail-Mail Scam-Specific Links
- Crimes of Persuasion - U.S. Criminal Laws Dealing With Fraud
- Casewatch - Mail Fraud Laws
- About.com - Mail Fraud
- TheScreamBlog » Mail Fraud Scheme
- USPS - Fraud - Prevention DVDs
- AARP Bulletin: Scam Alert: Misfortune-Telling - This is the letter I received.
- Rock Island, IL - Channel 4 News - New Twist To Old Mail Scam
- California Lottery Mega-Millions Mail Scam
- KansasCity.com - Scam of the Week: Mail fraud
Examples
Following are links to some of the numerous versions of this scam I have received, or that were sent to me to "check out". I will try to "reproduce" the actual "look" of the email in my examples.
- Snail-Mail Scam Example 001 - The Maria Duval Scam (starring Nicos Daskalos)
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