Postal Scams: What You Need to Be Aware of and How to Avoid Them

But knowing what to look out for the most common scams and how to avoid them can help keep your information safeDavid Beasley Director at Washington Direct Mail mailing service providers says amp8220Our homes are our safe spaces and finding out that weamp8217re being targeted at home can be worrying for many You donamp8217t want to be awaiting a delivery and end up sharing sensitive information with the wrong personamp8220With scammers now getting to customers through the letterbox even more we must be vigilant on what to look out for when it comes to scamming the telltale signs something isnamp8217t right and what to do in these instancesamp8221The Most Common ScamsPostal scams can come in a couple of forms They can either be direct mail to your address which can even use your name or they can be emails and text updates from an awaited delivery used to trick you into sharing private information such as bank detailsSome common scams include but arenamp8217t limited toLottery prizes and drawsBills from companies you donamp8217t use recogniseUnclaimed inheritanceAdvance fee fraudScams through letters are almost exclusively trying to obtain money through fraudulent activity or deception If you receive a letter youamp8217re not expecting or donamp8217t recognise you might want to be waryIt is important to know that Royal Mail is bound by a Universal Service Obligation meaning that it is required by law to deliver all mail entrusted to it So if your usual postie did put it through your letterbox this isnamp8217t a definite sign that it has come from a reliable source It is important that you use your own due diligence when it comes to doublechecking the information youamp8217re sharingWhat to Look Out ForThere are a couple of signs that the post youamp8217ve received isnamp8217t legitimate If you donamp8217t recognise the company or havenamp8217t got an account with it it is likely to be a scam You might also notice spelling errors design faults and other suspicious aspects of your post If you think something isnamp8217t right donamp8217t respond directly to the letter or offer any account information bank details or other sensitive informationAny offers or promotions that seem too good to be true likely are If youamp8217re unsure about the legitimacy of a promotion that a company is offering make sure to check directly with the company through its trusted website or call centres before transferring any moneyPersonal requests are a good sign that something isnamp8217t right If youamp8217re receiving a request for information or payment without knowing why it is likely a scam It is always best to check your personal account logins for digital correspondence in the event of a utility bill payment request for example before paying anything towards the details on your letterWhat to Do if You Think Youamp8217re Being ScammedIf you think youamp8217re being scammed it is important you donamp8217t respond to the contact information used in the letter Instead if youamp8217re suspicious about a letter from a company you do use contact them through their trusted contact points These can be their call centre website or chatbotsBeasley said amp8220Postal scams arenamp8217t uncommon but they can make it difficult for you to trust the marketing promotions and company communications that are legitimate Youamp8217ll want to ensure that youamp8217re checking for warning signs such as poor grammar and spelling as a key indicator that something isnamp8217t rightamp8221No one wants to experience a postal scam but they are designed to trick you into handing over money and personal information They can be easy to fall for but by taking some additional time to consider what your post is asking of you and checking with reliable sources you will be better protected against fraud and deceptionPosted at MediaVillage through the Thought Leadership selfpublishing platformClick the social buttons to share this story with colleagues and friendsThe opinions expressed here are the author39s views and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillageorgMyersBizNet

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Postal Scams: What You Need to Be Aware of and How to Avoid Them

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Rachel Gray

Jon Miller | Cofounder Marketo, Engagio | The Gumball Machine is Broken - Rethinking B2B Marketing - By Mike Linton

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