Beware of mail fraud

The Maricopa Police Department warned residents Monday of four mail frauds circulating in the area.

Foreign Business Offers

•    Someone asks you to transfer a fortune from another country to your bank account for safekeeping. But if they really had a fortune they wouldn’t need to ask a stranger for help.

•    People say they got the money illegally and that’s why they can’t go through normal channels. If they admit to being crooks, why would you trust them?

•    Someone pretends to be businessmen or government officials and ask you to invest in a partnership. Real companies and government agencies don’t contact strangers to offer business propositions.

•    Someone sends you a counterfeit check or money order as an “advance” on the millions you’ll receive and ask you to send cash back for legal services, bonding, or other expenses.

Sudden Riches

•    The notice comes by regular mail, phone, fax, or email. If you had won a cash prize or inherited money, you would be notified by certified mail.

•    You are sent a check or money order as an “advance” and ask you to send money to get the rest. But that’s not how legitimate contest promoters or law firms operate. If you suddenly come into money, you will pay taxes directly to the government, not to them.

•    To gain your trust, a person uses the name of a well-known sweepstakes company. Get the company’s number from directory assistance and call directly to verify.

•    You are told you have won a foreign lottery or sweepstakes, but that’s impossible unless you traveled to that country to enter. It is illegal to buy or sell tickets across the U.S. border.

•    You are told you’ve been selected for a cash grant. But real grant givers don’t contact individuals unexpectedly offering them free money.

Overpayment

•    You are sent or given a check or money order for more than the purchase price and asked to send the extra to someone who will take care of shipping. But there’s no reason why they can’t send that person the money directly.

•    You are told a check or money order payment will come from someone who owes them money and tell you to deduct your share and send them the rest. Maybe they’re in a foreign country and because of currency differences it’s difficult to pay you directly. But it’s easy to transfer money electronically from anywhere – there’s no reason to have someone else send you payment.

•    Someone claims they sent the wrong amount “by mistake” and ask you to return the excess.

•    Legitimate buyers will be happy to send the exact amount you’re owed.