Good (morning/afternoon/evening).
I am pleased to be with you today to deliver an important consumer protection message.
For the U.S. Postal Service, customer service and consumer protection are year-round priorities.
We are very proud of the fact that Americans have placed their trust in the mail for well over 2 centuries.
In fact, for the last 3 years, Americans have voted the U.S. Postal Service the No. 1 government agency for consumer trust and the protection of privacy.
As always, during National Consumer Protection Week, we have a lot of information to share about fraud.
How to recognize it. How to avoid it. And who to contact to help you investigate offers you may receive or to report offers that you believe are phony.
As you take the time this year to spruce up on your knowledge about fraud, know that you are securing a foundation for your family and friends to stand on as well. As you learn about your rights and research issues concerning fraud, you’re making it that much tougher for criminals.
Two out of three adults say they receive at least one potential scam contact per week.
Eighteen percent of adults say they or family members have fallen for one of these scams. And a majority of people surveyed by the Alliance for Consumer Fraud Awareness believe that the fraudulent check writer is responsible for the funds.
The truth is that even the most educated consumer can be a tempting target when financial pressures mount.
And, of course, we are all susceptible to human weakness and the desire to hit it rich or make easy money fast.
That’s when a little support from a friend or family member can go a long way.
So all of us need to be educated about fraud and to share that information with others. Here’s some information on fake checks for you to take home today and read.
Visit FakeChecks.org and learn why if the offer looks too good to be true, it probably is.
Do your part and make the most important investment you’ll ever be glad that you made.
Educate yourself, use your judgment, and whatever you do, don’t be an easy target.
Though fake check scams are a crime, the real crime is for you not to know what to look out for. The sooner you invest in your education about these schemes, the better!
The power to beat this fast-growing fraud rests in your hands.
