From sweepstakes and lottery scams to identity theft and other cyber schemes, there are many different forms of fraud. While anyone can be a victim of fraud, the elderly and veterans are at even greater risk of becoming victims. An AARP survey showed that veterans are twice as likely to become victims of fraud as the general public.
The Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the resulting Economic Impact Payment (more commonly called “stimulus checks”) has set in motion another favorite of scammers — taking advantage of natural disasters. Many people who desperately need this money will be tricked into handing it over to these unscrupulous criminals.
Unfortunately, these scammers are very good at what they do. They know how to create emails, design mailpieces, and make telephone calls that seem legitimate, and they know how and when to apply the right amount of pressure to get their target to act.
But, the United States Postal Inspection Service® (USPIS®) is on their trail. In addition to social media channels, such as Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, the USPIS website provides resources that anyone can use to protect themselves from scams, or to file a report if they believe they have already been scammed.
For more information about fraud prevention and consumer protection tips, visit the USPIS website at uspis.gov/tips-prevention. Together, we can beat the scammers.
— Communications, Governance, and Strategy,
U.S. Postal Inspection Service, 6-18-20
