Do I have adequate time to think this over, or am I being pressured for a decision right now?
Will they send me additional information through the mail, putting their statements and promises in writing, or do they refuse to do so?
Are they insisting on my credit card or checking account number right now?
Why do they want to send a private courier tonight for my check?
Is the free gift or prize they’re promising really free, or do I have to pay a registration fee or shipping and handling charge before receiving anything?
If the answer to any of these questions is yes…BEWARE!
Take time to consider the offer, get additional information and advice, and resist the “take it or leave it” high-pressure tactics so often used in boiler room pitches.
For more information about the firm and the offer you are considering, contact any of the following groups, preferably in the city or state where the firm is located:
If you think you have been targeted by a boiler room fraud, save all documentation of the transaction, including postcards, canceled checks, phone bills, credit card statements, and even mailing envelopes. Make detailed notes of your telephone conversations by date and time and write down any important statements made by each person who spoke with you.
If any part of the transaction took place through the U.S. Mail, such as the receipt of promotional literature or a mailed payment, we urge you to contact your nearest Postal Inspector. The Inspection Service ensures the safety, security, and integrity of the U.S. Mail — key elements of the Postal Service’s Transformation Plan. If necessary, your local postmaster can provide the Inspector’s address, or you may write directly to:
Attn Mail Fraud
Criminal Investigations Service Center
433 W Harrison Street RM 3255
Chicago IL 60699-3255
Or, you can report fraud online at: www.uspis.gov.
Publication 281
July 2019
PSN 7610-02-000-9388
