Attorney General's News Release

Oct. 1, 1998

Nixon launches consumer campaign with FTC, Postal Service and AARP to warn of fraudulent mail offers

Jefferson City, Mo. — Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon today joined other law enforcement authorities and consumer advocates from around the country in announcing a campaign of legal action and education to help consumers and businesses recognize fraudulent offers that come in the mail.

Project Mailbox II is a cooperative effort of state attorneys general, the Federal Trade Commission, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the American Association of Retired Persons. The offers targeted by the project's theme "There's a bandit in your mailbox" usually promise or guarantee money, credit or valuable prizes.

"This campaign is a show and tell effort," Nixon said. "We hope to show consumers how not to get scammed by telling them how to see through the fraudulent offers that come in the mail."

Recent legal action by the Missouri Attorney General's Office against mailbox fraud includes consumer restitution from a New Jersey business selling a college ID called the Campus Card and restitution and penalties from a business selling a phony Viagra-knockoff treatment from a Kansas City address.

In addition, Nixon recently warned Missourians to beware of a mailing from a Las Vegas business that promised consumers a line of credit in exchange for a fee of $150.

"When you open your mail and see these offers, you really have to put aside your financial needs and your fantasy of winning the jackpot," Nixon said. "If you don't, and you respond to one of these schemes, you're likely to get taken."

He said there are several ways to recognize mailbox ripoffs:

• Promises of easy money, instant credit regardless of your credit history, and guarantees that you've won a fabulous or valuable prize.
• Magazine subscription offers that ask you to call for information about a prize or sweepstakes.
• Prize offers that require a purchase or "shipping and handling" payment. Those costs will be higher than the value of the prize you may win.
• Tickets for international lotteries; it's illegal to buy or sell tickets for international lotteries by phone or by mail.
• Plans that offer commissions for recruiting other participants, not for making sales. These are pyramid schemes, which not only are illegal, but also will inevitably collapse.
• Promises to repair your credit history for an advance fee. Federal law prohibits these companies from collecting a fee until after they've done what they promise. Also, Nixon said, there's actually nothing these businesses can do for you for a fee that you can't do yourself for free.
• Chain letters or variations on chain letters that require you to send money. They are illegal.
• Solicitations that look like government documents.

To report a scam solicitation, Missourians can contact the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Hotline at 800-392-8222; the FTC at 202-FTC-HELP (382-4357); or the Mail Fraud Complaint Center at 800-372-8347. For more information about Project Mailbox, visit the FTC

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818