Postal Service Celebrates National Consumer Protection Week

Postal Service Warn Consumers About “Fake Checks,” Identity Theft

WICHITA, KS — The Postal Service is celebrating National Consumer Protection Week by warning consumers against fake check scams and providing tips to prevent identity theft.

National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), March 2-8, is a week of activities sponsored primarily by the Federal Trade Commission to draw attention to fake check scams and other threats to consumers. The Postal Service and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service are playing an important role by drawing attention to the continuing consumer problem of fraudulent checks and money orders and building on a national outreach effort to protect against identity theft.

Mark Talbott, Postmaster of Wichita and Postal Inspector Tom Pappas will be joined by the Wichita Police Department at a press conference at the Downtown Public Library, 223 S. Main St. at 2:00 pm, Wednesday March 5. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is leading the Postal Service effort this week to provide consumers with valuable information about protecting their assets from fraudulent schemes and tips to keep their personal information safe.

A global fraud crackdown began in January 2007. Since then, postal inspectors and their global law enforcement partners have seized more than 600,000 fake checks with a value of about $2.5 billion. In October 2007, the Postal Inspection Service partnered with a coalition of 20 businesses, financial entities and consumer advocacy groups to launch the www.FakeChecks.org website to educate consumers about those and other scams.

Postal officials say consumers are still being targeted for fake check scams but can take steps to protect their assets. The message is clear: The best way for consumers to protect themselves is to learn how to avoid such scams as foreign business offers, sudden riches, work-at-home schemes; love losses; overpayments and rental schemes.

Tips to avoid becoming a fraud victim:

• Use common sense.
• Take your time when responding to offers.
• Educate yourself about fraud.
• Know whom you are dealing with.
• Protect your personal information.
• Be skeptical of any offer that sounds too good to be true.

The FakeChecks.org website serves as the primary vehicle to learn about check fraud schemes so that visitors of the site don’t become victims. A fraud complaint can be filed on the site as well. Remember, fake check scams are a fast-growing fraud that could ruin your financial investment and cost you thousands of dollars.