KC Area Post Offices Offer Tips for National Consumer Protection Week

U.S. Postal Inspection Service Looks to Help Customers Prevent Identity Theft, Avoid Fraudulent Schemes

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City area postmasters and agents from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service are marking National Consumer Protection Week by supplying consumers with tools for surviving today’s economy by providing tips to prevent identity theft and by increasing awareness of fraudulent schemes.

National Consumer Protection Week, set for March 1-7, is a week of activities sponsored primarily by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to draw attention to fraud and other threats to consumers.

The U.S. Postal Service and the Postal Inspection Service play leading roles in increasing public awareness of identity theft and fraudulent mailing schemes. The organizations state that, according to the FTC, as little as 2 percent of all victims reported that the identity crimes they experienced were through the U.S. Mail. The Postal Service’s commitment to protecting customers’ private information was recognized for the fifth consecutive year when it was recently named Most Trusted Government Agency in the independent Ponemon Institute Privacy Study.

A U.S. Postal Inspector will share tips with customers and the media about how to avoid fraudulent schemes at the following Kansas City area Post Offices:

Monday, March 2, from 11 a.m. – noon: North Kansas City, MO Post Office, located at 820 Armour Rd.

Monday, March 2, from 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.: Union Station Main Post Office, located at 30 W. Pershing Rd.

Wednesday, March 3, from 11 a.m. – noon: Wyandotte West, KS Post Office, located at 1310 N. 78 Ter.

Wednesday, March 3, from 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.: Martin City, MO Post Office, located at 10 E. 135th St.

Thursday, March 4, from 11 a.m. – noon: Shawnee Mission, KS Main Post Office, located at 6029 Broadmoor St.

Thursday, March 4, from 1 p.m. – 2 p.m.: Blue Valley, KS Post Office, located at 12433 Antioch

“Spreading awareness about fraud makes a criminal’s job harder. The best way for our customers to protect themselves is to learn how to avoid fraudulent schemes such as reshipping scams, fraud on the Internet and work-at-home schemes,” Inspector Obritsch said.