Best Protection Against Postcard Scam Is Knowledge, Here’s What You Need To Know

It's hard to know what's true and who you can trust now days.  The best thing you can do is keep abreast of the scams that are current in the area and keep your guard up!  This scam is currently affecting residents in Minnesota and North Dakota.  Here's the latest:

These scams use big company names to fool you into trusting and this particular scam isn't new, you may remember postcards that offered gas savings up to $100 or free airline tickets and gift cards.  What they are really doing is trying to get your valuable personal information.

The Better Business Bureau is asking that you be aware of any of these postcards you get in the mail and report them to the FTC or post office before throwing them away or shredding them.

You should NEVER give out personal or financial information to people you don't know, whether it's via the phone, on the internet or if you should get one of these postcards in the mail.

The Better Business Bureau offers these tips to reduce your risk of fraud:

• Do not provide personal information to claim ‘prizes’ or to sign up for free trials.
• Never give your credit card number, social security number or bank account information to pay for fees, taxes, or shipping costs for anything that you may have ‘won’ or are getting for ‘free’. A true sweepstakes will not make its winner pay fees.
• Check your bank statements and credit cards on a regular basis for unauthorized charges.
•  If a company name is provided, go to bbb.org to check out the business or to find a BBB Accredited Business you can trust.

Pass this valuable information on to all your family and friends, especially the elderly.

Info via: http://www.bbb.org/council/