Consumer Protection Week USPS Fraud on the Internet

Fraud on the Internet Old games, new tricks.

Greenfield, WI. Con artists are always offering deals that sound “too good to be true.” Originally, they came by mail or in a phone call. Now they’re coming through a more anonymous venue to pitch fraud — the Internet.

Greenfield Manager Julie Joers says although the Internet offers a safe and convenient venue to do business, fraudsters also like the Internet to target unsuspecting consumers. Online scammers can ignore national borders or bound-aries. They have only one objective: to steal your money. Whether it’s auction fraud or identity theft, reshipping scams, or foreign lotteries, be cautious, and be smart. U.S. Postal Inspectors offer these tips:

• Be suspicious of e-mail that appears to be from banks, online auction sites, or other retailers.

• Never use a link in an e-mail to visit a website.

• Only purchase goods and services from sites you trust.

• Examine all online offers before buying anything. When you’re online, be on guard.

• Don’t respond to suspicious e-mail.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service has these consumer brochures to help you learn more about fraud concerns:

Publication 280, Identity Theft, text-only version: www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/pubs/pub280/welcome.htm

Publication 281, Consumer Fraud By Phone or Mail: Know How to Protect Yourself, text-only version: www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/pubs/pub281.htm

Publication 300-A, U.S. Postal Inspection Service Guide to Preventing Mail Fraud, text-only version: www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/pubs/pub300a/welcome.htm

Publicacion 300-A-S, Guía de Servicio de Inspección Postal de Estados Unidos para Prevenir el Fraude Postal, text-only version: www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/ pubs/pub300as.htm

Stop • Think • Click: An Overview of Computer Security: The Internet gives you access to information, enter-tainment, financial offers — frankly, countless products and services. At the same time, it can leave you open to online scammers, identity thieves, and more. Learn experts’ top tips for computer security at http:// www.onguardonline.gov/.