Whether the fraudulent solicitation takes the form of a chain letter, a business opportunity, a check or another "guaranteed" path to easy money, it is best to beware and prepare. Here are a few suggestions on how to protect yourself:

·         Toss any solicitation that asks for payment for a "free" gift. If it is free or a gift, you should not have to pay for it.

·         Throw out any solicitation that doesn't clearly identify the company, its street address and phone number. Pay particular attention if you are directed to call a toll-free number for more information about a product or service. Often when you dial a toll-free number in response to an fake solicitation, you are secretly connected by a telemarketer or sales agent at a pay-per call 900 number. In that case you are paying to listen to a sales pitch for a product, service, prize, contest or sweepstakes.

·         Get rid of any solicitation that looks like a government document and suggests contest winnings or unclaimed assets are yours for a small fee. The government does not solicit money from citizens.

·         Toss any solicitation for a "prepaid" or "special" deal with a nominal monthly "processing fee."

·         Dispose of any solicitation that asks for your bank account number, credit card account number, or social security number.

·         If you are tempted to send any money for a product or service that is being touted through the mail, and it's a company that you have never heard, take your time. Check out the company or the offer with the Attorney General's Office or Better Business Bureau in your state and the state where the company or organization is located. This is not always a complete safeguard. There may be no record of complaints if a company is too new or if it has changed its name.

·         Watch out for unsolicited checks that, when cashed, sign you up for products or services you may not want or need.

If you think you have received a fraudulent solicitation or have become a victim of a scam, contact the FTC, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, your local postmaster or call the Mail Fraud Complaint Center toll-free at (800) 372-8347.

The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) is the largest trade association of businesses that conduct direct marketing through such avenues as telemarketing and Internet marketing. The DMA also operates a service that enables you to register and request to have your name taken off of mail solicitations.

You can contact them at:

Mail Preference Service
Direct Marketing Association
P.O. Box 9008
Farmingdale, NY 11735-9008

You may file a consumer complaint form in one of two ways:

1) Call the Consumer Protection Division and request that a complaint form be sent to you, fill out the form, and return it to our office.

2) Access a complaint form online from our Web site with two options.  Either print the form, fill it out and mail it to our office, or complete and submit the form electronically.

You may also file a complaint with:

United States Postal Inspector's Office -

Federal Trade Commission - Although the FTC cannot resolve individual disputes, the information you provide may help indicate a pattern of possible law violations requiring action by the FTC or other law enforcement agencies.