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How to steer clear of mail scams

Ever gotten a letter out of the blue asking for money, unpaid bills, or something of value that just seemed a little too suspect? Congratulations, you may have received some good ol’ mail fraud. These types of schemes usually attempt to get money or something of value from you in two ways: by offering a product, service, or investment opportunity that’s advertised in a false manner, or by scaring you into forking over money to pay a bill, fee, or payment for an unspecified service that somehow slipped past you. But now you can send these scammers back to the junk mail pile with these helpful tips:

Question unexpected checks

If you ever unexpectedly receive a check in the mail, especially from an unknown sender or without a valid reason, proceed with extreme caution. Scammers will often send counterfeit checks and ask you to cash them, claiming it's for fees, taxes, or prize winnings. Be skeptical of unsolicited financial offers and threats.

Verify the source

Do your due diligence to confirm the legitimacy of the check and the sender. If you look up the sender on the internet, does their listed contact info match what’s on the piece of mail? Use a verified phone number or website to contact the supposed sender directly and inquire about the check's authenticity. Be wary of any discrepancies between contact info, any instructions not to contact a specific number or office, and any excuses or pressure to quickly deposit or cash any checks without proper verification.

Never send money back

Scammers will often tell you to deposit the check then send a portion of the money back to them or a third party. Major red flag alert! Legitimate transactions don’t involve back-and-forth requests like this, especially from a bank, a hospital, a debt collection agency, or any other legitimate business. Never send money or make payments based on instructions from a questionable or unfamiliar source.

Consult your bank

If you're ever unsure about the legitimacy of a check, consult your bank or financial institution. They can help you determine if the check is genuine and guide you on the appropriate steps to take if it isn’t. Banks, GO2bank included, have advanced fraud detection systems in place to protect customers from check scams like these.

Report and educate

If you receive a fraudulent check or suspect a scam, immediately report it to your local authorities and inform your bank. Share your experience with friends, family, and on social media to raise awareness about the scam and to help others avoid it. And if you’ve ever fallen victim to a scam like this, share those details with friends and family, too! The ways you got tricked are just as helpful, if not more helpful, as the suspicious signs you recognized as red flags.

There’s no shame in falling victim to a scam that’s designed to take advantage of you. You work hard to earn your money and pay your bills, so when a check with your name on it appears out of the blue, it can be an enticing and exciting prospect. Take a second, look at the signs, and protect yourself from the bad actors out their trying to steal money they didn’t work for like you did.