Scam, but what's the angle
 

Today I received what appeared to be a returned piece of mail. It was returned because of lack of postage. It had my name and address on the return address. However, I never sent it.

The mail contained what appears to be a cashier's check made out to an individual in The Bronx, NY.

The amount of postage for this envelope was $1.10, but it was returned for insufficient postage. The postage said that $6.50 was needed to get this package that I received to a person I don't know.

I'm almost positive this is a scam. What I'm wondering is what is the scammer's angle? How are they going to make money?

Any input would be appreciated.

Best

The scam: the cashier's check. A real cashier's check is a check someone paid for in advance. So you think "hey - I need to get my money back, and I have this check, so I'll deposit it back into my account." Except it's not your check, it's most likely not a valid check at all. When the bank tries to process it, it pings the criminal and lets them know they got a hit. And now the fraudsters have your bank info. They sent it to you, with your name and address on the return, so they know you exist already.

I agree with above, now I would go a step further and contact the police, since this was sent through the mail it is now a federal offence and this could actually get the FBI involved. In any case, do not do anything with the check, except turning it over to the police.

It seems like a scam but I don't see how the scammer would benefit in this scenario. Usually these type of scams are part of an online sale where they send you a fake check for more than the price they are supposedly paying for an item. They ask you to send them a refund for the difference. Then later the bank finds it was a fake check and holds you responsible.

Was the $1.10 legal postage paid to the USPS? Did the letter come to you in your mailbox? Usually, scammers do not send anything by U.S. Mail to avoid a Federal mail fraud charge. If not, they may just want to collect the $6.50, or hope you use a credit card to pay it.

It is possible that it is someone doing something illegal (maybe drugs) & using fake return addresses in case something goes awry. Using a real fake address - yours - would prevent it from being flagged, if the P.O. does that. I would hand it over to the post office, telling them you never sent it, & leave it at that. That way if there is some sort of organized criminal activity & they get busted, you have cleared yourself.

Simple but clever. You deposit their check. They get a cancelled check back with all your banking information. Rip it up and report it as mail fraud at the post office

If it was a fraudulent check it wouldn't clear, if fraudulent who would they send it to ?

Some of these guys pointed out the obvious, now for the small stuff missed.

1) you define as a package, yet you know what is in it. so a package is more than an envelope of which you could see the check. so which is it?
a. if a package - the postage could be appropriate, however you committed and offense as it's not your mail. This is typically called 'the bait', as you already did an illegal might as well go all the way. Yes it's silly but it works far more than you can imagine.
b. If an envelope then the $6.50 is far too high and a red flag something is up.

2) not sure if this was covered but in these types of scams there is a network of validation, you doing anything with this 'package' validates you idenity and location to more than just one person. It is possible that they try something else that is more convincing .

3) personally I would either turn it over to FBI as this is national/federal if they won't take it, then just destroy it. and move on. As one thing that is always a good after effect is you to continue thinking about this, it would make the next move even easier to complete.


This is why I love cyber security!

you watch far too much TV LOL

short sighted, scams like this don't operate like that.

jacksonla
 

Another warning.......My husband found a deposit in our bank account from Zelle for $38.00, last week. Then he gets an email saying, oops I sent that money to the wrong person, please return to me. He went to the bank and they said it was a scam to get his info, and they sent it back to the scammer for him.

Electronic deposit.
 

We only deposit checks online now. For the back we have a stamp that says "For Electronic Deposit Only" Doesn't even name the bank it was deposited into, and no account info.

Call Post Office! Postal inspector will investigate!!! And trace it!!!!!

Just throw it away if it’s not yours

Looks like they are playing the long game that they can benefit from in the long run. Like said above.

The appropriate course would be to report it to the Postal Inspector. We had a scam letter that had most of our home purchase information on it. There were a couple mistakes I caught. I saw another person at our mailboxes with the same letter, except her home information. After determining it was a scam I took it to the Okahumpka post office. The person there made a copy to give to the postal inspector. Most fraud via USPS is handled by the postal inspector. You could also report it online United States Postal Inspection Service

put it through the shredder.

Throw it back in the mailbox with a note saying wrong address return to sender

LOL. According to the letter, the OP was the sender, so it would come right back to the OP.

do
 

give to the post office I think they have their own police

As above, give it to the postmaster

That would be a more appropriate action than giving to the cops. I’d call the inspectors first.

Other than yours, I haven't read all the posts. I treat something like this the same as an unknown caller on my phone...if it's not in my contacts and it's important, it goes to v mail or a txt is sent as a follow up (otherwise its in spam/blocked). If you know its not something you participated in, put it right in the shredder.

Call the postal inspectors not the FBI or local cops.

[QUOTE=MidWestIA;2322029]give to the post office I think they have their own police[/QUOTE

They are feds just like FBI and are called Postal Inspectors. The Tampa office covers here.

If this was in the Villages the postal stations of the Villages are manned by contracted workers. You should call the appropriate USPS inspector. Think someone else wrote our area is covered by the Tampa office.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigates mail fraud, not the FBI. If you are not sure, ask the local police. They can probably tell you to whom to report it.

The Secret Service investigates financial crimes.

I guess the most likely crime that you might encounter that would be handled by the FBI is kidnapping.

Just the first step in a series to either gather info from you, earn your trust and/or try to get money from you. It could go in multiple directions. Either turn it into USPS or destroy it and forget about it.

Take to your Post Office immediately.
 

They will want to get Postal Inspectors involved immediately. Speak directly with Postmaster/Supervisor.

Agree. Lol. How about you just throw it away like all junk mail and be done with it. The FBI isnt wasting their time on one letter.

Report this
 

Go talk to Seniors Vs Crime. They have a few offices around the Villages. They will take the info and contact the appropriate authorities.

352-689-4600 ext 4606

My earlier post was to shred it and move on.
There’s a false narrative that Postal Inspectors or USPS Police have great numbers of officers like other Federal or quasi government agencies....they don’t. Get ready to hurry up and wait. On the scale of scams....this doesn’t even rise to a priority level. Just be proud of yourself that you paused and didn’t take the bait. Enjoy the confetti from the shredder!

close....but no.
 

Contact the post office that services your mail (not the postal station, the one your zip code is at). They will contact the USPS Postal Inspectors who handle these as Federal felony cases. United States Postal Inspection Service – Protecting you and everyone the post reaches.