Mail fraud schemes make their way through Maine

The national do-not-call list seems to have put the fear of God into at least a few telemarketers (but apparently not enough to keep them from going to court in an attempt to block the registry). Because they are as durable as cockroaches, many hucksters have shifted from telephone handsets and obnoxious calls to packing our mailboxes with bogus offers. COMBAT has received reports that a couple of popular scams by mail are once again making rounds in Maine.

The first comes as a postcard or letter promising a complimentary vacation in an exotic spot. The odds are good that the mailed piece is a “free vacation” scam, so don’t fall for it. In the most common form of this scheme, you will be asked to call the company to claim your vacation. But to be eligible, you will be required to pay a service charge or purchase a membership in a “travel club” that could cost you as much as $300.

If you fall for one of these phony clubs, here’s what will happen to you. You will receive a travel packet describing your vacation. But the deal will be full of restrictions on when you can take your trip and require you to pay a handling charge to book your reservation. Chances are the dates you want will be unavailable and if you complain, they’ll offer an upgraded plan for an even higher fee.

The few people who actually receive a vacation are usually booked into substandard accommodations, but most who join an unsolicited travel club often never receive anything except headaches and lost time. Recent vacation scams are operating out of Florida, Houston, and the Los Angeles-Orange County area.

Another scam working its way through Maine like a lost tourist is the “you may already be a winner!” scheme. Usually, this one comes in the form of mail that says you have won one of several “valuable” items, like a new car, vacation, television or a $1,000 Savings Bond.

If you follow instructions and contact the company by phone, then your “free” prize could end up costing you hundreds of dollars. A man in Saco paid $515 for “shipping charges” to receive a “free” automobile. He got nothing but a hole in his bank account. A Boothbay Harbor consumer paid $89 “shipping and handling charge” to get her “free” home entertainment center.

Most often, people who bite at this sucker bait get nothing, and if they do get a prize it is typically an inferior, overpriced, grossly misrepresented piece of junk. For example, an “all terrain vehicle” turned out to be a lawn chair with wheels, a “sport fishing boat” was an inflatable raft, and a “genuine fur coat” was a dyed rabbit pelt worth about $30. Beware if the notice lists prizes like “designer” or “diamond” watches. They are likely to be cheap or worthless.

Every day, U.S. consumers lose thousands of dollars to these unscrupulous free prize promoters. Even worse, people who give these companies their credit card numbers wind up with their identities stolen and unauthorized charges on their accounts. If you receive mail or a phone call offering a free vacation or promising you a free prize, or if you have actually fallen victim to one of these schemes, contact your local postmaster, the nearest postal inspector, or Northeast COMBAT.

Consumer Forum is a collaboration of the Bangor Daily News and Northeast COMBAT-Maine Center for the Public Interest, Maine’s membership-funded nonprofit consumer organization. Individual membership is $25; business rates start at $125 (1-10 employees). For help and information write: Consumer Forum, Bangor Daily News, PO Box 1329, Bangor 04402-1329.