Postal officials warn about fraud

Iowans are often warned to be on guard for unscrupulous telemarketers who try to take their money, but they also need to watch out for scams in their mailboxes. Post offices across Iowa are marking National Consumer Protection Week with efforts to educate consumers about rip-offs through the mail.Jan Dorsey is consumer affairs manager for the Hawkeye District of the U-S Postal Service. She says many telemarketers and direct mail companies are legitimate, but others are coiled snakes. Dorsey says it takes diligence to stay aware and keep from getting bitten.Dorsey says direct mail companies will often have people fill out forms that are full of innocent-sounding questions, but may have one or two questions which you should not answer, such as your social security number or credit card information.Postal officials say “identity theft” is among the fastest-growing white collar crimes in the U-S.