ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, October 22, 1996 TAG: 9610220057
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
Congratulations! You may already be the winner - of a bogus vacation, useless product or illegal chain letter.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service tallied the 416,216 complaints it has received this year and reports that five scams seem to be the most popular ways to fleece Americans.
The ``Five Biggest Lies told to Consumers,'' inspectors say, are:
* ``You are a guaranteed winner'' of a valuable prize.
This ploy asks the so-called winner to pay for chemically inert ``vitamins,'' cheap home security systems and water purifiers, or give to a fake charity, before getting what turns out to be a booby prize.
* ``This chain letter is legal.''
Sooner or later everyone gets one of these, the inspectors say, but after you pay for copying and mailing out letters, it's one of life's biggest losers. Also, any mailed chain letter that asks for money is illegal.
* ``Stuff envelopes at home and earn big money.''
These scams ask victims to send money for a ``plan.'' Here it is: Send out letters asking people to send money for a plan.
* ``Your humble assistance is highly solicited in transferring millions of dollars, available from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, to share with your good self. All we need is your bank account number.''
* ``You've been selected to receive a fabulous vacation.''
All you have to do is pay a one-time membership fee or handling charge, the offer claims. But inspectors say the vacation can turn into a nightmare of scheduling problems, shabby hotels and nonexistent cruises that leave vacationers standing on the dock.
- Associated Press
LENGTH: Short : 40 linesby CNB