A postcard promising hundreds of dollars in supposedly free gas and grocery vouchers might sound like a welcome break for households trying to keep food and fuel costs under control.
However, The Better Business Bureau has warned that offers such as these can be scams designed to steal even more money from people who are already stretched financially.
What's happening?
According to a KY3 report (via KAIT8), the BBB said some consumers are receiving postcards that claim they qualify for large gas and grocery rewards.
Some of these mailers present the offer as vouchers, rebates, or shopping rewards while also pushing recipients to respond before the supposed deal expires.
In one example, a consumer in O'Fallon, Missouri, said a postcard from a company called "AAPP" stated that $309.64 in gas and grocery vouchers had been reserved for her and would be lost if she didn't act right away.
Thankfully, she ignored the postcard and didn't lose any money.
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Instead of providing the advertised benefit, the BBB said these offers often try to collect payment details by asking for so-called processing, activation, or shipping fees. Consumers may then be hit with unauthorized charges, unknowingly signed up for recurring monthly subscriptions, or sent low-value coupons and promotional materials rather than the promised reward.
The BBB also said that, in some cases, consumers who later seek refunds find the company behind the offer difficult or impossible to reach.
Why does it matter?
These scams are aimed at people who have little room in their budgets for essential purchases. Because gas and groceries are unavoidable costs, an offer that appears to cut those bills can seem believable when consumers are already looking for ways to save.
Even a relatively small fee can turn into a bigger problem if the sender also gets access to banking details, home addresses, or birth dates since scammers can use this personal information for other fraudulent attempts in the future.
What can I do?
The BBB said a legitimate prize or reward shouldn't require an upfront payment. Any demand for a fee before a gift card, voucher, or rebate is delivered should be treated as a major warning sign.
Consumers are also advised to check out any company on their own instead of using the contact information listed on the postcard. The BBB said consumers can search the company name with terms such as "BBB," "reviews," or "scam" and then check BBB.org for reviews and complaint history.
If payment information has already been shared, the BBB said consumers should watch bank and credit card statements for unfamiliar charges and contact their financial institution right away if anything appears suspicious.
The BBB also encouraged anyone who receives one of these offers to report it through the BBB Scam Tracker. Consumers can also file reports with their state consumer protection office and the Federal Trade Commission.
"Scammers know families are looking for ways to save money right now," Michelle L. Corey, BBB St. Louis president and CEO, said, per the report.
If something's too good to be true, it probably is, so be cautious of supposed rewards you receive unexpectedly.
"Remember that if someone contacts you out of the blue to offer you something for free, they might have ulterior motives — especially if they are trying to pressure you to act immediately," Corey added.
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