They were shocked at how some of the solicitations were made to look personal and handwritten with photographs and sob stories. Sharon said said her Dad is kind-hearted. "If he had $5 or $10, he would send it to them to help out."
The sisters suspect their father did send money to the wrong people along the way which lead to all the junk mail. What they don't know is how to stop it.
Linda Sherry of Consumer Action in Washington said just one response to junk mail gets your name on what's known as a "Sucker List."
"Now sucker lists are developed by scam artists, of people who have fallen for other scams. These are actually actively traded and sold among scam artists, " said Sherry.
The Environmental Protection Agency reports Americans throw out more than four million tons of junk mail annually. Many people view it as harmless trash, but a Javelin Strategy and Research survey estimates of the 8.1 million identity theft victims in 2007, nearly half a million cases were the result of stolen mail.
How can you stop pre-approved credit offers? Opt-out of receiving pre-approved credit card offers for at least five years by calling (888) 5-OPTOUT (567-8688) or visiting www.optoutprescreen.com. Youll be asked for personal information, including name, address, birth date and Social Security number, which is used to process requests and remains confidential.
How can you stop direct mail offers? The Direct Marketing Association (DMA) uses telephone, mail and the Internet to promote products. You can stop receiving these mailings by visiting www.dmaconsumers.org/cgi/offmailing. DMA regularly updates its lists, but it may take up to six months before its member companies remove names from their mailing lists.
How can you stop receiving catalogues? If you receive catalogues from companies youve never shopped, it may be a result of companies youve purchased from giving your contact information to Abacus, an alliance of catalogue and publishing companies. You can stop getting catalogues by contacting the company directly, e-mailing optout@abacus-us.com or writing to Abacus, Inc., P.O. Box 1478, Broomfield, Colorado 80038.
How can you end resident and occupant mailings? Remove your address from mailings offering various goods and services by contacting Valassis. Call (888) 241-6760 or write to ADVO, Inc. Customer Assistance, P.O. Box 249, Windsor, CT 06095.
How can you stop receiving coupon packs? Request to stop receiving coupon packs online at www.coxtarget.com or through the sender on the printed envelope.
How can you block solicitations sent to children? A child under 13 receiving advertisements or credit card offers is an indication of identity theft. Youll want to inform the three credit reporting bureaus: Equifax (800-525-6285), Experian (888-397-3742) or TransUnion (800-680-7289).
How do you stop unwanted telemarketing calls? You can also stop unwanted telemarketing calls by registering your home and cell phone numbers on the Do Not Call Registry. Visit www.donotcall.gov or call (888) 382-1222 (TTY 1-866-290-4236).
Should people be careful disposing of junk mail? Junk mail can be targeted by identity thieves. Shred junk mail with personal information listed, like credit card pre-approval offers. If you dont have a shredder, take advantage of your BBBs Secure Your ID Day on October 17 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot of National City Mortgage Co. at SR 741 and Lyons Rd., Miamisburg. You can bring boxes of items to be shredded free and learn identity theft prevention tips.
What is a sucker list and how do they affect your direct mail? A sucker list is a list of persons who have previously been successfully solicited for something. Scammers buy and sell them to each other.