Mail fraud is any kind of fraud that involves the use of the United States postal service. It doesn’t matter if the fraud originates on the phone, online or in the mail; if it involves the USPS, then you could face penalties for mail fraud.
Mail fraud tends to be aimed at consumers. Usually, older consumers are more likely to fall victim to these scams, but anyone can under the right circumstances.
Is it possible to be involved in a mail fraud scam without knowing it?
It is possible to be a part of a scam without realizing it in some cases. For example, if someone approaches you with an opportunity or promotion and you pass it on to another person by mail, then you could be accused of participating in the fraud.
It’s also possible to be accused of mail fraud when there is a misunderstanding about a payment for a service or item. If you require payment for any of your products or services first, you need to make sure to follow through on your end of the agreement. If you simply take payment and then don’t complete the transaction, it is possible that you could face accusations of defrauding another person.
What do you need to do if you’re accused of mail fraud?
If you are accused of mail fraud, it’s important that you defend yourself. Your initial goal should be to find out about the problem and to get as much information as you can on what the other person is claiming happened. Then, you may be able to defend against their allegations by proving you didn’t know about the scam or that you never intended to defraud them.