Have you ever received a letter from an unfamiliar organization or business trying to charge you a fee or send you an enticing check? Chances are you received a deceptive solicitation letter, which are unfortunately common. While is tactic is oftentimes legal, it is still indicative of a scam or exploitative tactic.

​

How does it work?

Companies, and sometimes individuals, will send a letter that appears to be from a government, legal, or insurance/financial institution. Despite alleging to be a legitimate entity, the sender is unrecognizable and these letter are often nondescript and sparse with information. Deceptive solicitations attempt to charge you a fee and they are likely to use threatening language or confusing legal terminology. Whether they threaten legal action or cancellation of a service for refusal to pay, the goal is to create a sense of urgency and intimidate you into paying quickly without any research. 

​

How do these people choose their targets?

Exploitative companies and scammers generally use publicly available information and records on mortgages, loans, businesses, and warranties. The letters will reference a loan or service you use, and will sometimes even include the names of the businesses or financial institutions. Unfortunately, this can sometimes be enough to trick people into believing their claims.

​

What to look for:

One of the biggest tale-tell signs of a deceptive solicitation letter is in the fine print which is usually in a small font size and discreetly placed at the bottom of the page. Be sure to keep an eye out for some of the most common verbiage:

• Does not apply to all consumers

• Not affiliated with [Business or Institution]

• This is not a check

• This is a solicitation

 

The best way to protect yourself from deceptive solicitation letters is to thoroughly read all of the verbiage on a suspicious letter. This can easily alert you to any fine print, misspellings, and incorrect information. If you've read the letter and are still unsure of the legitimacy, contact the company, service, or financial institution. Avoid using any phone numbers or email addresses in the letter, as they will likely connect you directly to the scammer. Instead, use your usual contact information, or independently look up their information online.