Don’t fall for it

Texas City police are warning residents to beware of a mail scam circulating in the area.

A bank alerted police departments about the scam, which was reported by a Galveston resident.

“There are a bunch of scams out there, but this is the latest one confirmed in the area,” Texas City Police Department Cpl. David Viel told Chronicle freelance reporter Kellye Neuweiler.

The scam involves a letter mailed to potential victims, supposedly from a law firm filing a class-action lawsuit on behalf of victims of a sweepstakes scam.

“Basically it said, `We realize that you may need money because you were hoodwinked so badly. Because our firm is suing this business, we’re giving you this check to help you out,'” Viel said.

The letter lists a phone number that it says recipients must call before cashing the check.

The person who answers the phone says that he needs to verify the caller’s social security and driver’s license numbers.

“Then they read incorrect social security and driver license numbers and wait for the caller to correct them,” Viel said.

Victims who deposit their checks later will discover that the checks are bogus. By then, they have already shared personal data that the suspects can abuse.

Viel advises people who receive the letter to “Throw it in the trash.”

Richard Zagrzecki