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Must read Terms of Service & Privacy Policy and be at least 18

Must read Terms of Service & Privacy Policy and be at least 18

Do not contact the authorities or WriteAPrisoner.com if you intend to use this as a form of revenge against someone, or you may find yourself facing charges for making a false report. If you are unwilling or unable to provide the requested information for authorities or WriteAPrisoner.com to verify inmate mail fraud, we cannot help you. Sending money to an inmate, or having an inmate ask for money alone does not constitute mail fraud. This is a specific crime, and it applies only when these specific criteria are met:

18 U.S.C. 1341 makes it a Federal crime or offense for anyone to use the United States mails in carrying out a scheme to defraud. A person can be found guilty of mail fraud only if all of the following facts are proved: First: That the person knowingly and willfully devised a scheme to defraud, or for obtaining money or property by means of false pretenses, representations or promises; and Second: That the person used the United States Postal Service by mailing, or by causing to be mailed, some matter or thing for the purpose of executing the scheme to defraud.

WriteAPrisoner.com maintains strict policies regarding inmates attempting to defraud the public. Such occurrences, while rare, jeopardize the services we provide to well-intentioned inmates seeking only friendship, legal aid, and assistance to reintegrate or better themselves. WriteAPrisoner.com therefore takes immediate steps to enforce our policy of banning these inmates from participating in our services. If you are claiming such a violation, complete this form

Inmates can find themselves the victims of mail fraud. Some of our inmates, for example, have been victimized by businesses claiming to be us and asking for renewal fees. While WriteAPrisoner.com always takes action when we are able, it is important that the inmate also reports the incident. The best way for an inmate to report a postal crime is to contact the U.S. Post Office. Locate the post office nearest to the letter’s source of origin. Send the content that you believe to be illegal to the post office, and add “Attention: Postmaster” to the top of it. Be brief and concise when writing to the postmaster. Be sure the activity is illegal before reporting it. Note: This form should not be used by inmates. We have no control over the public. Therefore, inmates need to report fraud to the Postmaster at the post office from which the letter was sent. The Postmaster will then determine appropriate action.

Monetary Donations - When writing to inmates, you should be on guard if you ever receive what appears to be a form letter requesting money. The institutions provide all basic needs of living to inmates. In many cases, even educational programs are free to inmates. Donating money is a decision that can only be made by you. A large amount of money for an inmate would typically be anything over $50. There have been occasional reports of inmates claiming that they need money before they are allowed to be released and also for expensive educational programs. Do not send money in these cases

Legal Scams - Attorneys (or people misrepresenting themselves as attorneys) promising sentence reductions in exchange for large sums of cash have been sprouting up, and many family members of inmates have been duped in these scams. The range of money is typically in the thousands. If you receive such a notice or suspect fraud, be sure to report it to the appropriate authorities (e.g., state's attorney, postmaster).

Photo Scam - This is a common scam attempted by people in the free world, which usually targets male inmates. Females write to an inmate and initiate conversation. In the letters to follow, they will express their desire to send photos, but state that they don't have the funds to pay for them. They will offer to send photos to the inmates if the inmates are willing to pay for them. Most inmates who send a money order in this case never receive photos or further correspondence from these people. They have completed their scam and have moved on to their next victim.

"Nigerian Oil Scams" - This has been the term coined by the media for emails, letters, and faxes sent to unsuspecting citizens, in most cases from supposed members of royal families. They will usually involve a very drawn-out explanation regarding why they have solicited your aid. As the scam progresses, the scammers request blank, signed business letterhead and invoices; bank account numbers; bank addresses, phone and fax numbers; and money to cover transaction expenses. Please note that these scams are not exclusive to Nigeria. They come from all over the world.

Some indicators that are warnings of a probable scam include:

Any offer of a substantial percentage of a large sum of money to be transferred into your account, in return for your 'discretion' or 'confidentiality';

Any deal that seems too good to be true;

Requests for signed and stamped, blank letterhead or invoices, or for bank account information;

Requests for urgent air shipment, accompanied by an instrument of payment whose authenticity cannot immediately be established;

Solicitation letters claiming the soliciting party has personal ties to high Nigerian (or other) officials;

Requests for payment in U.S. dollars, in advance, of transfer taxes or incorporation fees;

Statements that your name was provided to the soliciting party either by someone you do not know or by 'a reliable contact';

Promises of advance payment for services to be provided to the Nigerian (or other) government;

Claims that a Nigerian visa is not necessary or that arrival in Nigeria should be overland from a neighboring country;

Resistance by these Nigerian 'partners' when you ask to check in with the U.S. Embassy;

Any offer to supply crude oil; and

Any offer of a charitable donation.

The indicators listed above are some of the most common and reliable hallmarks of scam operations. Scams may include one, some, or all of the above. The list is not all-inclusive, and scam operators are constantly weaving new elements into their schemes. It is recommended that you never disclose personal information (account numbers, etc.) via postal mail, which could put you in jeopardy.

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