Are you tired of taking bags of catalogs and junk mail to be recycled? You can reduce this influx of unwanted mail.

Better Business Bureau of Southern Arizona suggests that you start with contacting the Direct Marketing Association (DMA); they provide consumers with a national do not mail service at www.dmachoice.org. They can only eliminate the junk mail from members of the Direct Marketing Association. It is still worth the effort.

If you are like me, you receive too many catalogs. I think my name has been sold to every women’s clothing catalog in the country. In the online article Reduce Your Junk Mail by Opting Out at www.fraudguides.com/tips/jan10.asp tips are offered to reduce the number of catalogs sent to you:

• Call each retailer and request removal
• Mail the label to the retailer and request removal

Use one of the following services.

1. www.catalogchoice.org
   This web-based service is free and claims to help consumers remove themselves from catalog (more…)

Consumers can protect themselves against identity theft and also protect the environment by taking steps to reduce unwanted mail, Better Business Bureau advises.

“Some forms of unsolicited mail can put consumers at risk of identity theft,” said Kim States, BBB President. “Consumers can take control of their mailboxes by opting out of credit card offers, coupon packs and other types of unwanted mail.”

Reducing the volume of mail you receive can make a big difference in the amount of solid waste a household generates. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says that Americans throw away more than 4 million tons of mail a year. That garbage can be a gold mine for identity thieves.

Pre-approved credit card offers can be an easy target for identity thieves. They can steal incoming mail and use the offers to open fraudulent credit card accounts. Consumers can opt out of credit card offers for at least five years by calling 1-888-567-8688 or by visiting www.optoutprescreen.com. Your Social Security Number and birth date are required, but they are encrypted for your protection.  The service is offered by the three major credit reporting bureaus.

Unsolicited mail that is addressed to children under 13 years old can be a sign that identity theft has occurred. If a child is getting unwanted mail, parents should contact the three credit bureaus and inform them of the situation. The credit bureaus and their numbers are:

• Equifax: 1-800-525-6285.
• Experian: 1-888-397-3742.
• TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289.

Catalogs can easily overrun a consumer’s mailbox. Some catalog companies hand your address over to others, resulting in an avalanche of mail. You can ask individual companies to stop sending you catalogs by contacting them directly, or you can stop mass mailings by e-mailing Abacus, an alliance of catalog and publishing companies, at optout@abacus-us.com or by writing to Abacus Inc., P.O. Box 1478, Broomfield, CO 80038.

Some mail can be stopped by contacting organizations that represent direct marketers. In some cases, codes or addresses from the mail may be required to process a request.

The Direct Marketing Association, a trade group representing 5,200 companies that use telephone, mail and the Internet to pitch products directly to consumers, gives consumers the option to opt out of mail. (more…)

Have you ever wondered how to identify scams that arrive in your mailbox, or how to reduce the amount of junk mail you receive? Wonder no more!

Better Business Bureau offers these tip to help consumers stay clear of junk mail scams:

It’s likely a scam if:

• The junk mail says you’ve won money or a gift even if you haven’t entered a sweepstakes.
• You’re asked to send money in order to claim your prize.
• You’re asked to verify your social security number, bank or credit card information via email or over the phone.
• If you’re told you purchased a product in the past but don’t remember doing so.
• You’re promised a “free” government grant for personal use.
• You’re guaranteed a loan or credit card for a fee despite poor credit.

Some statistics on identity theft:

• According to a Javelin Strategy and Research survey on ID theft, there was a 22 percent increase from 2007 to 2008.
• Javelin estimates that 9.9 million Americans became victims of identity fraud last year, resulting in the loss of $48 billion.
• A growing number of these cases are the result of stolen junk mail. Pre-approved credit card offers, fliers and specially marked envelopes are not only a nuisance, they are an easy target for ID thieves.

Tips for reducing the amount of junk mail you receive:

1. Pre-Approved Credit Card Offers

· Pre-approved credit card offers are an easy target for identity thieves who can steal incoming mail and use these offers to open fraudulent credit accounts.

· Stopping these pre-screened credit offers can help reduce the chances of identity theft. (more…)