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NEWS RELEASE

March 20, 2009

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Ulman Warns Residents of Deceptive Parcel Tracking Notice

ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County Executive Ken Ulman warns Howard County residents to be on the look out for green “parcel tracking notice” postcards that are not what they appear to be. The Howard County Office of Consumer Affairs was recently informed of the cards by a Howard County resident who received one. The small print on the card informs the recipient that they must pay a $6.95 “processing and delivery fee” to receive their parcel and that the fee can only be paid by credit card over the telephone.

“The postcard looks very similar to the notices you get when you receive a package by certified mail,” said Ulman. “However, in reality the card is used as a come-on to get consumers to buy useless trinkets.”

Consumers from other parts of the country who received similar postcards report that they believed the parcel was really from a friend or company from whom they had ordered merchandise. However, when they called the toll-free number, they were told that they had been “specially selected to receive a genuine, freshwater, cultured pearl necklace.” While the recording claims that the necklace is valued at $50, people who paid the $6.95 fee found out the necklace was not even worth the cost of the fee.

“In addition to losing $6.95, consumers who respond may end up losing a lot more,” advised Rebecca Bowman, the County’s Office of Consumer Affairs Administrator. “By giving out your credit card information, you are setting yourself up to be a victim of identity theft.” Ulman added, “The more we learn about the scams that are out there, the better we are at warning citizens about what to look out for and stopping the loss of citizens’ hard-earned money.”

Howard County residents who receive this or similar solicitations, or have been a victim of identity theft, are urged to immediately contact the Office of Consumer Affairs at 410-313-6420.