NCJ Number
89607
Date Published
1982
Length
111 pages
Annotation
Principal areas addressed by witnesses in this congressional hearing were the Postal Inspection Service's efforts to prevent mail fraud, the impact of Senate Bill 1407 on their enforcement activities, and prosecution of mail fraud cases by the Arkansas Attorney General.
Abstract
Introductory statements from committee members emphasized the vulnerability of the elderly to mail fraud. The Chief Postal Inspector of the U.S. Postal Service then described typical mail fraud schemes and his office's actions to educate the public and prosecute such frauds. He supported S. 1407 which would improve inspectors' access to books, records, and documents; speed up purchase investigative procedures; and impose sanctions for operators who evade a false representation order by modifying their business name or address. The Attorney General of Arkansas also favored this legislation, noting that it would vastly improve the time element in enforcement operations. In addition, he reviewed the State's consumer education programs regarding mail fraud. Two Arkansas residents described their victimization from fraudulent home remodeling and jewelry distributorship schemes. A convicted felon currently serving a sentence in a Federal prison discussed his fraudulent investment scheme involving rare coins and how con artists consider fines and short prison terms as routine aspects of their illegal businesses. A panel of witnesses representing Arkansas' newspapers and the Better Business Bureau expressed their concern over fraudulent mail order advertisements in newspapers and magazines and efforts to screen out fraudulent advertising. Prepared statements, statistics on mail fraud, and the text of S. 1407 are included.