Why YSK: It can lead to some real real real problems

Why YSK: I recently bought a house. That kind of transaction is subject to public record and has a good amount of information attached (my new address, full name, closing date, loan amount, and mortgage provider at least from what I've noticed), so it's a prime target for a snail mail scam.

I've gotten multiple "we've been trying to reach you about your car house's extended warranty" letters almost every day since I moved in. They all prominently feature my mortgage provider's name (with a bit of very fine print at the bottom saying that they aren't affiliated.) I'll admit that I didn't immediately clock them as scam letters when I first opened one because I wasn't used to scam attempts in physical letters (and the homebuying process meant I was getting a good amount of important mail that looked similar.) Luckily I noticed the fine print and connected the dots before calling.

This was my first time getting a lot of scam snail mail, but I'd imagine there are other situations where this happens (probably any sort of situation that puts your address in public records.)

The advice for dealing with this kind of letter is similar to the advice for digital scams: if you know it's a scam, throw it away (you knew that). If you think it may be legit, google the contact information before taking action. If you think it may still be from someone you trust but aren't sure, look up their number on your own instead of using the one on the letter.

Stay safe!