Postcard scam offers Walmart, Target payoff

Fake postcards offering Walmart or Target "gift savings" have been reported in Northfield, and the Better Business Bureau of Minnesota and North Dakota expects others in the area will be receiving it soon.

The postcard promises "an unclaimed reward of $100 in gift savings good at Walmart or Target." It then directs the consumer to call a phone number and give their credit card information for a "one-time activation fee."

When a Better Business Bureau employee called the number and tried to claim a prize, the representative answering the phone said a "one-time shipping/activation fee of $3.95" would need to be paid by credit card to receive the savings. The representative claimed to represent a company called Care Express.

Dan Hendrickson, spokesman for BBB, said the postcards started reaching people in the area in the last two or three days.

"We can say with relative certainty it will be fairly widespread because we've seen variations of this scam in other markets," Hendrickson said.

BBB learned of the scam from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Variations of this scam include notifications delivered by text message, email or phone calls. BBB is advising the public to either shred the mailings or report them to the FTC at 1-877-382-4357, a local post office, or both. To research offers before making any decisions, visit bbb.org or call 1-800-646-6222.