That free gas postcard in your mailbox could be a scam

"Free" is one of those red-flag words that should automatically warn consumers to proceed very cautiously.

Prices at the pump hit nearly $4.33 a gallon across the country, according to AAA. So, it should be no surprise at all that scammers are crafting their way into our mailboxes with postcards promising free gas — and, yes, free groceries, too, since those prices have gone up as well.

Sure, it's tempting. But it's a scam designed to ultimately give fraudsters access to your cash, your credit card or debit card numbers, and even more information about you.

"Gas prices are what? $4.50 right now where I am in Colorado," said Amy Nofziger, senior director of victim support for the AARP Fraud Watch Network.

When you spot a postcard for a free gas promotion, she said, your emotions can take you over the top. You start to imagine how you can use this opportunity to save money, just when you need it.

"But who is giving away free gas?" Nofziger asked me in a phone interview. "How does that make sense that an organization is going to be giving you free gas?"

This summer, the Better Business Bureau Scam Tracker page received…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/money/