Water test bags on your mail box? (neighborhoods, to buy)

[Worren]

Another scam hits our area. A company in South Carolina that sells water filtration systems is going around local neighborhoods asking you to send them a sample of your water. They hang a plastic bag with a bottle and instruction sheet inside on your mail box. Seems harmless but there are a few issues. One, hanging anything on people's mailbox is against Postal Regulations. Two, local water systems are generally pollution free. Three, this is a mean scam that uses fear and intimidation to get you to buy an expensive and usually unnecessary water filtration system.
Some of us who try to stop scammers in their tracks have contacted the Postal Inspectors, the Federal Trade Commission and local media for help. WRDW did an investigative report which showed the water test could be phonied up to show dangerous results allowing gullible people to be scammed.
Any time you find something taped or tacked to your mailbox or hung on your door knob, you can almost be certain you will be scammed. Never respond to requests for information such as phone number, name or anything that could be sold to identity thieves.
These things come and go. Once we get one stopped another one pops up. Be alert and always be suspicious. These days you really cant afford trust anybody.
Identity theft can ruin your life. Take it from who knows first hand.

[GRU_Minion]

This is nothing new. The same people have been doing this for at least 15 or more years on the SC side of the river. They always use a thumbtack or tape and stick the bag to the post of the mailbox, which is *not* illegal because it isn't the mail receptacle. They know this, which is why they specifically do it this way. It's actually a questionable gray area (using the post and not the mailbox) and they know the USPS won't say anything about it because of that.

That being said, my neighbors have let them do their water test and make their spill on more than one occasion and simply said no so they could get the free gift card they offer for listening. It worked.