Missouri Attorney General Nixon takes action against companies sending deceptive direct mail

Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon announced a new round of legal action today against 27 companies that allegedly sent deceptive direct mail.

The 27 cease and desist orders are part of Senior Sting, a project Nixon launched last year to stop mail fraud with the help of hundreds of senior volunteers, his office said.

In Senior Sting 2006, more than 300 Missouri seniors volunteered to keep all the junk mail they received during one month, and then send it to Nixon's office. More than 8,000 pieces of mail were collected through the program.

The companies receiving the cease and desist orders are accused of involvement in fraudulent sweepstakes and foreign lotteries. Violations of the order may result in felony criminal charges.

”We conducted Senior Sting because we believe many con artists have gone ‘old-school, ‘returning to the mail, “ Nixon said in a written statement.

”The success of our No Call program has cut down on telemarketing fraud, and consumers are suspicious of spam, so the crooks have gone back to the mail,”  the statement said.

Nixon’s office noted that consumers can opt out of receiving many direct mail solicitations by visiting www.dmaconsumers.org  .

Consumers with suspicions about mail may file complaints with Nixon’s office at www.ago.mo.gov.