MONTICELLO, NY — The Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents of the latest scam being perpetrated in the area. Citizens have been receiving postcards from a company by the name of the United Merchandise Clearinghouse (UMC).

The postcard claims to be a “Notice of Parcel Claim” and states that a parcel is being held for the addressee. The postcard further claims that the parcel being held contains jewelry and directs the person to call an 800 number. “Once a person calls the 800 number, they are asked to provide a credit card to pay for an $11.95 processing fee,” said Sheriff Mike Schiff. “Our research into this scam indicates that the victim will receive a cheap piece of costume jewelry in the mail and possibly compromise their credit card information in the process.”

Senior citizens seem particularly vulnerable to this scam, said Schiff. Anyone who receives such a postcard should ignore it. Citizens are warned not call the 800 number and not give out their credit card information.