A national postcard scam that promises recipients gift certificates to national retailers has hit mailboxes in Central Oregon.

La Pine resident JoAnn Carriker received a postcard with a claim number offering $100 gift certificate at Wal-Mart or Target. The postcard also came with a toll-free telephone number and claim number printed on it.

The catch?

After calling and providing the claim number, the operator asked for Carriker’s credit card number to pay a $4.95 fee.

Carriker did not give up her number.

But she isn’t the only one to receive the postcard.

They have been arriving randomly in mailboxes throughout the country, according to the United States Postal Inspection Service. And “it is all fraud,” the agency says.

The offer also did not sound legitimate to Kyle Kavas, Oregon public relations manager for the Better Business Bureau. Carriker shouldn’t have to send money to receive a gift.

Kavas said recipients should disregard too-good-to-be-true gifts and solicitations that arrive via mail, phone or text message.

“Oftentimes, consumers start receiving postcards, emails and smishing (Short Message Service phishing) messages with ‘free’ gift offers because they inadvertently signed up for membership programs while filling out surveys, sweepstakes and (while) shopping online or through infomercials,” she said. “Before providing contact information or credit card numbers, do research and ask for a copy of the company’s privacy policy. If it’s online, make sure the website is secured.”

With unsolicited offers, she said, take steps to verify legitimacy.

“Look for full contact information, such as an address, phone number and email address,” she said. “Make sure companies are properly registered in the state where they claim to be located.”