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These are usually brown official-looking envelopes with Government-Sounding names on the return address and may contain impressive seals and stamps such as "Important Notice," Official Business," or "Open Immediately."
One such mailing from the "FBI" was actually from the Fountains Bureau of Invitations and contained an invitation to attend a high-pressure sales pitch for a real estate development.
Usually these deceptive mailings contain sweepstakes solicitations, or other solicitations for money, donations, etc.
In the U.S. the problems caused by these look-alike mailings led to the passage of the Deceptive Mailings Prevention Act of 1990. This law, Title 39, United States Code, Sections 3001(f) and (g), places certain restrictions on these look-alike mailings.
Such mailings are no longer allowed, unless:
The entity actually has a government connection, approval or endorsement;
The mail matter and its outside wrapper bear a notice prescribed by the U.S. Postal Service which disclaims such connection, approval, or endorsement; or
The mail matter is contained in a publication purchased or requested by the addressee.
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