The American Philatelic Society has issued a ‘fraud alert’ to its members regarding a scam using the name of the group’s past president.
“An individual or group has been reported to APS as using the name of past APS President, John Hotchner, in a scam requiring a substantial cash deposit (which is then stolen) as basis for help in selling a collection,” states the alert email sent to members on Monday.
“There is no circumstance in which a cash deposit for being bonded should be required to sell your collection,” the email continues. “Mr. Hotchner is not associated with any commercial venture involved in buying or selling collections, and has no involvement of any sort with this scam.”
Members are being urged, even if they have done previously, to contact the APS at 814-933-3812 or contact Complaint Manager Wendy Masorti at wendy@stamps.org.