A fantastic cousin sent me this mailer he received recently.
The outside of the envelope is very generic and says it comes from the Distribution Processing Center at PO Box 689, Marietta, GA 30061-0689. However, the business reply envelope inside goes to a different address at PO Box 1748, Kennesaw, GA 30156-9855.
Using the return address the company sending this mailer is Distribution Processing Center, LLC at 2146 Roswell Road, Suite 108-897, Marietta, GA 30062-3802.
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The company has many complaints listed with the BBB.
This recent complaint resonates with the mailer I received. The consumer said, “Very deceptive and shady company. Received one of their letters today in the mail requesting I send my name, address, phone, age, spouses age, and spouse’s name in order to access 2022 state regulated life insurance programs I may be entitled to. They are based in GA and I live in *******. I can see how misleading this could be for the elderly. DO NOT TRUST. Do your research first.” – Source
The mailer includes a form that appears to be in a format typically used for government forms.
It says, “You now have access to 2022 state-regulated life insurance programs,” which could confuse consumers.
Beware of this mailer. It solicits your personal information, not a state or government benefit form.
I think I’m going to go ahead and send it back in the postage paid envelope with a nasty note attached so they have to pay for the postage and get absolutely no information from me. I’m not even gonna put my name on it, just send it back. I may even add a little weight so it costs more lol
They are still at it I just got one today and googled it and found this article
I got one from the same address & same return address but it was for Medicare and Medicaid Advantage plans…up to 11 different companies. Very suspicious/scammy looking. Dont think they have your best interest at heart. It is best to go thru the official channels or your local senior center could point you in the right direction for help.
I received a similar card in the mail this week. Different verbiage:
“NEW 2024 BENEFIT INFORMATION FOR TEXAS RESIDENTS
You may qualify for state-regulated programs to pay for your final expenses.
It is important to know how to qualify for this benefit available to you. This life insurance benefit will pay for 100% of all your funeral and final expenses, up to $35,000. This payment is tax-free for TEXAS residents.
To receive no-cost information, and a FREE Dental, Vision, Hearing, and Prescription Discount Plan, please complete & return this postage-paid card by 10/26/2023!”
These are lead generation forms for life insurance agents and brokers, and you’ll find a number of similar forms used. The card I received also used the same mailing and business return addresses and identical outer envelope.
More importantly, the reply card itself I received had an NPN number (National Producer Number – a nationally unique identifier of all registered insurance agents) that I don’t see on the card posted here.
With a little research, I found the card I received this week is associated with a Sales Director at North American Senior Benefits (NASB). That’s not necessarily the case with the card seen here as I don’t see an NPN listed.
I don’t know whether “Distribution Processing Center” at the addresses used is unique to NASB or perhaps it’s a clearinghouse mailer for a number of lead generation efforts for multiple agencies / brokers.
The form I received also included a disclaimer in fine print that it was “Not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency.” I don’t see that on the card listed on this post though I’ve seen the same card as posted here before. Altogether I believe the card I received is clearer than this older card posted here was on the purpose of the information requested which I believe is better for both the consumer and the insurance agent.
These mailers are a common method of lead generation in the insurance industry. Not a scam or fraud, but one can see how it may be misleading if not read carefully. Let’s briefly break down the verbiage in the card posted above.
All life insurance, in every state, is state-regulated. So saying it is would be correct. That and calling out the state of the resident is simply a marketing tactic to build credibility, though the same policy is likely available in any state except perhaps NY which is an oddball in the insurance world. Readers should be aware it’s NOT a state-provided benefit, only a state-regulated one. Which is what the card says.
The card also states “not provided by government funds” so it’s not based on money that came from our taxes (like Social Security and the like), but rather a benefit that came from a private purchase of a life insurance policy. TNSTAAFL (There’s No Such Thing As A Free Lunch) Any benefit we get in life someone pays for. Either we pay for it privately, or someone else pays for us, or both via our taxes. Most importantly to this point, the card clearly states this is for life insurance.
The reason it says it “will pay for 100% of all final expenses up to $35,000” is because many insurance carriers offer a maximum whole life coverage face value of $35-$50K. Life insurance is paid out as a tax-free (per IRS regulation) benefit to the designated beneficiary. So it’s also federally regulated in that respect.
Life insurance important for most families. Not having it may have potentially life altering negatively impacts on those left behind. Having it can have similar positive impacts.
So again, not a scam. But do be aware some lead generation / marketing companies resell those cards multiple times and in those instances by completing one card you may get numerous calls from agents and brokers who purchased the same inquiry in an attempt to find clients who asked for their help.
Full Disclosure: I’m an independent life insurance broker licensed in 20 states (not associated with NASB) which is why I’m familiar and able to respond to this post regarding this life insurance lead generation approach and also how to locate agents via their NPN. I also worked 15 years as an independent marketing copywriter and copywriting instructor. Copywriter is the job title of those who write all this “junk mail” you get in your mailbox and inbox every day (until AI fully takes over at least). You’re welcome. 🙂
I received one of these SCAM mailings today but it was addressed to someone who lived here over five years ago. I went to the Distribution Processing Center website, https://dpcoptout.com to opt of of receiving any more of this illegal crap for the person whose name was on the envelope. Hopefully this will work.
They sent me a five dollar check, should I cash it? It’s a legit check.
I would not but you do you.
To whom may concern I got a letter but I put it in the mailbox do they send you some money or they want you to do something else or they going to send you some money .
I just received one of these in the mail, today. They try to make it look very official. What can be done to stop these predators?
They send me this scam letter all of the time! I remove my name and toss it!
Elderly father received one of these today. I’m going to fill the postage paid envelope with as much trash as I can and drop it in mailbox. It costs them money and makes me feel a little better. 🙂
Thanks for posting this ! I live in Kentucky and received this letter yesterday. The only difference is there is a P.O. Box listed which is P.O. Box 689 and also the zip code is 30061 . One digit off lol
I got one today thanks.i leave in nc an they sent it to my baby mom home in sc . saying I’m able to get up to 35000.$ for free sent I stay in sc .but I leave in nc .so thank you very much
Mine says up to $35,000. So dumb. I’m so sick of these.
Got one today
Thank you for this article. I have been receiving this scam for years & was about to fill out this latest application & my sister said to check it out that’s when I saw your article. From now on I will just shred the envelope when I get it. Thank you again for posting this article.
Thank you for the information, I got letter today.