“The Inspectors” aren’t just crime-fighters. They’re teachers too.
Postal Inspectors say more consumers have become familiar with the agency’s work since the TV series debuted last year.
For example, Buffalo, NY, Inspector Shelley Carosella was recently helping a man who had fallen victim to a lottery scam.
Carosella contacted a local social services agency to get assistance for the man and began explaining what a Postal Inspector does. The woman on the other end of the line stopped her midsentence.
“She said she already knew because she watches this show on Saturday mornings called ‘The Inspectors,’” Carosella said. “She said she likes the show and that it warns people about scams.”
“The Inspectors” follows a team of Postal Inspectors who investigate consumer fraud and other postal crimes. Most CBS stations air the show Saturdays at 10:30 a.m., although times may vary so viewers should check local listings.
Carosella said the half-hour drama helps the Inspection Service educate the public about the dangers of mail scams, which often target the elderly.
“When you are asked to pay in advance for any lottery winnings, it’s a scam,” she said. “If it looks too good to be true, it is.”