MADISON, Wis. — The Dane County clerk is warning residents to be cautious when opening mail that appears to come from a government office or other official institution. The warning concerns deceptive solicitations and fraudulent letters made to resemble government notices, bills or prize notifications. Such mailings can use official-looking language and designs to make private requests or scams appear legitimate. Residents should carefully assess unexpected correspondence before responding, sending money or sharing personal information. The clerk’s warning did not identify a specific sender or report any confirmed losses connected to the mailings. The alert comes as local election and government offices remain frequent targets for communications that can blur the line between official public notices and private solicitations. Verifying a mailing through a government office’s independently located contact information can help residents determine whether it is genuine.