La. AG's office warns of mineral rights scam BATON ROUGE, LA. (AP) (wrkf) - Attorney General Buddy Caldwell's office says a new scam can cost landowners the mineral rights to their property.

He's warning consumers about documents that, if signed, could be used to take away the rights to any potential valuable earnings from oil and gas that might be on the property.

Caldwell's office urges caution to landowners who get mail including a check and a request to sign documents that appear to be mineral leases. Signing the documents could permanently sign away mineral rights on the property.

The attorney general's consumer protection office is asking people who receive such documents in the mail to check with a lawyer before signing anything. The office runs a hot line at 1-800-351-4889. © Copyright 2009, wrkf