Identity Theft and Your Mailbox
It has been averaged out that the United States Postal Service deals with over 207 billion pieces of mail each month. With those kinds of numbers, it is no wonder that identity theft is a growing crime, especially when it comes to the mail. A consumer’s mailbox contains more than enough information for identity thieves to steal a person’s identity. The two most common types of identity theft that occur with your mail is re-routing and physical mail theft.
Re-Routing Mail
One of the best ways for an identity thief to steal your identity without your ever knowing is by re-routing your mail. This is usually done with a Change of Address form filed with the Postal Service. More often than not, an identity thief will go around collecting addresses of consumers they wish to defraud. They will then head to the US Post Office and fill out Change of Address forms and submit them. Though a consumer can change their address online, identity thieves avoid this method due to a verification process it entails.
Mail Theft
Other ways an identity thief uses the mail to steal your personal information is by simply removing it from your mailbox. This can easily be prevented if you monitor your mailbox frequently. Consumers should know the type of mail and amount of mail they get on a daily basis. In the event a criminal has changed your mailing address, you should immediately recognize the decrease or ceasing of your mail altogether. Just the same, if you know you typically receive your bills near the end of the month, but they do not come, you need to check to see if they were sent and then take precautions in the event they were stolen from your mailbox.
How to Protect Yourself
Since a consumer’s mailbox is a high point of identity theft threat, it is important to know how to protect your identity by starting with your mailbox.
-Never leave mail in your mailbox. This includes both incoming and outgoing mail. If you will be gone for the entire day or come home later in the evening, try considering having your mail sent to a post office box instead.
-Use a mailbox that locks so that only incoming mail can be put through the slot. This will typically deter identity thieves due to the amount of work to get these mailboxes open.
-If you feel that your mailbox is not secure, considering renting a post office box instead.
-Instead of mailing checks for payments, consider using online bill payment processes to prevent your checks from being taken out of the mail.