Credit Loan > Identity Theft > Protect Your Mail to Prevent Identity Theft

Mail Identity Theft

Mail is a prime target for criminals involved in identity theft, as many pieces of incoming or outgoing mail contain enough information about you to be useful for an identity thief. Credit card and bank statements, checks, utility bills and payments, and credit card offers are all easy money to a fraudster. There are several ways your mail can be used to steal your identity. Even the mail you throw away can be used against you.

With very little information your mail could be diverted by a criminal by simply filing a change of address form with the U.S. Post Office (USPS). It may sound ultra paranoid, but personally, I will never have mail or packages delivered where I reside. I also make sure that I shred every piece of paper that has any identifying information on it before throwing it out. While not foolproof, this helps to break both ends of the chain where a criminal could obtain the information to do this. Use a PO Box or a Postal Mail Box (PMB) service for all mail delivery.

If you must have mail delivered to your home, invest in a locking mailbox to prevent mail from being casually removed and diverted for nefarious purposes. While many pieces of incoming mail can be useful to the criminal, virtually every outgoing piece of mail is like gold. Never mail anything from your home, place it in a USPS mail collection box, or take it to the Post Office. And, never leave mail in your mailbox overnight or over the weekend.

Better yet, do not receive any more mail than you have to. With less mail being received or sent by you, there is lower exposure to this threat. Remove yourself from as many marketing lists as possible. Sign up for direct deposit, and make payments and receive statements online.

Of course, not every preventative measure is foolproof. You should check your credit report regularly to look for any unauthorized activity. Also, scrutinize any credit card or bank statements as soon as you receive them for the same. Be aware of when utility bills and other statements are due and contact the organization concerned if they do not arrive on time, as this could indicate it may have been diverted to an alternate address.

If you think you have become a victim of identity theft or mail fraud, promptly notify the USPS Postal Inspector and file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. Also, notify any utility companies, financial institutions, or other organizations that may have been affected by the fraud. Finally, follow up by closing any affected accounts.