Mail Theft and Identity Theft: How to Prevent It and Why You Should Care
Mail Theft and Identity Theft: How to Prevent It and Why You Should Care
You probably think of your mailbox as nothing more than a receptacle for letters and packages, but identity thieves have a darker vision. To them, mailboxes look like unlocked safes filled with easily-accessible personal information like social security numbers, health records and account passwords that can all be used to steal your identity.
The possibility of one case of mail theft becoming a true issue may seem unlikely, but in Sandy Springs, Georgia, a few cases of mail theft led to the apprehension of a thief connected to hundreds of cases of mail theft and identity fraud around the country. Meanwhile, the Postal Inspection Service has found that mail theft cases have skyrocketed by 600% since 2017.
All this considered, it’s critical to educate yourself on how to keep your mail and your identity safe, as well as what to do in the event you do become one of the nine million Americans who could face identity fraud this year.
Don’t Leave Mail Unattended
To reduce the chance of becoming a victim of mail theft, avoid keeping mail in the mailbox for prolonged periods of time. Instead, familiarize yourself with what time the mail usually arrives and have a plan to bring it into the house shortly thereafter.
The same rules apply for sending mail. Anticipate when the mail carrier will drive by and place outgoing mail in the box shortly before he or she arrives. Additionally, do not use the outgoing mail flag, as it signals mail thieves of an easy steal.
Utilize the Post Office
If you are sending especially sensitive documents, deposit them in the letter box at your local post office. Although mail thieves have been known to steal from post offices as well, the chances of theft are much lower since it is monitored by employees and contained in a locked box.
Keep Your Address Updated
If your home address changes, remember to file for a change of address with the U.S. Postal Service and notify your financial institutions. This simple act will ensure that your mail arrives at your new house right away and avoids it getting into unwanted hands.
Take Advantage of Online Platforms
Instead of sending documents like bills through the mail, try taking care of them electronically. Almost all financial, healthcare, and other institutions that require sensitive information provide the option to take care of documents and payments securely online. Though there are online hackers and phishing schemes, most online portals are still a more secure alternative to leaving a paper trail of personal information.
Identify Missing Mail Quickly
The USPS Informed Delivery service allows you to preview your incoming mail. Simply verifying that you actually received each piece of incoming mail and quickly reporting anything missing can go a long way in preventing identity theft.
Guard Your Neighborhood with Flock Safety License Plate Reading Cameras
Whether your mailbox is located at the end of your driveway or in your apartment lobby, Flock Safety powerful, yet non-invasive, camera system can help put a stop to chronic mail theft and identity fraud.
Time after time, communities and law enforcement agencies across the nation rely on Flock Safety to deliver objective evidence that can be transformed into actionable leads and deter suspicious activity. In cases of mail theft, neighborhoods like Sundance in Beaumont, California have even reported seeing a decrease of cases from multiple times a week, to fewer than one per month.
