You’re checking your mailbox when the unthinkable happens: The package or important document you were waiting for never arrived. The delivery status says it’s been delivered. You’ve just become a target of mail theft.
Mail theft is a consistent, rapidly growing issue in the U.S. There are plenty of ways thieves can obtain your personal information, from looking through trash or direct theft from your mailbox. For any company, of any size, it's vital that sensitive information remains safe, secure, and uncompromised. Here are five tips to consider when protecting you and your company from mail and identity theft:
Shred sensitive information. Don’t throw out junk mail, corporate documents or important paperwork with bank account numbers, Social Security information, corporate secrets or any other important information thieves will find valuable. One of the best protections against mail theft is to shred all mail with your personal information: bank statements, credit card applications, job applications, prescriptions labels, etc.
Establish security policies. To secure your businesses data, implement a company-wide policy that sets firm data security rules. Also, address formal consequences employees may face for failing to uphold their end. To do this, you will need to:
- Use security technologies.
- Establish employee training and perform background checks.
- Draft plans in case of emergencies.
Test your security policies. Determine how well your current practices are working and seek to discover security vulnerabilities before future hackers do. Periodically send out emails to all employees, making sure they know not to open any suspicious looking attachments, which could allow hackers and information stealing software into your corporate database.
Use a locking mailbox. If your neighborhood has a growing number of identity theft cases, it might be time to use a locking mailbox. These locks utilize either a combination or a key. You can open a locked mailbox as long as you have the combination or a key.
Enroll in online banking. Frequently check your account information and immediately report suspicious or fraudulent transactions from your business credit card. This can drastically reduce your businesses liability and potential losses.
Still Have Questions?
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