Mail Identity Theft
Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the United States for the past 10 years, and affects over 10 million Americans each year.
Mail theft is a common way that identity thieves can steal your identity, and the 60 million unlocked mailboxes in the US offer a treasure trove of opportunity for would-be identity thieves.
Victims of mail theft often do not realize they have been victimized until their credit record and good name is ruined. Remedying the outcomes of fraud and identity theft requires thousands of dollars and hours of your time.
This section provides information about the prevalence of mail and identity theft, and the precautions you can take to protect yourself and your name.
Mail Identity Theft
- More than 1 in 20 Americans are victims of ID theft each year
- ID theft is the fastest growing crime in the nation
- Only 35% of ID theft victims know how their info was compromised
- The majority of known ID theft is perpetuated via low-tech methods: stolen wallets, stolen mail and stolen trash.
- Mail theft is highly under-reported because most people don’t realize when their mail has been stolen
Mail Theft Monday – 9/27/10
There has been such a plethora of mail identity theft this past week… best get right to it! News of Record: Police Log The Bulletin – 9/25/10 (BEND, OREGON) “[…] Bend Police Department: Theft — Mail was reported stolen at 4:36 p.m. Sept. 23, in the 400 block of Northeast Thurston Avenue.” COMMENTS: Ace Hardware & Paint in Bend carries…
Mail Identity Theft – April 2014
Mail identity theft news from across the nation in April 2014. Apr. 1: EUGENE, Oregon: The Register-Guard – Reward sought in Eugene mailbox break-ins POOLESVILLE, Maryland: Gazette.net – Outgoing mail stolen from 7 homes in Poolesville: One check forged and cashed BARTONVILLE, Texas: The Leader – Bartonville police offer tips to help avoid identity theft WICKER PARK, Illinois: DNAInfoChicago.com – West…
Mail Identity Theft – July 2014
Thieves stealing mail for identity theft across the United States in July 2014. To prevent mail-identity theft and mailbox vandalism, consider a Mail Boss.
Mail-Identity Theft: March 2015
From Wichita, Kansas to Wichita Falls, Texas, and from Anchorage, Alaska to Oakland Park, Florida, mail thieves are stealing sensitive information from residential mailboxes for identity theft. It’s happening across the country, and nowhere is safe. The best defense is a quality locking mailbox to prevent would-be identity thieves from gaining access to your financial documents from your mailbox. Without…
Mail Theft Monday – Hello March!
It’s almost Spring, though it may not seem like it in the Northeast. Here in Seattle it’s nice and sunny, and tax season is upon us. *Da* Da* DUN* What does that mean to you? Besides impending quality time with Turbo Tax, juggling deductions, and crossing fingers for refunds, tax season means mail thieves are prowling neighborhoods to get their…
Mail Theft Monday – 3/29/10
We’re back from the Ace Convention and New Orleans and boy did we have a good time! We were glad to have a big ol’ stack of mail identity theft articles to convince those who said “we don’t have that problem here” that in fact, they do! Well more on that later, but for now, here is the last week…
Mail Identity Theft – July 2012
Thieves are stealing mail to steal sensitive information for the nation’s fastest growing crime of identity theft. Across the nation throughout July 2012, mail theft reports in the news indicate stolen mail is a growing cause of identity theft, prevalent in both big cities and rural areas alike. Protect yourself with a high security locking mailbox like the Mail Boss curbside or wall mount secure mailboxes.
Mail-Identity Theft – April 2013
Apr. 1: Port Townsend, WASHINGTON: Port Townsend Leader – Trial in massive mail theft case is delayed to June Apr. 2: Martinez, CALIFORNIA: Martinez Patch – Martinez PD: Mail Theft and Suspicious Hugging Apr. 3: Grosse Point, MICHIGAN: Grosse Point Patch – Credit Fraud, Mail Theft Under Investigation in Grosse Pointe Farms Foresthill, CALIFORNIA: News10 – Man accused of stealing…
Mail Identity Theft – June 2014
Here is the round up of mail identity theft and mailbox vandalism news from across the United States in June 2014. Remember, to help prevent mail related identity theft: 1. Use a locking mailbox to secure incoming mail 2. Never send sensitive mail from an unsecured mailbox 3. Shred sensitive personal information (most of which comes in the mail) before…
