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 – 11/9/09
We are thinking we will make “Mail Theft Monday” a regular posting, now that we have oodles of mail theft to report on, thanks to a new Google News Alert for “stolen mail”. So without further ado, here’s the latest and greatest in the world of mail-identity theft. Two Horry County residents sentenced in federal court for “mailboxin” SCNow –…
Mail Theft Monday – 11/16/09
Mesa man arrested on dozens of credit card thefts, fraud AZ Central – 11/12/09 (MESA, ARIZONA) “Police recovered enough stolen property to fill a U-Haul truck after they served a search warrant on a Mesa man who was arrested in October while on bail for a forgery charge, police said. Christopher R. Cage was arrested Oct. 28 on numerous outstanding…
Mail Theft Monday – 11/30/09
Editor’s Note: This edition of Mail Theft Monday is one week late. Blame it on the Holidays 🙂 Here’s the last November edition of “Mail Theft Monday“… During these busy Holidays, none of us really have the time for close reading, so I’m trying a new strategy: I’m going to put in bold what I think you should read most…
Mail Theft Monday – 12/7/09
Editor’s Note: Emphases added. Routine traffic stop turns into mail theft case Daily Democrat – 12/3/09 (WOODLAND, CALIFORNIA) “An otherwise routine vehicle stop led to the arrest of a Woodland man who now stands accused of mail theft – a federal crime. Sgt. Bret Hancock reported the incident Wednesday morning. He said the initial traffic stop occurred around 12:50 a.m.,…
Mail Theft Monday – 12/14/09
Law and Order: Marana teens indicted in mail theft, damage The Arizona Daily Star – 12/11/09 (TUSCON, ARIZONA) “Two Marana teenagers were indicted Wednesday on federal mail theft and postal damage charges. [Raines] 18, and [Nichols] 19, were arrested Nov. 4 by Pima County sheriff’s deputies who were investigating a series of fires started in Marana […]. Raines was found…
Mail Theft Monday – 12/21/09
It’s the Holidays, which means the thieves are Happy too!!! Oh yes, they are. Mail theft is pretty rampant in December, with crooks looking to steal gifts and cards from the mail. Definitely time for locking mailboxes, all around! So pardon us, for this particularly lengthy “Mail Theft Monday” – don’t say we didn’t warn you! Mail Theft On The…
More Mail Theft in Denver, CO
Holidays mean thieves have mail set in their sights Watch the video here. 9 News – Denver, COLORADO “It is a crime in which victims often do not even know they are victims. Paul McPherson of Westminster says he would have had no idea someone stole letters from his mailbox if a neighbor had not delivered a greeting card and…
Mail Theft Monday – 01/11/10
Topekan charged in fraud The Capital-Journal – 1/7/10 (TOPEKA, KANSAS) “Two people, including one from Topeka, were indicted Thursday […] for conspiracy, bank fraud, aggravated identity theft and theft or receipt of stolen mail. Robert L. Maxwell, 45, of Topeka, and Marcella D. Machado, 46, of Olathe, were charged on allegations that they obtained information relating to the identity of…
Mail Theft Monday – 1/18/10
Happy MLK Day, everyone! Still getting used to writing “2010” here. Still boggled at the crazy amounts of mail identity theft going on across the nation. And still advocating the use of a high-quality security locking mailbox (ahem: MailBoss) to protect your mail and your identity. Just a reminder that we have the new Package Master Mail Boss locking mailbox…
Lock Your Mailbox in Bellingham!
This just out from the Bellingham Herald : Series of mail thefts investigated by Bellingham police The article reads: “Bellingham police are investigating a series of mail thefts after a man found several articles of discarded mail on his daily walk Sunday, Jan. 17. The man discovered the mail at about 12:30 p.m. in the 1000 block of East McLeod…
