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 – 12/13/10
Lamoine mail theft investigated Fence Viewer – 12/10/10 (LAMOINE, MAINE) “Authorities are investigating thefts of mail from Lamoine residences, which occurred during the past week. Hancock County Deputy Sheriff Shane Campbell reported Dec. 6 that a Lamoine resident found mail belonging to multiple residents discarded on a remote road. Campbell collected the mail and evidence at the scene. The mail…
Mail Theft Monday – 12/20/10
Valley Man Says Large Check Stolen KRGV5 – 12/18/10 (BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS) “Jaime Vega says he nearly didn’t have Christmas this year, after nearly $6,000 was stolen from him. A check for $5,900 was stolen out of his mailbox. He says it was cashed at a Casa de Cambio in Brownsville. “They got the picture of the guy, the Social Security…
Mail Theft Monday – 12/27/10
Residents in Michigan City, Walkerton report missing mail Herald Argus – 12/24/10 (LA PORTE, INDIANA) La Porte County Sheriffs were busy this Christmas, as a rash of mail theft hit Michigan City and Walkerton neighborhoods. One victim discovered a box of 500 checks had been stolen from the mailbox when the thief attempted to cash one of the checks in…
Mail Theft Monday – 1/3/11
Neighbor finds torn-open mail strewn in Diamond Valley The Prescott Daily Courier – 12/31/10 (DIAMOND VALLEY, ARIZONA) “A woman on her way to work Tuesday morning found mail that had been torn open strewn along the side of the road near the corner of Victor Drive and Ramada Drive in Diamond Valley. She picked up the mail that seemed to…
Modesto Columnist: Get a Locking Mailbox!
The Modesto Bee columnist Su Vidauri recently published a column that we find rather relevant. In summary, she realizes that mail theft is a sad reality that homeowners must take measures to prevent. Finally, she caves in and purchases a locking mailbox, and recommends that other Modesto residents smarten up and do the same. We couldn’t agree more! The column…
Monday Mail Theft Roundup
Two charged in Hamden mail theft; more arrests expected – New Haven Register HAMDEN, Connecticut – 10/12/2009 Mercer county mail theft – 21 News Now, WFMJ YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – 10/07/2009 Man sentenced in Fairbanks mail theft – Daily News-Miner FAIRBANKS, Alaska – 10/07/2009 Fairbanks woman sentenced for meth possession – KTTU Alaska FAIRBANKS, Alaska – 10/06/2009 Fairbanks mail theft ring unravels – Daily News-Miner FAIRBANKS, Alaska…
PO Box Mailboxes Burglarized in Jackson, MS
This just in from the Clarion-Ledger: Hundreds of post office boxes in Jackson, Mississippi have been burglarized and the contents stolen. This article (reprinted below) just goes to show you that even people who take precautions to protect their mail still may be at risk for mail-identity theft. Many people use a post office box when they are aware of the risk of…
More Mail Theft in the News
Here are a few more reasons to get a security locking mailbox Sorry folks. It’s not going away any time soon. Here’s a roundup of mail theft stories in the past few weeks. Mail Theft Increases KXNT Radio – 11/3/09 Las Vegas, Nevada – Officials say more mail theft is being reported in the area. Reports show residents have been notifying the…
“Stolen Mail” Google News Alert
Have you ever wondered how I find all of the news articles we feature in the “Mail Identity Theft” category? Well, I set up a Google News Alert for the term “mail theft” so Google sends me news stories of mail theft from across the country on a pretty much daily basis. This nifty little tool provides me with oodles of…
Beckley, WV: Mail Thief Arrested
More mail identity theft – See below for our thoughts, take home message According to WVNS-CBS 59, city police in Beckley, West Virginia have arrested mail thief Amanda McKinney and charged her with forgery in a mail theft scheme. The story states that McKinney stole mail from her victims and fraudulently cashed checks she found. Police apparently had a difficult…
