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
Holiday Mail-ID Theft: December 2015
December is always a bad month for mail theft. One of the joys of the holiday season… as thieves are on the prowl for gift cards and easy pickings in mailboxes. This year was no exception. Take a look at this map, which summarizes all the mail-identity theft news from December in the US. You can click on the markers…
Mail Identity Theft: 1/3/11-1/10/11
Stolen mail often leads to identity theft. From Jan 3-Jan 7 2011, a summary of mail-identity theft reports including incidents in Vancouver Washington, Colorado Springs Colorado, Lake of the Pines California, Kent County Michigan, Miami Valley Florida, Atlanta Georgia, Walnut Creek California, Weston Connecticut, Greilickville Michigan, Highland California, and Independence Missouri.
Mail Identity Theft: 1/10/11-1/16/11
Police blotter: Jan., 15, 2011 The Union – 1/15/11 (GRASS VALLEY, CALIFORNIA) “[…] 10:14 a.m. — A caller from the 300 block of Pleasant Street reported a debit card had been stolen from a mailbox and money was taken. […]” COMMENTS: We all receive sensitive information in the mail, including sometimes debit and credit cards. We should not leave these…
Mail Identity Theft: 1/17/11-1/24/11
Monday-Tuesday Log: Mail Theft, Resisting Arrest Hercules Patch – 1/19/11 (HERCULES, CALIFORNIA) “[…] Mail Theft: A resident on the 1200 block of Promenade reported online new checks she had ordered were stolen from her mailbox and one the checks was cashed in Napa. […]” COMMENTS: Here is what to do if your mail is stolen. With the prevalence of mail…
Mail Identity Theft: 1/25/11-1/30/11
Mel Gibson’s screener of ‘The Beaver’ stolen from his mailbox. ‘We think Pee-Wee Herman did it,’ say the police Entertainment Weekly – 1/28/11 (MALIBU, CALIFORNIA) “That poor Mel Gibson just can’t catch a break. First, a fictional typhoon devastates Mago, the actor’s real private island. Then some sticky-fingered hoodlum steals Gibson’s screener of The Beaver right out of his mailbox.…
Mail Identity Theft: 2/1/11-2/6/11
Grand Rapids couple plead guilty to stealing checks from mailboxes, putting their names on them The Grand Rapids Press – 2/5/11 (GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN) “A Grand Rapids couple accused of stealing mail and cashing altered checks pleaded guilty to federal charges. Harold Lewis Oliver, 33, pleaded guilty to possession of stolen mail and eight counts of fraud. Peggy Elizabeth Oliver,…
OOPS: Pike Co. Water Authority Mailbox Proves Easy Target, Hundreds of Customers’ Bill Payments Stolen
FACT Act requires secure disposal but not receipt of consumer information? Many federal, state and local laws and regulations have been implemented to protect the privacy of consumers and businesses alike. From the Federal Privacy Act, which requires government entities to protect information of individuals and business, to HIPAA, which mandates the proper storage and disposal of patients’ medical and…
Mail-Identity Theft: 2/8/11-2/13/11
N.J. man admits stealing government checks from mail boxes, postal trucks NJ.com – 2/13/11 (CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY) “A southern New Jersey man has admitted stealing thousands of dollars of government checks from mail boxes and postal trucks in the Camden area. Forty-two-year-old Nathaniel Johnson faces up to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty Thursday to theft of government funds.…
Mail Identity Theft: 2/14/11-2/24/11
Police: Mail stolen over holiday weekend WHTM 27 – 2/23/11 (EAST PENNSBORO, PENNSYLVANIA) “Two East Pennsboro residents reported their mail stolen around President’s Day while post office services were closed, according to police. The victims had placed their mail into residential mailboxes for pick-up on Monday, Feb. 21, police said. Upon remembering it was a federal holiday, they went back…
