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 Identity Theft: 8/4/11-8/14/11
Police: woman stole checks from mail WIVB – 8/14/11 (ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK) “State Police have charged a Buffalo woman with stealing checks out of mailboxes. Police arrested 49-year-old Priscilla Robinson on Saturday and charged her with third degree grand larceny and second degree possession of a forged instrument. Police say the Orchard Park Police department investigated Robinson and found…
Mail Identity Theft: 8/19/11-9/10/11
Sept. 10 Police Blotter The Hermiston Herald – 9/10/11 (HERMISTON, OREGON) “[…] A West Donna Avenue woman reported mail stolen from her mail box, including Netflix movies. […]” COMMENTS: She’s lucky if only Netflix movies were stolen! But of course if you want to guarantee the safe delivery of those red DVD mailers (along with the peace of mind of…
Mail-Identity Theft: 9/15/11-9/21/11
Police Blotter: Sept. 21 Sammamish Review – 9/20/11 (SAMMAMISH, WASHINGTON) “[…] No well wishes :An anniversary card was stolen from a mailbox on the 21600 block of Southeast 28th Street between 6:55 and 7 p.m. Sept. 11. The homeowner reported that two people, a white male in his 30’s with light hair and a female with dark hair driving a…
Complex Mail-ID Theft Scheme in Salisbury, MD
In Maryland, Carla Koester was sentenced today for her role in a complex mail identity theft scheme that victimized over 26 individuals, with total losses exceeding $30,000. Koester and her husband stole checks and credit cards from residential mailboxes, and used stolen information to forge checks and commit identity theft. The victims lived across Maryland in Anne Arundel, Dorchester, Somerset,…
Mail-Identity Theft: 9/22/11-9/29/11
Five Ways To Protect Your Identity Right Now KTKS 12 – 9/29/11 (ABILENE, TEXAS) “Identity theft is nothing new, but financial identity theft is no longer the only kind of ID theft you may be at risk for these days. As our world turns increasingly digital ID theft has taken on new identities. From financial or legal ID theft, to…
Mail Identity Theft- 9/30/11-10/8/11
Man, woman each charged with 38 counts of identity theft The Bellingham Herald – 10/8/11 (BELLINGHAM, WASHINGTON) “A man and woman accused of stealing mail from homes in south Bellingham are being charged with 79 counts of possession of stolen property and 38 counts of identity theft. […] Both Hanson and Ashbach-Martinez were arrested on suspicion of 10 counts of…
Mail Identity Theft: 10/13/11-10/27/11
Daughter Arrested, Mother Wanted On ID Theft Charges Prosecutors: Cassandra Janine Ghirardi Stole Mail To Create Fake Checks, ID’s HMGH Denver – 10/27/11 (GOLDEN, COLORADO) “A mother-daughter team has been indicted, accused of operating an identity theft ring where they stole mail and created fake checks to buy products that they would resell on eBay. Deputies have arrested 27-year-old Alexandra…
Mail Identity Theft: 10/28/11-11/4/11
Sumner Police Blotter: Stolen Check Bonney Lake-Sumner Patch – 11/4/11 (SUMNER, WASHINGTON) “Stolen Check, Fraud-3:25pm: Officers contacted a man at a residence on the 15000 block of 68th St Ct. E. for a report of mail theft. He said he never received his disability check, which usually comes to his mailbox at the end of the month. When he called…
Mail-Identity Theft: Nov. 5-18, 2011
Mail theft on the rise in Clark County: Van Mall neighbors want their community mailbox relocatedThe Columbian – 11/18/11 (CLARK COUNTY, WASHINGTON) “Lloyd and Marrene Arvidson are tired of thieves breaking into the community mailboxes near their VanMall neighborhood home. The couple report that someone got into individual boxes several times in the past month. Officials repaired the boxes at…
Mail-Identity Theft: 11/17/11-11/26/11
Woodbury PD Blotter: More Mail Messes Woodbury Patch – 11/26/11 (WOODBURY, MINNESOTA) “Nov. 17: A resident at the 1400 block of Belmont Drive told police he found his neighbor’s mail in a neat stack in his front yard. He returned the mail. Police have warned residents about a rash of mail theft in Woodbury of late. […] Nov. 18: A…
