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 – April 2012
Apr. 2: Elgin, ILLINOIS: Daily Herald – Kane County police reports Apr. 3: Pleasanton, CALIFORNIA: Pleasanton Patch – Police Log Elgin, ILLINOIS: Elgin Courier News – Elgin neighborhood hit by ID thieves Elgin, ILLINOIS: TribLocal.com – Cluster of identity thefts reported in same Elgin subdivision Apr. 4: Teaneck, NEW JERSEY: NorthJersey.com – Woman arrested in rash of mail package thefts…
Identity Fraud: It Happened to Me!
As I tackled my tax return last night (procrastinate much?) I was in for quite the shock. When reviewing my bank account statement, I saw that three days ago a $2,000 payment was made from my Wells Fargo checking account to a “John Doe” (pseudo-name has been changed to protect the guilty) via PayPal. Shut The Front Door- I did…
Mail Identity Theft – August 2012
Aug 1: Nixa, MISSOURI: CCHeadliner.com – Nixa man gets 18 years for counterfeit checks, mail theft, identify theft conspiracy: Five co-defendants also guilty Rusk County, TEXAS: KETK – Update: Mailbox thefts continue in northern Rusk County Springfield, MISSOURI: OzarksFirst.com – Three Sentenced in Counterfeit Check Conspiracy Colorado Springs, COLORADO: KKTV 11 – Mail Stolen in Springs Neighborhood Aug. 6: Coeur…
Mail Identity Theft – September 2012
Sept. 3: Tulare County, CALIFORNIA: KMPH 26 – ID Thieves Accused Of Stealing From Dozens Of South Valley Mailboxes Sept. 4: Porterville, CALIFORNIA: Recorderonline.com – Stolen mail leads to arrests Taylors, SOUTH CAROLINA: WSPA – Thieves Swipe Mail In Greenville County Neighborhood: Postal inspectors say act fast to protect yourself Sept. 5: Kingman, ARIZONA: KTNV – Arizona officials looking for…
Mail thefts rampant in Sammamish, WA
Sammamish is a stomping ground for mail thieves. The police blotter from the Sammamish Review documented a rise in mail theft in the area. There is constant threat that your identity could be stolen, bank account hacked and your peace of mind shattered. 5 of 8 reports in the Sammamish Police Blotter are mail theft related. Note the titles: Bank…
Mail Identity Theft – November 2012
Nov. 1: Fort Wayne, INDIANA: News-Sentinel – An unlocked mailbox is an ID gold mine Eugene, OREGON: KLCC – Mailbox Thefts Raise Concerns About Voter Fraud Bremen, GEORGIA: CBS Atlanta 46 – Police warn homeowners to protect outgoing mail Fairfield, CALIFORNIA: FOX40 – Neighbors Hope to Catch Mail Thieves Suisun City, CALIFORNIA: Suisun City Patch – Fairfield Police Department Warns…
Authorities Urging Caution Against Holiday Mail Thefts
Remember how holiday mail thefts and you need to take precautions – namely, use a locking mailbox – to protect yourself? Well, you don’t have to take our word for it. Here’s a round up of news stories in the last few days related to holiday mail thefts, and urging preventative measures to keep your mail, packages, and your identity…
Mail Identity Theft – December 2012
Dec. 1: Chesterfield, VIRGINIA: KTVR – Chesterfield man says gift cards were pilfered from mailboxes Chicago, ILLINOIS: CBS Chicago – Off-Duty Cop Catches Mail Thief Dec. 4: Monterey, CALIFORNIA: The Salinas Californian – Monterey Police Log: Prowling, theft of mail Maple Leaf Seattle, WASHINGTON: Maple Leaf Life – Beware mail theft this holiday season Riverside County, CALIFORNIA: Press Enterprise –…
January 2013 – Mail Identity Theft
Jan. 1: Enumclaw, WASHINGTON: Enumclaw Patch – Burglaries, Mail Theft and Tires Punctured in Dec. 29 to Dec. 31 Blotter Kent, WASHINGTON: KOMO 4 – Thieves targeting Kent mailboxes San Jacinto, CALIFORNIA: Press Enterprise – SAN JACINTO: Man arrested with stolen mail Jan. 2: Woodinville, WASHINGTON: Woodinville Patch – Commercial Burglaries, Stolen Mail – Woodinville Crime Report Jan. 3: Carolina…
Mail Identity Theft – October 2012
Oct. 1: Novato, CALIFORNIA: Marin Independent Journal – Novato mailboxes raided, mail scattered, in Green Point area Charlotte, NORTH CAROLINA: Mooresville Tribune – Man charged with stealing check from mailbox Long Hill, CALIFORNIA: Daily Record – Police Blotter: Mail theft in Long Hill Oct. 3: Contra Costa, CALIFORNIA: SFGate.com – ALERT: Mail Thieves on the Loose – Stolen Mail Found…
