Learn how identity thieves use your mail to steal information, and use these tips to protect your mail and keep your identity safe.
Identity theft is the number one crime on the rise in America. Although we sometimes take the importance of our mail for granted, identity thieves can do plenty of harm with what they find in our box. They look for mail containing personal information which is then used to steal a person's identity. With credit card applications, bank account statements, and income tax returns, thieves can create counterfeit checks or fake identification. Additionally, outgoing or incoming checks can be washed of handwriting and used for the thief's own benefit. They can do almost anything with the information they steal: open credit card accounts, establish phone service, get cable/dish television, take out an auto loan, file bankruptcy, or file fraudulent tax returns.
So what can you do to protect yourself from this?
Mail items, especially those with sensitive information, from the post office. Leaving your mail in a mailbox by the road and waiting for a postal carrier to pick it up is almost like leaving your most sensitive information out by the road with a tag on it that reads "steal me!" Take your mail to the post office, and mail it from inside.
Never leave your mail anywhere overnight. Although the post office's boxes are generally safer than mailboxes at a residence, there have been mail theft incidents at post offices where people left their mail overnight. If you are not able to pick up your mail every day from either your roadside box or a post office box, it is wise to have a trusted neighbor or friend collect it for you.
If you must mail items from your roadside box, make sure it is secure. There are mailboxes made of heavy steel which have a lock requiring a key to collect what is inside. These are highly recommended for people who cannot easily access their local post office.
Remove your name from credit bureau marketing lists. This will cut down the number of "pre-approved" offers you receive for credit cards, loans, and other items which contain personal information. If you do receive these offers, do not throw them into the trash without first shredding them.
Do not have products with sensitive financial information, such as new checks, delivered to your home. Arrange to have them picked up at your bank or another appropriate place, depending on what the product is. If you are expecting a new credit card or other financial information to be arriving at your house, ask when it should be arriving. If it doesn't show up, immediately call the place from which you were expecting it.
If you suspect that your mail has been stolen and that you are a victim of identity theft, there are a few things you need to do immediately. First, place a fraud alert on your credit report. You can do this by contacting the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and Trans Union). They will flag your file to let creditors know there is a possible problem. At the same time, you should ask the credit bureaus to send you a credit report. When you receive it, look for any accounts that have been tampered with or new accounts that have been added.
Contact the fraud department associated with any accounts (credit cards, loans, etc.) that have had suspicious activity. Discuss the activity and let them know you believe you are a victim of identity fraud. File a report with your local police and keep a copy so the creditors have proof that this has been done.
Identity theft is a crime that can affect its victims for months or years. By following the steps above, your mail and information will be safer and less likely to end up in the hands of a thief.
