Report Mail Theft - They Could Be Stealing Your Identity
Posted: Saturday, February 12, 2011
by Jane Hercules
http://www.lockthemailbox.com
There are steps you must take to protect your mail from the criminals who rely on mail theft for support of their families or their drug habits. Many of these people are wanted for other crimes as well. You want to avoid having any issues with them.
Here are things to report to the U.S. Postal service as soon as you notice them.
· File a complaint if you did not get the checks or credit cards or licenses you requested.
· File a complaint if your mail has been destructively handled
· File a complaint if you suspect a false change of address.
· File a complaint if there has been tampering or vandalism done to your mailbox.
Why is all this reporting necessary?
Postal inspectors keep a database of complaints. It helps them to see patterns about what crimes are committed. They can investigate the areas in which mail fraud is happening. Mail thieves may have recognizable modes of operation. Some may already be known as fugitives.
Why do you want to make these types of complaints?
The Postal Inspectors do their job. It is an overwhelming job because there are so many mail pieces to keep track of every day. Also, mail thieves are getting better at their crimes and their numbers are growing.
Do All Complaints Get Investigated?
The answer is “No.”
What’s it to You?
When your mail fails to arrive, it could have fallen into the wrong hands. Your identity may be in jeopardy of being used by someone else.
If your mail has been opened or emptied onto the ground it could be that thieves looking for personal information have been at work.
If suddenly mail placing you as the one to pay certain accounts arrives at you address, you know evil is afoot. This is known as false change of address.
Mailbox vandalism is a sure sign that someone has been targeting you. It may be just teenagers having batting practice. They must be stopped.
Most of all, you want to avoid the subsequent identity theft from destroying your life. If someone else uses your identity he gets a huge profit and you get a giant headache that will last for years to come.
The U.S. Postal Service Inspection Office has prepared a brochure to make available to every home. It is called a Mail Fraud Brochure. You will want to look for it in your mailbox.
Take the time to read it over. Take the time to make the complaints they have encouraged us to make. Of course the Postal Service cannot do the whole job of mail theft prevention. We must help them by reporting the information for their database in a timely manner.
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