Protect your identity by protecting your mail

October 14, 2010 – 9:42 am

Pennsylvania State Police are seeking a man they say is behind an elaborate identity theft scam.

The man, whose identity is not currently known, was caught on surveillance video at the First Commonwealth Bank in Jennerstown, Somerset County, cashing bogus checks.

Investigators say he stole the information and used a computer to make fake checks totaling $1,600. One officer said the scam was obviously something “someone…put a lot of thought into, a lot of time into.”

The unidentified man has committed access device fraud, forgery and theft on two different occasions, obtaining $1,000, then $600. The name and bank routing number on the checks belong to a Latrobe, Pa. resident.

Investigators in the case say it’s very common for thieves to steal letters from home mailboxes in search of personal information. You should use caution when mailing a personal check, and it’s recommended that you mail it from the post office or by handing it to a mail carrier, rather than placing it in a home mailbox. You should never leave mail in your box for an extended period of time.

You may want to consider a locking mailbox or a mail slot, or you may even wish to rent a mailbox at your local post office. If you can’t be around when your mail is delivered, then a post office box is your safest bet.

Use electronic payments and banking whenever possible. When you conduct online financial transactions online at a secured site, you’re far more protected than sending checks through the mail that can be stolen, washed and re-used.

Protecting your mail and your identity is really just a matter of changing the way you think. It used to be safe to leave your mail in the mailbox all day. But then, it also used to be safe to leave your doors unlocked.

But we don’t live in that world anymore. Take time to think about your mail habits and how they could put you at risk. Then change them. It may be a pain in the neck, but you’ll have one less point of risk when identity thieves come calling.

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