The Card’s in the Mail
We tend to take for granted that the things that are put in our mailbox are safe. Credit cards, for instance, are mailed out through the general mail system. If we lose our card and call for a replacement, that is also sent through the mail. When our cards expire, the replacement card is also received through our mail. If only the mail was as safe as it’s supposed to be.
Mail theft is becoming a major issue, especially when it comes to identity theft. Thieves know that personal information delivered to your mailbox may be ripe for the taking. Credit card applications are a jackpot for identity thieves year-round. The truth is that most of our personal information is included in either the mail we receive or the mail we send out. While it makes our lives easier to take advantage of the little red flag on our mailbox that indicates we have mail to be picked up, unfortunately, that red flag can also alert potential thieves that we have checks or other important documents easily accessible.
Mail theft is an even bigger concern during tax season. At tax time thieves turn their focus to W-2s. W-2s include your social security number, birth date, and salary information, which credit cards and checks do not. The information contained in a W-2 offers fraudsters the opportunity to open credit card, bank or other accounts by using your personal data. They can also use your information to make purchases and even apply for a job. A stolen W-2 can evn be used by a thief to file for an advance loan from your tax return. Even with some companies offering electronic W-2 forms, the danger remains that your personal information can be stolen from somewhere else and used to create a fake W-2 under your name.
Luckily, there are some steps that you can take to avoid having your tax information stolen. The primary defense is simple. Check yourmail each day as soon after it gets delivered as possible. This will leave thieves with little time to steal any mail that contains your personal information. This is a wise strategy at all times of the year, especially when you are expecting the delivery of credit cards, checks, or similar items.
If you are planning to be on vacation or away from home for any amount of time, you should place a hold on your mail or rent a post office box. Another option is to ask a trusted friend or neighbor to pick up and hold your mail for you. The important thing is to avoid letting your mail sit in your mailbox for any substantial amount of time.
During tax season, be on the lookout for your W-2s. Any time that you are expecting an important document or credit card and don’t receive it in the expected amount of time, let the issuer know as soon as possible. If they tell you that it was sent on schedule and you should have received it, then contact your local postmaster or nearest postal inspector if you believe your mail may have been stolen.
If you move, be sure to update the post office and anyone you do business with to assure that important documents will reach you in a timely manner and not accidentally sit in your old mailbox. In order to cut down on credit card applications sent to your mailbox year round, you can contact the Direct Marketing Association at www.dmaconsumers.org/consumerassistance.html. Although many people become victims of mail theft each year, you can take action to avoid joining that group.