Mail Fraud Identity Theft Schemes Exposed
Postal Inspector laments: “Like nothing we have ever seen!”
Nebraska police and postal authorities have uncovered what appears to be one of the largest cases of mail fraud and identity theft they have ever encountered.
A vehicle searched after a routine traffic stop uncovered a mountain of stolen mail which lead veteran postal inspectors to discover one of the largest caches of stolen mail in the state’s history.
Similar incidents in Fremont, California have led to the arrest and conviction of a couple who were recently sentenced to five years in prison and slapped with a $25 million dollar judgement for trying to misuse the U.S. Mail to defraud Microsoft Corporation.
The Microsoft case involved multiple defendants who were very organized and persistent.
In a frightening turn, it was discovered that the proceeds from the racket were being funneled out of the country and in to Pakistan, according to federal prosecutors.
Here are 5 simple ways to reduce your chances of being a mail fraud victim:
- Only use a locked mailbox at home
- Never leave mail for pickup in, on or around your mailbox (that red flag is a no no)
- Stop your mail delivery when going on vacation
- Utilize online bill payments to reduce the paper mail you receive
- If you suspect you are missing mail, contact local police and Postal Inspectors pronto
Sadly, we have finally come to the point in our nation’s history when it is naive and foolish to utter the hackneyed phrase “the check is in the mail.”