April Newsletter

GENERAL INTEREST
ENSURING A SAFE
community
DO NOT BECOME A
VICTIM OF MAIL THEFT
It’s Spring and criminals have sprung! Many people do not
realize that the once simple convenience of putting outgoing
mail in an unsecured curbside mail box and lifting the red
flag to notify the postman has also become a signal to mail
thieves that there is outgoing mail. This represents easy access
to credit card information, tax payments and other types of
personal information to be used for fraudulent activity. Mail
thieves are aware that it may take some time before a victim
realizes that something is amiss. When outbound letters
vanish, it may take weeks before it is discovered that the mail
did not reach its intended destination. At the same time, the
disappearance of inbound mail can easily go un-noticed; the
first sign of fraud might come as quickly as the next credit
card or bank statement.
What can you do to minimize exposure to mail theft?
• Make sure your personal mailbox is secure and can lock at
all times.
• Use the letter slots at your post office to mail letters, or
give them to a letter
carrier.
• Pick up your mail
promptly after delivery.
Don’t leave it in your
mailbox overnight.
• Don’t send cash in the
mail.
• Ask your bank for “secure”
checks that can’t be altered.
• Tell your post office when
you will be out of town so they can hold your mail.
• If you don’t receive a check or other valuable mail you are
expecting, contact the issuing agency immediately.
Check your credit reports regularly. If you find accounts
that don’t belong to you or other incorrect information,
follow the instructions for disputing those items. Visit
www.consumer.gov/idtheft for step-by-step advice about
what to do if you’re a victim of identity theft.
For more information or if you believe your mail was stolen,
please call the Police Department at 303-773-2525. GV
APRIL 2019 | GV NEWSLETTER PG. 17