Mail Safety Tips

Thieves want your mail! They want your checks, your credit card applications, and your bank account statements. Protect your accounts and private information by taking the following steps:

• Never write your card number on a post card or on the outside of an envelope.
• Never mail a post card with personal information, such as birth date, social security number, or account number, on it. Always place it in a sealed envelope before mailing.
• Shred unused pre-approved credit applications before discarding them.
• Notify the post office immediately if you change your address.
• Make sure your mailbox is secure, and promptly remove mail.
• If you are not receiving mail, call the post office immediately. Some crooks will forge your signature and have your mail forwarded elsewhere, for the purpose of obtaining information that will allow them to apply for credit in your name.
• If you are told of a forwarding order placed on your mail without your knowledge, go to the post office to check the signature and cancel the order. Ask the post office to track down the forwarded mail, which can remain in the postal system for up to 14 days before landing in the criminal's hands.
• Call the U.S. Post Office crime hot line at (800) 654-8896 if you are victimized by mail fraud.
• For more information on mail fraud, visit the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Website.