Identity theft is America's fastest-growing crime.
Last year alone, more than 9.9 million Americans were victims of identity theft, a crime that cost them roughly $5 billion.
The number of ID theft victims and their total losses are probably much higher. It's hard to pin down, because law enforcement agencies may classify ID theft differently--it can involve credit card fraud, Internet fraud, or mail theft, among other crimes.
The FTC reported that only four percent of victims cited stolen mail as the source of personal information. Even so, U.S. Postal Inspectors, charged with protecting the nation’s mail system from criminal misuse, are leaders in the fight against identity theft.
Postal Inspectors provide these ID theft tips:
Review your consumer credit reports annually.
Shred and destroy unwanted documents that contain personal information.
Deposit mail in U.S. Postal Service collection boxes.
Don’t leave mail in your mailbox overnight or on weekends.
For more information...
Learn how to protect personal identifying information in your organization.
More tips to help you avoid identity theft.
If you think you're a victim of identity theft, here's what you should do.
View and print our Identity Theft brochure, Publication 280, in PDF format. Or, view and print a text-only version of the Identity Theft brochure.
Learn about how identity thieves can steal your name and your money.
Identity theft may include mail fraud, credit card theft, or check fraud. Read current online news of Postal Inspectors’ investigations of this fast-growing crime to learn how to best protect yourself.
If you’re a victim of identity theft and the U.S. Mail is involved, call your nearest Postal Inspection Service office and local police or report identity theft on-line.
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