Mail Theft Fraud

Mail theft fraud involves stealing items from residential or business mailboxes, post collection points, or mail delivery vehicles to obtain cheques, new or replacement bank cards, financial statements, government correspondence, or personal identity documents. The stolen items can be used directly — for example, a stolen replacement bank card used to drain an account — or as raw material to build an identity profile for further fraud.

Stolen cheques are commonly 'washed' (original payee and amount removed using chemicals) and rewritten to the fraudster or an accomplice. Stolen pre-approved credit-card offers can sometimes be activated by criminals who intercept both the card and the PIN mailer sent separately. Government documents such as passport renewal correspondence, national insurance paperwork, or tax notices are particularly valuable for identity fraud.

Preventive measures include using a lockable mailbox, collecting mail promptly, using a mail-holding service when travelling, opting for electronic statements and correspondence, tracking expected deliveries so that absent items can be quickly identified, and being alert to unexpected changes in mail volume — sudden cessation of regular bills may indicate address fraud.