Mail Identity Theft

Identity theft is the fastest growing crime in the United States for the past 10 years, and affects over 10 million Americans each year.

Mail theft is a common way that identity thieves can steal your identity, and the 60 million unlocked mailboxes in the US offer a treasure trove of opportunity for would-be identity thieves.

Victims of mail theft often do not realize they have been victimized until their credit record and good name is ruined. Remedying the outcomes of fraud and identity theft requires thousands of dollars and hours of your time.

This section provides information about the prevalence of mail and identity theft, and the precautions you can take to protect yourself and your name.

Mail Identity Theft

  • More than 1 in 20 Americans are victims of ID theft each year
  • ID theft is the fastest growing crime in the nation
  • Only 35% of ID theft victims know how their info was compromised
  • The majority of known ID theft is perpetuated via low-tech methods: stolen wallets, stolen mail and stolen trash.
  • Mail theft is highly under-reported because most people don’t realize when their mail has been stolen
Crime Statistics