Is a Criminal Intercepting on your USPS Mail?

Criminals seeking to steal identities are abusing the U.S. Postal Service’s Informed Delivery, a service that allows you to digitally preview your mail and manage package delivery.

The scam takes advantage of the weak verification method used by USPS to authenticate new customers; USPS uses information available on websites like spokeo.com, zillow.com, and social media profiles to confirm the individual signing up for the service resides at the address. ID thieves sign up targeted identity theft victims for the Informed Delivery service to monitor and intercept mail.

It is possible, to be a victim of this scam and not even know someone is monitoring your mail. Additionally, it is possible for a thief to apply for a credit card in the victim’s name and then steal those cards from the mailbox.

The best action you can take to thwart this threat is to sign up for the U.S. Postal Service’s Informed Delivery before the criminals do. Some individuals have reported that they were unable to sign up for the service online when they have a credit freeze – please review the USPS FAQs for how to sign up in person. If you are unable to sign up, contact the U.S. Postal Service it may mean that someone is intercepting your mail.

About Cybersafe
The Division of Information Technology is dedicated to informing the community of the latest cybersecurity threats. Visit fitnyc.edu/cybersafe and stay tuned for emails from [email protected] for the latest from the Cybersafe campaign at FIT.

Be aware—and be cybersafe!

Questions? Comments? Email [email protected] or call 212 217.HELP (4357).