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Innovation eases pain for mail theft victims
Fraud & Security

Innovation eases pain for mail theft victims

by Rod Spurgeon
written by Rod Spurgeon

When a thief uses extreme force to rip open a cluster box unit to steal mail, owners of that mail typically have no way of knowing what was stolen. Not anymore. Innovation eases pain for mail theft victims
The Postal Service recently released a new feature called Informed Delivery. Informed Delivery is a free service that offers customers the opportunity to see what’s arriving soon in the mail before items are delivered.
Once signed up for the optional program, a participant will receive grayscale images of the outside of his or her letter-sized mail pieces in an email. After reviewing these images, the recipient will know what to expect in the mailbox. This type of advanced knowledge has many benefits, but for those who might be the victim of mail theft, it takes on a new purpose.
Criminals are on the hunt for cash, gift cards, and other valuable items in the mail as a source of instant income. They’re also interested in financial instruments such as checks and credit cards as well as personal information including social security numbers and birthdates. Knowing what a thief has stolen will significantly enhance a victim’s ability to respond to the theft.
If, for example, a person arrives home after work and discovers a mailbox break-in with all contents removed, that person can review Informed Delivery emails for the past few days to see what the thief might have stolen. If one of the stolen items is a new credit card, the victim can call that company and cancel the card immediately. If it’s a gift card, the victim can contact the sender to report the fraud to the issuing company.
While Informed Delivery won’t prevent mail theft, it will increase mail transparency and allow victims of mail theft to act more rapidly to reduce the damage a criminal can cause from using the contents of the mail.
To see if your ZIP Code is eligible to participate in the program, go to http://informeddelivery.usps.com. Innovation eases pain for mail theft victims

Innovation eases pain for mail theft victims

Innovation eases pain for mail theft victims Innovation eases pain for mail theft victims Innovation eases pain for mail theft victims Innovation eases pain for mail theft victims Innovation eases pain for mail theft victims
 

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Package shipment scam delivers big rip off
Fraud & Security

Package Shipment Scam Delivers Big Rip Off

by Rod Spurgeon
written by Rod Spurgeon

Beware of a Box of Lies

In a recent telephone scam, a criminal tried to use a package delivery technique to lure a target into handing over credit card information. Fortunately, the scammer wasn’t as convincing as he could have been and the target hung up the phone before giving out any personal data. The next scammer, however, could be more persuasive in his pitch. Here’s what happened and how to avoid becoming a victim. Package shipment scam delivers big rip off
When the individual in this package scam twist answered her phone, a man told her that his company had a package for her that was ready to be shipped out. All they needed was her address so they could drop it in the mail. The target hadn’t ordered anything recently and told the man he was mistaken. The caller insisted the package was intended for her, but he needed her address before they could mail it. He also needed her credit card information to verify the purchase.
This caller had no personal information about his target. He didn’t know her name or address, but he wanted this information and the target’s credit card number so he could make fraudulent purchases. Fortunately, the target detected this scam immediately and deftly avoided it. The next target, however, might not be so lucky. Package shipment scam delivers big rip off
The package in this scenario was a ruse to get the target’s address and credit card information. That’s what the caller wanted. If a person you don’t know calls to offer you something for free, or an unexpected package as in the example above, it’s probably a scam. A scammer will always want financial information or money in exchange for the item. When a person you don’t know calls to ask you for anything in exchange for a free item or an unexpected package, err on the side of caution and refuse to take the bait. Tell the caller “no thank you” and hang up immediately.
Don’t engage in conversation with a scammer. Don’t tell the caller you think he’s a scammer. Don’t give in to pressure from the scammer. The decision to end the call is yours and yours alone. The scammer cannot force you to stay on the line. Your only task is to get off the phone with a suspected scammer. And when you do hang up on the scammer, feel good about yourself for avoiding the scam. You’ve earned it.
“But it could be a package I ordered” you might say to yourself. It isn’t. Even if you do considerable online shopping, the company won’t call you to request your address and credit card information. The company already has this information. A more skilled scammer could claim he’s from a well-respected online retailer such as Amazon.com, Overstock.com, or many other popular sites. Don’t be fooled. No matter what company the caller claims to represent, if he asks for personal financial information, it’s probably a scam.
When you find yourself on the phone with a scammer, your best defense is to get off the phone as quickly as possible. Always hang up on a scammer immediately to keep your money where it belongs – in your possession.

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