EDMONDS – Mail Theft

Last week’s news reports that a US Postal Worker was robbed of several mailbox keys for several mail routes in Edmonds acts as a reminder that mail theft is still alive and well.

As noted last June, check washing through mail theft has been on the rise despite the migration to online shopping and payments. And according to some, mail theft has migrated from local individuals to organized groups stealing mail from homes, apartments/condominiums and even the Postal Services blue mail collection boxes. While check washing received much attention last year, you can assume that mail thieves are still on the lookout for opportunities for identity theft by stealing blank checks, credit cards, and bank/credit card statements with account numbers on them.

Check washing is where a criminal takes a check that someone has written, then erases the recipient in the “to” line and the amount, usually with nail polish remover, then fills in a new person as the recipient and a new amount, often more than the original amount.

Here are some tips to protect your outgoing checks and your other mail from theft,

 

·         Pay your bills online. This is the safest and quickest way to pay your bills.

·         Deliver your mail to a post office. Don’t leave your check in your own mailbox for pickup. Especially if you need to raise the red flag to let the letter carrier know you have outgoing mail. That flag is a sure sign to a mail thief to take your mail. Take your check directly to your local post office. Don’t leave it in the blue box outside but take it inside to the outgoing mail slot or box inside.

·         Use a pen with blue or black non-erasable gel ink. Gel ink is more difficult to remove than ball point ink.

·         Don’t let delivered mail sit in your mailbox. Collect the mail in your mailbox as soon as you can after delivery, at least once a day. If you are away, ask a trusted neighbor to pick up your mail or have the post office hold your mail until you return.

·         Monitor your bank account. Check your bank account online every few days.

·         Report incidents quickly. Contact your bank as soon as possible after suspicious activity; banks are generally required to replace funds stolen via fraudulent checks, but only if the scam is reported within 30 days of the date of your bank statement. Also, contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and credit reporting agencies.

 

 

 

 

FOX13:

https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/armed-suspect-robs-edmonds-postal-worker-steals-mailbox-keys

 

South Snohomish County Crime Watch:

https://ssnoccrimewatch.blogspot.com/2023/06/mail-theft-check-washing-is-on-rise.html

 

AARP Fraud Watch Network:

https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/info-2023/stop-check-washers.html

 

U.S. Postal Inspection Service:

https://www.uspis.gov/news/scam-article/check-washing

https://www.uspis.gov/report

 

MAIL IN BALLOTS- Ballots Get Caught Up in Mail Theft

While the following occurred in King County, it can also happen in Snohomish County.

Sammamish Police report that voting ballots have been caught up in mail theft in the area. The police department does not think that the target of the theft was the ballots. Mail thieves were probably looking for personal information such as credit card account numbers, but the ballots just happened to be in the boxes that the mail thieves broke into.

Ballots were not opened and did not appear to have been tampered with.

A Sammamish Police spokesperson noted that many neighborhoods do not have locking mailboxes and that mail thieves target areas without locking mailboxes.

The beauty of mail in ballots is the convenience of filling out your ballot then putting it in the mail for delivery to the county. However, mail theft does have the potential of disenfranchising voters, even if that disenfranchisement is incidental to the theft.

You can protect your mail in ballot by taking one of the following actions,

·         Use a locking mailbox

·         Take it to a Postal Service blue mailbox

·         Take it to a nearby Ballot Drop Box

KING TV:

https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/sammamish-police-return-stolen-ballots-after-thieves-target-mailboxes/281-aa07f961-270a-4591-8a92-762c2cc7bc15

 

South Snohomish County Crime Watch:

https://ssnoccrimewatch.blogspot.com/2020/10/mail-in-ballots-delivering-your-ballot.html

  

For more information about voting, Drop Box locations, and other election subjects, check out one of the following links,

 

Washington State:

https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/

 

Snohomish County:

https://snohomishcountywa.gov/1986/Accessible-Voting-Information

 

King County:

https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/elections.aspx

 

 

MAIL IN BALLOTS- Delivering Your Ballot

The time to vote is rapidly approaching. In Washington State voters are used to mail in ballots. We usually give little thought about filling out our ballot, putting it in the security envelope, then putting the security envelope and ballot into the outer envelope, signing the outer envelope, then putting that envelope in outgoing mail at our mailbox.

With the publicity of mail in ballots during the current presidential campaign, voters might be a little more sensitive about the delivery of their ballots from their home to the county auditor’s office where it will be counted. Will their ballots arrive in time? Will their ballots be waylaid in a room or in a pile on the side of the road?

Will my ballot be stolen by a mail thief? To even suggest such a thing may be an indicator of the writer’s obsessions. After all, mail thieves are NOT after ballots, they are after your identity, like your bank account numbers or credit card numbers which they can turn into cash or purchases, at your expense. But a mail thief could pick up your ballot as he/she looks for bank statements, credit cards, checks, etc. and leave it on the ground somewhere with the other mail that they think they do not need. The chances of this happening all depend on whether you have a locking mailbox and how prevalent mail theft is in your area.

All ballots will be mailed to voters by October 15.

There are things you can do to help ensure that your ballot will be delivered for counting.

One of the commonly advertised things you can do is to vote early. Getting your ballot on its way to the auditor early will ensure that it arrives on time. In Washington State, ballots need to be postmarked by November 3, 2020 to be counted. Mailing your ballot at the last minute could endanger getting it postmarked in time.

If you are concerned about the security around your mailbox, you could take your ballot directly to your local post office and place it in a blue mailbox or take it inside the post office. No postage is necessary. Some jurisdictions recommend mailing your ballot by the Friday before Election Day to ensure that it is postmarked in time.

Or you can take it to a Ballot Drop Box near you by 8pm on Election Day. The Drop Boxes are available 24/7 starting on October 15.

 

For more information about voting, Drop Box locations, and other election subjects, check out one of the following links,

Washington State:

https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/

 

Snohomish County:

https://snohomishcountywa.gov/1986/Accessible-Voting-Information

 

King County:

https://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/elections.aspx

 

 

COVID-19 UPDATE- Scams and Mail Theft

Scams. Two local police agencies report that they are receiving reports of specific scams targeting local citizens.

The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office reports two scams,

Scammers are calling and telling victims that their old emails and/or passwords have been allegedly identified and threatening to publish information unless victims email them their bank account information for payment.

“A “Sgt. Glass” who claims to be associated with our agency is calling victims saying they need to report to the courthouse for a DNA sample at a specified time. We anticipate this scammer will then follow up the next day and demand the victim pay money to have a fine or warrant lifted for missing their appointment.

If you receive a call similar to these, hang up immediately.”

The Edmonds Police Department (EPD) reports,

“EPD has handled several reports where victims receive an email containing an actual password they have used. The #scam typically demands #bitcoin payment or they will release video of the victim captured via their webcam.

DO NOT click any links or respond to the email!

DO NOT click on ANY LINKS from unsolicited emails that want personal information of any type or need you to take URGENT action!

Call 425-407-3999 if you are concerned you may have been scammed.”

Remember, scammers are on overdrive to take advantage of our anxiety during this COVID-19 crisis. For information on scams check out the following web site,

AARP Fraud Watch Network:

https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/?migration=rdrct

Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office:

https://www.facebook.com/SnoCoSheriff/photos/a.318645198209560/3853262221414489/?type=3&theater

Edmonds PD:

https://www.facebook.com/EdmondsPoliceDepartment/

Mail theft. The Edmonds Police Department reports an increase in mail thefts. The Kirkland and Redmond Police Departments, in King County, also have reported an increase in mail thefts in their cities.

With stimulus checks being distributed now, people who expect to receive a physical check, not an electronic funds transfer directly into their bank account, should probably pick up their mail as soon after it is delivered as possible. Mail thieves are probably on an increased lookout for these checks to steal.


Redmond PD recommends that everyone sign up for the Postal Service’s Informed Delivery service for a heads up on what to expect in your mail-

https://informeddelivery.usps.com/box/pages/intro/start.action.

Also, you can check with the IRS on the status of your stimulus at this link- https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus-tax-relief-and-economic-impact-payments.

Edmonds PD:

https://www.facebook.com/EdmondsPoliceDepartment/photos/a.459643557549686/1431633980350634/?type=3&theater

Redmond PD:

https://twitter.com/RedmondWaPD/status/1254784333564440578?s=20

KIRO TV:

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/thieves-targeting-mailboxes-looking-stimulus-checks-police-say/3JVE4DM3QJF6VH4FKDP5AAOEHY/

MAIL THEFT- What to do if You Find Mail on the Ground

With mail theft a continuing problem, you might see piles of mail along your road.


If you find a pile of abandoned mail you may be motivated to report it and/or get it to its rightful destination. Two actions you can do to report the abandoned mail include:

·         Report to the Sheriff’s Office. You can use the non-emergency line, 425-407-3999, especially if you did not see who dropped the mail.

·         Notify your local post office of the abandoned mail.

Also, report any suspicious activity around your mailboxes to 911 when you see it. A timely report may give a deputy in the area the chance to investigate. Give as complete of a description of any individuals involved with the activity and any associated vehicles including the license number.





U.S. Postal Inspection Service:

https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/investigations/MailFraud/fraudschemes/mailtheft/ReportMailTheft.aspx

MAIL THEFT- How to Prevent Your Mail from Being Stolen

Mail theft remains a problem in our community. Mail thieves look for documents that they can use for identity theft such as checks, bank statements with account numbers, IRS documents with Social Security Numbers, etc. With tax season in full swing, correspondence between the IRS and homeowners make for appealing targets for mail thieves.



Mail thieves take the easiest opportunities to steal mail. Usually this means taking from unlocked mail boxes that they find along the road or street. They will sift through the mail, take what they want, then dump it on the side of the road.



There are actions that you can take to prevent your mail from being stolen:

•         Use a locked mail box to receive your mail. The box should be made with heavy gauge steel and small mail slots. Some locking units come in four, six, eight or more compartments so that neighbors can get together to protect their mail. These units often have a secure outgoing mail box. You can also find single locking mail boxes.

•          Leave outgoing mail at the post office or a blue postal service mail box. With the typical residential mail box, leaving the flag up when you have outgoing mail is a signal to a mail thief that there is mail to take. This is especially true for checks that you send out or mail with sensitive information.

•          Don’t leave mail overnight whether it is incoming or outgoing. Pick up your mail as soon as you can.

•          Reduce the number of bills that you receive and bills that you pay via the mail by having vendors email invoices to you and use your bank’s bill pay service to pay your bills. Bill pay is a secure system to pay your bills.        

• When you order your checks from your bank or credit union, pick them up at a local branch. A box full of blank checks is a bonanza for a mail thief.

•          When you are on a trip, have a trusted neighbor or friend pick up your mail while you are gone. You can also have your local post office hold your mail while you are away. And you can easily set this up online at https://holdmail.usps.com/holdmail/. 

•          Sign up for Informed Delivery from the Postal Service. Informed Delivery tells you what mail is on the way to your mailbox. In a daily email, the Postal Service can show you a greyscale image of the exterior of any letter sized mail. This allows you to be alerted to any important mail that may have sensitive account or other information that is on the way to your mailbox. With Informed Delivery you can also track packages that will be delivered by your letter carrier.

US Postal Service:

https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/investigations/MailFraud/fraudschemes/mailtheft/TipThieves.aspx



USPS Informed Delivery:

https://informeddelivery.usps.com/box/pages/intro/start.action

MAIL THEFT PREVENTION- Informed Delivery by the US Postal Service

Mail theft continues to be a problem. Two ways you can use to protect your mail from theft is to use a locking mailbox and to pick up your mail as soon after delivery as you can.

The Postal Service offers an Informed Delivery service that tells you what mail is on the way to your mailbox. In a daily email, the Postal Service can show you a greyscale image of the exterior of any letter sized mail. This allows you to be alerted to any important mail that may have sensitive account or other information that is on the way to your mailbox. With Informed Delivery you can also track packages that will be delivered by your letter carrier.

For more information on Informed Delivery and to sign up for this free service go to this link,

US Postal Service:

https://informeddelivery.usps.com/box/pages/intro/start.action

https://uspsblog.com/informed-delivery-online/

EDMONDS- Mail Theft

The Edmonds Police Department says that between 100 and 200 pieces of mail were stolen overnight (Friday night/Saturday morning of June 2/3) in downtown Edmonds and in the north part of Edmonds.

Most of the mail was taken from unlocked mailboxes although mail thieves did pry open some locked boxes.

A police spokesman attributed the thefts to mail thieves looking for money that has been mailed a graduation gifts. Mail thieves often look for money (cash, checks, gift cards, credit/debit cards) or information that they can easily convert to money such as account numbers on bank statements or credit card bills). With the months of May and June a prime time of year for school graduations, it makes sense the mail thieves would be looking for money as gifts in the mail.

Edmonds police highly recommend:

·         Pick up your mail regularly. Do not leave it overnight in your mail box, even if it is a locked box.

·         Consider using a locked mailbox.

Mail thieves usually go through the mail immediately after they steal it, then discard any mail that they do not want.

Edmonds police said that they would take any found mail to the Post Office so that it can be re-delivered.

If you find mail on the ground report it to police and to your local post office.

My Edmonds News:

http://myedmondsnews.com/2017/06/police-urge-vigilance-following-overnight-mail-thefts/

MILL CREEK- Stolen Key Update

On October 18, the Mill Creek Police Department reported that the master keys from a mail carrier were stolen (http://ssnoccrimewatch.blogspot.com/2016/10/mill-creek-master-postal-keys-stolen.html). The master keys opened community mailboxes in the 98012 and 98021 zip codes.

According to this morning’s The Herald, the U.S. Postal Service is replacing mailbox locks in the Mill Creek area.

Also, an investigation continues into the theft. Investigators are looking for two women and one male who could face federal felony charges.

Until the locks are replaced, authorities remind everyone to remain vigilant with their mail. Take outgoing mail to the post office or other secure location. The blue mailboxes are still secure since the master keys that were stolen do not open those mailboxes. Also, if you see anyone acting suspiciously around your mailbox call 911.

The Herald:

http://www.heraldnet.com/news/mailbox-master-key-stolen-from-carrier-in-mill-creek/?twitter

MILL CREEK- Master Postal Keys Stolen

The Mill Creek Police Department has announced that on Tuesday, October 18, a set of master keys was stolen from a mail carrier. The keys were for mailboxes in the 98012 and 98021 zip codes. The police department received reports of stolen mail from community mailboxes in neighborhoods and apartment complexes in the City on Wednesday.

As of Thursday morning, the perpetrators are still at large. The police department says that it is working with other local police agencies to identify and find the suspects.

The Mill Creek Police Department asks for your help until they can apprehend the suspect(s) by being extra vigilant about mail delivery and pick:

·         Take your outgoing mail to the post office or put it in a secure, non-communal mailbox.

·         Pick up your mail as soon as possible, and definitely before nighttime.

·         Be aware of anyone around blue drop boxes or community mailboxes that do not appear to be postal employees or customers.

·         Call 911 if you see any activity that you think is suspicious or inappropriate.

The police department reminds everyone that only postal employees are authorized to have access to the inside of the blue drop boxes or the community mailboxes.

Mill Creek Police Department:

http://www.cityofmillcreek.com/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=356

SNOHOMISH COUNTY – Mail Theft

According to an article in The Herald, published this morning, mail theft was a big problem in Snohomish County especially in the north and east portions of the county over the holiday season. Deputies found mail dumped in the woods, sometimes delivering it themselves.

Mail theft is one way local ID thieves use to gather Social Security, credit card, and other personal information to use in ID theft. According to The Herald, the Sheriff’s Office receives around 3,000 complaints of credit and debit card fraud per year.

Some things you can do to prevent your mail from being stolen include:

• Use a locked mail box to receive your mail. The box should be made with heavy gauge steel and small mail slots. Some locking units come in four, six, eight or more compartments so that neighbors can get together to protect their mail. These units often have a secure outgoing mail box. You can also find single locking mail boxes.
• Leave outgoing mail at the post office or a blue postal service mail box. With the typical residential mail box, leaving the flag up when you have outgoing mail is a signal to a mail thief that there is mail to take. This is especially true for checks that you send out or mail with sensitive information.
• Don’t leave mail overnight whether it is income or outgoing. Pick up your mail as soon as you can.
• Reduce the number of bills that you receive and bills that you pay via the mail by having vendors email invoices to you and use your bank’s bill pay service to pay your bills. Bill pay is a secure system to pay your bills.
• When you order your checks from your bank or credit union, pick them up at a local branch. A box full of blank checks is a bonanza for a mail thief.
• When you are on a trip, have a trusted neighbor or friend pick up your mail while you are gone. You can also have your local post office hold your mail while you are away. And you can easily set this up online at https://holdmail.usps.com/holdmail/.

The Herald:

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20150121/NEWS01/150129817/Snohomish-County-hit-with-recent-wave-of-mail-theft

 

 

 

LAKE STEVENS- Citizen Tip Leads to Mail Theft Investigation

Deputies, sergeants and lieutenants in the Sheriff’s Office often talk about the importance of citizens reporting suspicious activity in a timely manner to 911. This article from The Herald is a case in point.

In early November, a condo owner noticed a woman putting what appeared to be mail in a condo complex trash bin. The condo owner called 911. A Lake Stevens police officer found the suspect in a car with “a large amount of mail.” The suspect couldn’t give a good story why she had so much mail in her car. Lake Stevens’ detectives and the United States Postal Service are investigating the woman.

This is a case where a citizen’s tip has led to an investigation of a serious crime. While some calls to 911 may not turn into important investigations, local police agencies appreciate receiving this information.

The Herald article pointed out that mail theft is a major method for ID thieves to get personal information. And with the increased volume of mail during this holiday season, there is an increased opportunity for mail thieves to steal identities. Some ways that you can prevent mail theft are:

• Check your mail regularly.
• Use a locked mailbox or a post office box.
• On vacation have the post office hold your mail for you (you can go online for this service at https://www.usps.com/) or have a trust neighbor pick up your mail.
• Call 911 if you see someone hanging around your mailbox or following the letter carrier or other delivery services (UPS, Federal Express).

The Herald:

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20131208/NEWS01/712089923/Tip-leads-to-recovery-of-suspected-stolen-mail

This older article about mail theft, on page 3, from the Sheriff’s Office’s July/August 2002 issue of the crime prevention newsletter is still valid:

 http://sheriff.snoco.org/Documents/JulAug02.pdf

MAIL THEFT- Edmonds PD Investigating Brier Couple

According to The Herald, the Edmonds Police Department is investigating a Brier couple for mail theft after discovering 400 pieces of mail in their car. For details, go to:

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20130220/NEWS01/702209952#Brier-couple-arrested-with-car-full-of-stolen-mail%0A

 

Note: Mail theft is a basic method used by local identity thieves to steal account numbers and other information to use other people’s identities to purchase items and to obtain cash.

EVERETT- Everett Police Department & Secret Service Take Down ID Theft Ring

Recently, I posted an interview with experts about ID theft (http://ssnoccrimewatch.blogspot.com/2013/01/identity-theft-continuing-problem.html).

Earlier this month, The Herald published an article about a bust of an ID theft ring by the Everett Police Department and the Secret Service (http://heraldnet.com/article/20130105/NEWS01/701059947#Everett-police-Secret-Service-take-down-ID-theft-ring%0A). This article gives a good insight into the basic structure of an ID theft ring as well as idea of some of the equipment that they use.

The article makes a reference to persons on the team who devoted themselves to stealing mail.

Mail Theft is closely related to ID theft in that the criminals are looking for cash, checks, and credit cards/credit card account numbers and social security numbers. Mail thieves will use account numbers within 48 hours and often within 2-3 hours. Some forms of check fraud include: 

• Forged signatures  

• Forged endorsements  

• Counterfeit checks  

• Altered checks  

Preventing Mail Theft: The Post Office recommends the following to make it harder for thieves to steal your mail:  

• Never send cash or coins in the mail.  

• Promptly remove mail from your mailbox after delivery, especially if you are expecting checks, credit cards, etc.  

• If you will not be home when valuable items are expected, ask a trusted friend or neighbor to pick up your mail.  

• Have your local post office hold your mail while you are on vacation.  

• If you do not receive a check, food coupon or other valuable mail you are expecting, contact the issuing agency immediately.  

• Always deposit your mail in a Postal Service mail collection box or mail slot at your local post office or hand your mail to your letter carrier.   

• Exchange work and vacation schedules with trusted friends and neighbors, so that you can watch each other's mailboxes (as well as homes). 

• If you believe your mail has been stolen, report it immediately to your local postmaster. 

The ultimate prevention measure is to have a locking mailbox. Individual locking boxes are available at major hardware stores. For your street or cul de sac, the Postal Service will install locking mail box units (costing $1,300 to $1,700). You and your neighbors may need to share the costs.  The units come with 8, 12, 13 or 16 locking mail boxes, 1 or 2 parcel lockers and 1 locking outgoing mail slot. Ask your local postmaster about installing a locking mail box in your neighborhood

 

MAIL THEFT- A Way to Lose Your Identity

Criminals looking for cash, checks, and credit cards/credit card account numbers and social security numbers often will steal from mailboxes. This makes Mail Theft closely related to ID Theft. Mail thieves will use account numbers within 48 hours and often within 2-3 hours.
Preventing Mail Theft: The Post Office recommends the following to make it harder for thieves to steal your mail:

• Never send cash or coins in the mail.
• Promptly remove mail from your mailbox after delivery, especially if you are expecting checks, credit cards, etc.
• If you will not be home when valuable items are expected, ask a trusted friend or neighbor to pick up your mail.
• Have your local post office hold your mail while you are on vacation.
• If you do not receive a check, food coupon or other valuable mail that you are expecting, contact the issuing agency immediately.
• Always deposit your mail in a Postal Service blue mail collection box or mail slot at your local post  office or hand your mail to your letter carrier.
• Exchange work and vacation schedules with trusted friends and neighbors, so that you can watch each other's mailboxes (as well as homes).
• If you believe your mail has been stolen, report it immediately to the US Postal Inspection Service:

• http://postalinspectors.uspis.gov to file a mail theft complaint on-line 
• or 877-876-2455 to file a mail theft complaint via telephone

The ultimate prevention measure is to have a locking mailbox. Individual locking boxes are available at major hardware stores. For your street or cul de sac, contact your local Postmaster about locking mail box units. You and your neighbors may need to share the costs.

Have You Ordered Checks from Your Bank?
Now, many of us use bill pay services from our banks or financial institutions. But, we still may need checks for new accounts or to replace our supply of checks. Instead of having your new, blank checks mailed to your home, ask your bank to send them to your local branch where you can pick them up personally. Mail thieves love a package full of blank checks!

Mail Theft Techniques:
1. Mail thieves will follow letter carriers at a discrete distance, checking mailboxes for mail to steal.
2. Mail thieves will drive up to mailboxes, placing advertising flyers in them, and at the same time  taking out checks, etc. They stay in their vehicles to make quick getaways if they have to.

Check Fraud: Check fraud, a form of ID Theft, can include:
• Forged signatures
• Forged endorsements
• Counterfeit checks
• Altered checks

TAX SEASON- Prime Time for Mail Thieves

With tax season here we receive documents from employers, banks, investment firms etc. with our personal information.

ID thieves will troll for this information at your mailbox. Take action to prevent your personal information from being stolen:

• Make a list of forms that you expect from the financial institutions that you use. Check them off as you receive them to make sure you have received all of your forms.
• If you will be away, have your mail held at the Post Office or have a trusted friend or neighbor pick up you mail every day.
• See if you can have your tax forms delivered to you electronically.
• Consider having a locking mailbox installed for your house or your neighborhood. You can find locking mailboxes for your home at major hardware stores like Home Depot or Lowes. For your neighborhood contact your local Post Office.

Article from KOMO 4 News:

http://www.komonews.com/news/consumer/113608819.html