Stolen mail fuelling rise in card fraud
Card fraud and ID theft increasing due to scammers stealing post.
There has been a spike in cases of ‘mail non-receipt’ fraud, where criminals steal mail from communal postal areas – such as in apartment blocks and flats – in order to commit card fraud or ID theft.
According to Financial Fraud Action UK’s fraud intelligence bureau it has increased 10% in the first half of 2014, to the tune of £5 million.
Areas that are experiencing high levels of this mail theft include Manchester, Twickenham, Harrow and Bromley.
How the scam works
The scam relies on criminals gaining access to blocks of flats and then stealing mail from communal letter boxes.
Once they have the post, they then have a number of frauds and scams open to them, from simply using any cards that may be contained in the letters, to attempting to open up new lines of credit by impersonating you.
In some cases, they may use this information to call you impersonating your bank or the police in order to commit further scams.
How to protect yourself
If your post is delivered to a communal area, it’s vital you take steps to protect it. If possible, add a lock or some form of security. If the area looks like it has been damaged or tampered with, report it to your landlord immediately.
You also need to be on the ball when collecting your mail. Don’t leave it uncollected for long periods of time. If you aren’t going to be around for a couple of days, arrange for a friend or relative to collect it for you, or even look into a mail collection service.
You might also consider asking for bills and bank statements to be sent to you electronically where possible.
If you move house, make sure you tell your bank, card issuer and all other important firms immediately. It’s also well worth using a mail redirection service after you move, at least for a little while.
Want to check your credit report? See what the different credit reference agencies offer
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