Postal Inspector on International Groups Stealing USPS Mail and Financial Crimes

Rise in Mail Theft and Related Crimes

• 📈 Postal Inspector General Donahue attributes the increase in mail theft to a shift in criminal activity towards low-risk, high-reward financial crimes.
• 💡 Criminals are motivated by stealing mail to perpetrate financial crimes, facilitated by online marketplaces for stolen goods and encrypted messaging.
• ⚠️ A lack of deterrence, including prosecutorial and sentencing challenges, contributes to an environment where criminals feel it is permissive to commit these offenses.

International Involvement in Mail Theft

• 🔍 While the primary motivation is the theft of financial instruments, mail theft is also used to perpetrate identity theft.
• 🌍 International groups are confirmed to be involved in many investigations related to mail theft and financial crimes.
• 💰 During the COVID-19 pandemic, international groups, along with domestic ones, perpetrated mass fraud, particularly targeting unemployment and other forms of compensation, often using stolen checks or prepaid debit cards.

Modus Operandi and Locations of Theft

• 📍 Mail theft and the theft of personal identifying information or financial instruments can occur at any point in the mail delivery process.
• 📬 This includes theft at the street level, collection boxes, unsecured mailboxes at residences, and unfortunately, by a small number of Postal Service employees.

Public Recommendations for Mail Security

• 📬 Individuals are advised to pick up their mail as soon as possible after delivery.
• 💻 Signing up for Informed Delivery provides a preview of incoming mail, allowing recipients to be aware of what to expect.
• 📮 For sending mail, it is recommended to do so securely by bringing it into a post office or handing it directly to a letter carrier.

Information Dissemination

• 🌐 The Postal Inspection Service shares prevention information online, through financial institutions, community forums, presentations, and town halls with constituents.
• 📣 Social media is also utilized as a channel to disseminate this crucial information to the public.