The United States Post Office expects to deliver more than 900 million packages this holiday season.
But some criminals have found a new way to try to steal your mail. They are taking advantage of a digital notification system from the postal service that gives an early look at what’s coming in the mail.
Currently, 13 million people nationwide signed up with the post office for the Informed Delivery Program, which sends an email when you mail is sent.
The post office asks people to verify their identity with questions like:
– Past cities and streets where they’ve lived
– The sale price of their home
“The information could be on the Dark Web,” said Adam Levin, CyberScout Founder. “It’s being collected by companies that collect and sell data.”
That information can allow scammers to sign up with your name and address, but their e-mail.
And now, the Secret Service warns: Criminals can take advantage of Informed Delivery to “intercept mail and to further their identity theft fraud schemes.”
The postal service says households can opt-out online from Informed Delivery and say their inspectors are continuously watching for suspicious activity.