Fraud / scam?

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Not quite a Newb Joined: 15 Jan 2006 Posts: 62

My parents had a strange fraud happen recently. Apparently, someone went to the post office, and filled out a change of address form. Signed it and everything. Their mail got forwarded for a few days to the scammer's address in another state.

What how does this theoretically do / help with identity fraud? Obviously, they have taken action to get it fixed, reported, etc.

Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2016 4:10 am

Potentially, if the fraudster timed it right, in the few days that the post was forwarded the scammer could have requested new bank cards, PINs, etc. for their accounts. They could also have taken out new loans, credit cards or opened bank accounts in your parent's names.

It would probably be a good idea for them to take a very careful look at their credit reports for the next few months to see if there's any new accounts appearing, as well as securing all their existing accunts.

Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2016 1:16 pm

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service has further advice:

https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/investigations/mailfraud/fraudschemes/mailtheft/IDProtectName.aspx