Stolen Mail Checks Credit Cards: A Threat to Identity and Finances

Stolen mail checks and credit cards can be a thief's dream come true. A single stolen check can lead to thousands of dollars in unauthorized transactions.

Identity thieves often target mailboxes, especially during peak moving seasons, as people are more likely to have new addresses and financial documents. They can grab a check from the mailbox and cash it before the owner even knows it's missing.

In 2019, the average loss per identity theft victim was $1,300, with 14.4 million people experiencing some form of identity theft.

Thieves are stealing checks and money orders from mailboxes and washing the information to take the cash. This is happening in Philadelphia and across the nation.

In South Philadelphia alone, there have been 91 cases of mail fraud since October, with 70% of them involving washing checks with household products and rewriting them.

Thieves are targeting personal mailboxes, blue USPS boxes, and even post offices. They swipe the mailed checks and money orders, then wash the information to make them usable.

Destiny Anderson, a New York City postal worker, and her partner, Anthony Johnson, were charged for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars worth of checks and credit cards from the mail. They sold some of the stolen items online for profit.

One stolen check was for over $387,000, and another for $21,500. The defendants allegedly used the stolen funds to buy luxury items at high-end stores.

The stolen checks and credit cards were often taken from envelopes that contained them, and the defendants used social media platforms like Instagram to sell the stolen items. They accepted payment via Zelle or Cash App.

The investigation into the mail scheme operated between May 14, 2021, and March 2022.

Mail theft is a serious crime, and the consequences can be severe. In the US, mail theft is a federal offense, punishable under Title 18, United States Code, Section 1702.

The penalties for mail theft can be steep, with fines of up to $250,000 and imprisonment for up to 5 years. The severity of the punishment depends on the value of the stolen mail and the intent of the perpetrator.

California Penal Code 530.5 makes mail theft a serious offense, punishable by up to three years in state prison.

Mail theft is defined as the theft of mail from a mailbox or other mail receptacle, and it's considered a felony in the state of California.

A person commits mail theft if they take or carry away a letter, package, or other mail matter from a mailbox or other mail receptacle without the consent of the addressee or the postal service.

The law also prohibits the theft of mail that is in the process of being delivered or is being held for delivery.

Mail theft can be charged as a felony or a misdemeanor, depending on the value of the mail and the circumstances of the theft.

A conviction for mail theft can result in significant fines and restitution to the victim, in addition to any prison time.

Federal prosecutors are taking a tough stance on mail theft, with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) reporting over 100,000 mail theft cases in 2020.

Prosecutors are using the federal mail theft statute, 18 U.S.C. § 1702, to charge offenders, which can result in up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

The USPIS has increased its efforts to combat mail theft, with a focus on high-crime areas and partnering with local law enforcement agencies to share intelligence and resources.

Prosecutors are also using the Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act (ITADA) to charge offenders who use stolen mail to commit identity theft.

In some cases, prosecutors are seeking enhanced penalties for repeat offenders, who can face up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000.

The USPIS has also implemented a national database to track mail theft cases and share information with law enforcement agencies across the country.

Postal workers are entrusted with a vital role in our daily lives, but unfortunately, some have betrayed that trust. Destiny Anderson, a former postal worker at the Radio City Post Office, allegedly stole thousands of dollars worth of checks and credit cards from the mail.

The scheme operated between May 14, 2021, and March 2022, with Anderson sorting mail and acting as a relay between the office and the truck driver. She allegedly took envelopes containing credit cards and checks, including one for over $387,000 and another for $21,500.

Anderson's partner, Anthony Johnson, was also charged in the scheme, and allegedly encouraged and directed her on which envelopes to take. They used stolen cards and checks for their benefit or sold them to other individuals, sometimes using Instagram and accepting payment via Zelle or Cash App.

One of the disturbing aspects of this case is the brazen nature of the thefts. Anderson and Johnson allegedly used stolen funds to buy luxury items at high-end stores like Yves Saint Laurent and Bottega Veneta.

In another case, a mail carrier in Gainesville, Florida, pleaded no contest to dozens of felony charges for stealing credit cards, gift cards, and checks from customers on her route. She admitted to taking credit cards but claimed it was not a big deal, and she didn't think it would be noticed.

The mail carrier, who was not named, was found to have $10,657 in cash at her home, and large volumes of mail and credit cards belonging to her customers. Her girlfriend, Alexcia Rosa Monee Higgs, was also charged in the scheme and remains in jail.