Despite the rise of the internet and email, many people and businesses still send correspondence via the United States Postal Service (USPS). As a result, some criminals continue to target people through the USPS.
One way they can do this is to open a person’s mail and use the information they find there to commit some kind of fraud. Remember, correspondence from banks, the Social Security Administration and the like can often carry significant personal details.
There can be serious consequences
If you open someone else’s mail, there is a possibility that you could find yourself accused of involvement in an actual or attempted fraud. This could be even more likely if the person the mail was addressed to has been the victim of fraud, and the police are investigating how it happened.
Even if the police soon realize there is nothing to this line of suspicion, it can make for an unpleasant and worrying experience. In some cases, you could even end up in court facing criminal charges because of it, despite your innocence.
If you find yourself with another person’s mail because it was incorrectly addressed, wrongly delivered or the old occupant didn’t update their address with the sender, then the best thing you can do is to deliver it to them if they’re nearby or readdress it to them and pop it in an outgoing mailbox. If you don’t, remember the words of Elvis and write “Return to sender. Address unknown” on the unopened envelope and put it in an outgoing mailbox.
Mail fraud is considered a serious crime. If you’ve been arrested and charged or even if you find that you’re being investigated, it’s wise to get legal guidance as soon as possible.
