Guard Against Mail Theft
Mail theft is on the rise. The U.S. Postal Service issued a warning against mailing checks from a home mailbox or the blue collection bin.
What is Mail Theft?
Mail theft involves the unauthorized interception, theft, or fraudulent use of postal mail. Criminals are increasingly targeting the U.S. mail system, with a keen focus on seizing physical checks. Business checks are especially at risk due to substantial funds typically present in business accounts. Furthermore, with the bustling nature of business operations, fraudulent activities might go unnoticed for an extended period, making it crucial for businesses to remain vigilant.
How to Guard Against Mail Theft:
- Direct Mail Handling: Hand over your outgoing mail directly to the postal delivery service or drop it off inside the post office. Do not leave it in unprotected mailboxes or public mail drops where it is more vulnerable to theft.
- Collect Mail Promptly: Avoid leaving mail in your mailbox overnight or for extended periods.
- Monitor Financial Statements: Check your bank and credit card statements on a regular basis for unauthorized transactions.
- Shred Sensitive Information: Shred bank statements, credit card offers, and other sensitive documents before discarding them.
Bank Services That Help Reduce the Adverse Impacts of Mail Theft:
- ACH Transfers: Use Automated Clearing House (ACH) transfers for electronic movement of money, reducing the need for paper checks.
- Wires: Send a wire for large dollar amounts or urgent transfers instead of using paper checks.
- Positive Pay: Take advantage of a risk management tool that automatically matches the check amount, check number, and payee name of each check presented for payment against a list of checks issued.
Your security is our top priority. We will never contact you to ask for your financial or personal information, nor will we ask a third party to log in to your computer. If you receive a message requesting confidential information that claims to be from us, do not click any links and contact us immediately. It is critical to share this information with your team and continue to foster a vigilant workforce with regular training to help safeguard your business.