Federal agencies and Postal unions call for stronger protections as mail theft-related fraud rises nationwide.
The Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) reported a significant rise in mail theft-related check fraud, with over 15,400 cases reported between February and August 2023. This surge, fueled by theft from the U.S. Postal Service, has led to $688 million in suspicious activity, with some fraudsters using sophisticated techniques like check washing to alter stolen checks.
The average amount of fraud in these cases is nearly $45,000, and criminals have increasingly relied on online banking and mobile deposits to avoid detection. New York, California, and Florida have experienced the highest number of reported cases, but FinCEN warns that this issue affects every state.
The report states, “Generally, mail theft-related check fraud is the combination of two crimes: mail theft and check fraud.”
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) also reported a surge in mail theft crimes, with 1,200 cases and 1,559 arrests in fiscal 2023. Criminals frequently target letter carriers for their arrow keys, which unlock blue collection boxes, leading to more robberies of postal employees. Postal unions are advocating for the passage of the Protect Our Letter Carriers Act, which would enhance protections for letter carriers, treating assaults on them with the same severity as assaults on police officers.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Postmaster DeJoy and USPS officials as they seek to address mail theft and protect mail carriers from assault.
- For Treasury Department officials as they investigate and seek to curb check fraud.
- For members of Congress as they consider the Protect Our Letter Carriers Act.
Sources: Federal News Network, American Banker
