Mailbox Theft Scams Are On The Rise In Illinois

Every day, there's at least one new scam the citizens of Illinois have to watch out for, and this one you won't believe is back.

Mail Scams To Currently Watch Out For In Illinois

You hear about porch pirates all the time stealing people's packages off their front stoop. Nowadays, well, until recently, you didn't hear much about letters being stolen from inside mailboxes. Unfortunately, that crime is making a comeback. I didn't think it would happen because everyone is using technology.

READ MORE: Beware Of This New Jury Duty Scam In Illinois

It's funny because my mother always takes her bills and mails them inside her local post office. I guess her paranoia has paid off for her. These scammers will do anything to steal your information, even if it means taking a birthday card.

According to WISN...

Criminals are using mailboxes to steal checks, cash, and personal information, leaving victims with drained accounts and financial turmoil.

 

Thieves are snatching envelopes from home mailboxes and using stolen keys to access blue U.S. Postal Service collection boxes.

 

 

Once they have a check, they wash it with bleach to erase the details and rewrite it for thousands of dollars, turning a $50 check into $5,000 in moments.

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Tips for avoiding the latest mailbox scams in Illinois

• Don't put the red flag up on your mailbox with any checks in it.

• Use online banking to pay your bills.

• When mailing bills, take them to the post office and drop them in a mailbox inside the building.

• Don't use the blue neighborhood mailboxes to mail checks.