You've got mail... Or maybe not. New post office scam hijack's your mailbox

TOMS RIVER, NJ – The Toms River Police and United States Postal Inspection Service are investigating complaints of “fraudulent mail holds” being placed on addresses in Toms River and the surrounding communities. The unauthorized mail holds could indicate that a resident’s identity has been stolen and used to apply for credit cards in the residents’ names. Often however, the Post Office, the customer, and the various credit card companies recognize the fraud before there is a problem.

Postal Inspectors are working closely with the Toms River Police Department to investigate these possible identity thefts and fraudulent mail holds. Customers are encouraged to monitor the receipt of their mail, by retrieving it daily from the mailbox or through Informed Delivery® online. Any suspicious activity, or non- receipt of mail over a couple days should be immediately reported to your local post office, by calling 800- ASK-USPS, or reporting to USPS here under “Where is my package?”.

If you discover you are a victim of identity theft, you are encouraged to call the Toms River Police at 732- 349-0150, or file a report with the department at www.trpolice.org and select “File a Report” on the homepage. If you discover a fraudulent mail hold was placed on your address, please file a complaint with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at www.uspis.gov/report or calling 877-876-2455.

The Postal Inspection Service and the Toms River Police Department take it seriously when somone uses the mail to commit crimes, including trying to steal peoples’ identity. Using the mail to steal someone’s identity could subject the actor to serious federal or state felony charges and time in prison.

Photo by Yannik Mika on Unsplash

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