Protect yourself from identity theft with a lockable mailbox

You know that identity theft is a growing problem and have taken all necessary precautions to ensure that criminals who wish to steal your personal information and use it for their own gain cannot do so. You are careful about the information you provide online, make sure your credit card receipts are properly cleared, and never provide information over the phone. It has even gone so far as to dispose of documents that may contain personal information to prevent people from rummaging through its trash. However, you may have forgotten one thing, which may give those who wish to steal your identity access to information that would allow them to do so. your mailbox.

Consider the locked mailboxes in post offices and most apartment buildings. Government and landlords use lockable mailboxes to protect their customers or tenants from strangers checking their mail. Strangers who could use the information obtained from the mailbox for illegal purposes. However, most people who live in rural areas or have mailboxes attached to their homes do not have lockable mailboxes. This leaves your mailbox and the contents inside unprotected from those who would make the most of having your mail stolen. Did you know that with just one piece of mail containing your address, name, and social security number, a criminal can get a new social security card in your name, use it to get a driver’s license with your photo and name on it? and then take out a loan using your good credit?

However, if you have a lockable mailbox, accessing your mail is much more difficult for the would-be criminal and they’ll just move on to the next person who doesn’t have a lockable mailbox, leaving your personal information alone. Having a locked mailbox will protect you and your credit from identity theft, giving you one more tool to protect yourself and your investments.

When choosing a lockable mailbox, you want to ensure that your lockable mailbox is strong and durable, and although many materials are used in the production of lockable mailboxes, you want to choose one made from steel to provide you with the strongest lockable mailbox possible. You also want to find a locking mailbox that has an excellent lock that cannot be easily picked by a would-be criminal. Both slam locks and cam locks offer greater protection than most locks on the market and can make your lockable mailbox almost “burglary-proof.”

You wouldn’t leave your credit card lying around where anyone could pick it up and use it, why leave your mail at the mercy of those who want to benefit from your hard work and identity? Taking that extra step to purchase a locked mailbox is worth the investment and effort if it protects you and your loved ones from identity theft. If you are not sure if you need a mailbox lock ask yourself this question.

“Have I ever not received an invoice or a letter that the sender claimed to have sent?”