Taking a bite out of ID theft

The Postal Service has delivered an impor­tant letter from PMG Jack Potter to the coun­try’s 121 million house­holds urging Americans to guard against identity theft.

Potter said he was pleased a recent Fed­eral Trade Commission (FTC) survey on identity theft con­cluded that only 2 percent of all victims reported the theft was connected to the mail. “But that’s still too many,” Potter wrote.

Now, USPS is teaming with the FTC to fight ID theft. “We will keep working to make the mail even more secure and strive to reduce that percentage to zero,” Potter wrote. “Your identity is valuable. If someone steals it to commit fraudulent acts, it can affect every aspect of your life — your credit standing, your ability to buy a car or house, even get a job or medical care.”

The Postal Service has distributed an FTC brochure providing tips and tools to help Americans protect their identities. Mailed with Potter’s letter, the brochure also includes information to help people who become victims of identity theft.