If you’re one of the more than 72 million Americans already using USPS Informed Delivery, you know how convenient it can be. Every morning, the Postal Service sends subscribers an email with scanned images of the letter-size mail arriving that day, along with tracking for packages. It’s a great way to see if a bill, check, or important document is on its way — and to skip a trip to the mailbox if it’s just junk.
But criminals have figured out a way to use Informed Delivery as a tool for mail theft. And if you haven’t signed up for the service yourself, you may be leaving the door open for someone else to do it in your name.
In several documented cases — including one in Michigan that led to the arrest of seven people — thieves signed up unsuspecting victims for Informed Delivery without their knowledge. Here’s how it typically happens:
1. Gathering your personal information – Criminals collect your name, address, and sometimes answers to common security questions from stolen mail, phishing, or data breaches.
2. Enrolling in Informed Delivery – They visit the USPS website and register using your address.
3. Passing identity verification – In some cases, they guess security answers or intercept the verification letter sent to your mailbox.
4. Receiving your daily mail previews – Once enrolled, they see exactly when valuable mail — like credit cards, checks, or personal documents — is scheduled for delivery.
5. Stealing the item – They grab the mail from your box before you even know it has arrived.
