How does one prevent identity theft from occurring in this era of information proliferation and electronic communication? Many people would think that some sort of email or computer-based solution is the best place to start--but really, a huge percentage of identity theft can be accomplished with nothing more than a watchful eye and some sticky fingers. Mailboxes, which generally contain personal information such as credit cards, bank statements, and checks, are a veritable treasure trove of personal information for identity thieves. Thieves get a hold of fragments of personal information, which they then use to illicitly draw up large bills in your name. Many times, the source of this information is not your computer at all, but something far more pedestrian: your mailbox. Credit cards, checks, official documents--all this and more is found and stolen regularly from mailboxes all over the country. The traditional mailbox design would seem to uphold the popular saying that if it's not broke, you shouldn't fix it. Unfortunately, the truth is that the current mailbox design is outdated, inefficient, and has been allowing a huge rise in mail and identity theft over the last few decades. In light of these facts, it seems that the time has come for a new method of receiving and storing mail. |
