That’s not true. However it’s an efficient scare tactic that identification thieves are utilizing to tug off their scams.
As CBS 2 Investigator Pam Zekman reported Wednesday, federal authorities have launched an investigation.
“We have been focused,” stated Jim Podlin.
First, Podlin and his spouse Jan have been notified by their credit score monitoring service that somebody had utilized for 2 Uncover playing cards of their names. They by no means requested the playing cards.
“That they had all our Social Safety numbers and all our private data, and clearly our telephone quantity,” Podlin stated.
The scammers clearly had the Podlins’ telephone quantity as a result of somebody known as this week claiming to be working for his Submit Workplace in Frankfort.
“The gentleman on the opposite finish says the Submit Workplace is closed as a result of COVID-19 and all of the mail is contaminated,” Podlin recalled.
The caller’s pitch continued, “We’re calling everyone on the block and telling them to not choose up their mail and we are going to come again and choose it up.”
Podlin didn’t consider it and did choose up his mail. He discovered a field inside with a bank card for which the thieves had fraudulently utilized.
“I believe these guys are skilled scammers they usually provide you with a narrative most individuals would get terrified of,” Podlin stated.
We checked it out and located the Frankfort Submit Workplace was open for enterprise. A spokeswoman for U.S. Postal Service confirmed there had been no COVID-19 drawback there and he or she stated the mail was not contaminated.
Now, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPI) is investigating the identification thieves.
They put a COVID-19 spin on a traditional identification theft rip-off, utilizing private data to use for bank cards so they may cost issues and by no means pay for them.
In these instances, the scammers sometimes use vacant buildings or properties to direct the bank cards to to allow them to choose them up and not using a drawback. The Podlins’ dwelling was on the market, however it was not vacant.
So apparently, the scammers needed to invent an excuse why somebody is likely to be seen going into their mailbox and eradicating the mail.
“These criminals adapt to no matter is occurring within the information on the time and they’re utilizing this virus to commit a criminal offense,” stated Postal Inspection Service spokeswoman Julie Kenney. “They have been attempting to get their mail so they may get the bank card or a examine or one thing with their private data.”
Podlin and his spouse didn’t fall for it, however need to warn others concerning the ruse.
“It’s a disgrace they’re utilizing COVID-19 to do this,” Podlin stated. “However that’s whats occurring.”
With stimulus checks coming within the mail to so many individuals, the Postal Inspection Service is anxious makes an attempt like this can improve together with different Covid9 cons
Kenney urged anybody who suspects they have been a sufferer of identification theft or mail theft to contact the Postal Inspection Service at 877-876-2455 or report fraud at www.uspis.gov.
