U.S. Postal Service dealing with big problem -- change-of-address scammers

The USPS says there has been a massive jump in this type of fraud, prompting the agency to make some major changes later this month. But will it actually fix the problem? CBS2's Tim McNicholas reports.

[@kimcole2865]

They not changing addresses online, it’s the clerks that work In the post offices that’s changing these addresses, people are paying these clerks to do it! Start investigating the postal workers! She said her address was changed IN PERSON! THINK! That means someone in that post office is connected with a scammer & giving up other’s information! It’s not hard to tell it’s a INSIDE JOB

[@Msterri4u]

Lol. Girl I work for the post office and anyone can change anyone’s address. Not saying it isn’t but it could be anyone. I have the solution to rid of the problem but I’ll see if management is smart enough to figure it out.

[@stormjacobs5497]

I don't doubt it...have you seen the majority of workers at post office??? .....yup my point exactly.

[@mayracruzortega6316]

In person, means she dropped off the change of address card in person. Anyone can drop off a change of address in person just like they do a letter. Change of address cards get sent out with the mail to an offsite center to be entered into the forwarding system.

[@rhuntington3]

And even if you file a change of address, they don’t forward your mail anyway. I’m not sure how the USPS actually functions.

[@Msterri4u]

If you’re not sure then why would you make that comment?

[@lisa9867]

They do. You must have a crappy mail carrier.

[@Tom-wn2qf]

He's right, the system doesn't always work. Sometime we have to put a letter back into the system multiple times a hope it goes thru. This is why I always say you should call your important people and tell them your new address and don't rely on the post office COA System if you dont need too. I'm a 17yr city carrier, a veteran ,and love my job and my customers always praised me on every route I ever owned. Every company has flaws, if you don't think so, then ur company will be the next the scammers and media will come after.

[@Msterri4u]

@@lisa9867 The mail carrier isn’t the one who forwards the mail.

[@Tom-wn2qf]

Your wrong us mail carriers are the ones that put the mail into the forwarding system if it comes to us. Sometimes it is caught by the computer automation system but many times it is not. Check your facts before posting thankyou

[@bkjetsfan1]

The rules need to change. When you change your address, it should be private.

[@CoverageAwarenessStudio]

you're right our address and physical location should be private... these idiot scammers get our information from data brokers like white pages, white pages buys our information from the DMV and government agencies, we pay to get services from these agencies. It's crazy how the system is used against us the people who have more power than they "they gov" does.

[@DruidofLa]

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone out of my way to return mail to the post office after I’ve repeatedly verified that I was the only person to receive mail at my address. It’s either the sender the recipient or the postal worker. Someone should be held accountable.

[@ENFPerspectives]

Happened to me a couple weeks ago. Never have I ever received anything fir that person before and all of the sudden .......

[@CoverageAwarenessStudio]

can also be an honest mistake of mail when you return mail as someone who doesn't live there. Be very cautious about how you share your address period and I say this with extreme due diligence that the biggest crooks work in law enforcement thinking they are above the law. Make sure the paper trail is to a hault in your life. I was hit by scammers in 2013 and it took me over a year to stop the crap being sent to my mailbox. Its easier said than done, now I only get what I need and i have very small trails of paper everywhere. try not to associate with the USPS as much as possible.

[@bieglas]

I received two letters from United Healthcare Dual Complete, on the same day. Both girls used my address. I looked up their names on line. One claims to be the main resident of my home, that I own. I have owned this house since it was new. They have never lived here. The other one has my address connected to her email. I'm trying to find out what kind of a scam this could be and what to do about it? The post office said they would not send the letters back to sender but distroy them. I do plan to contact UH.

[@lululemonbar9110]

Its such a hassle, I moved out of state wasn't able to change it online, told me to go in person, I did that, showed my ID, verified it, still won't forward to my new address, got letters telling me to go in person again. Did it AGAIN, mail still not getting forwarded, letters still coming asking me to verify. FFS! Sick of this!

[@TexasHeathen]

The USPS onsite locations always say theyre out of change of address forms, and you get charged to do it online. They need to stop that and require it to be done in person, with ID. It may be time for the Marine Corp to step back in, AGAIN.

[@ENFPerspectives]

Yep! Easy fix.

[@XiLi-gi1dm]

Postal workers and postal police and postal inspectors sre the ones stealing ans how many are prosecuted

[@lisa9867]

Not true.

[@gloriaanderson7424]

Right

[@factsondeck1552]

Exactly. I’m sick of these post office workers

[@respectamerica2382]

All the scammers need is your name and address. And they could fill out a Postal Form in your name and forward your mail to any address in America.

[@Msterri4u]

Thank you. I work there so I should know and you know as well. It’s a bit scary and the USPS needs to put a stop to it asap. It’s very simple so let’s see if they can figure it out.

[@Anurania]

Isn't the USPS address database connected with other government databases? It should be possible for them to verify who owns the address.

[@dc2guy2]

No because that would be Communism or something... /s

[@Sylvershade]

Depends. That info can take months to update, sometimes people don't update their IDs for a long time, dont update name changes, don't register phone numbers. Convenient systems to make things go smoothly make scams and fraud super easy. Plus, financial institutions only care about fraud because they are liable.

[@user-kv3ut6pv4b]

USPS system seems to be antiquated. A worker told me the computers inside are from the 80's

[@DruidofLa]

Change of address needs to be verified more thoroughly because it’s probably how people vote in a district they don’t even live in.

[@jaredr9554]

Gotta crack down on these thieves especially identity thieves and make it an instant felony and prison sentence!

[@Sylvershade]

Yea, the US should illegally conduct arrests over seas. That'll go over well. Most of these fraudsters are based overseas and they use mules to get the packages. The mules have no idea what's going on, they just are getting paid hundreds of dollars to get some mail at requested locations.

[@richardresendez2325]

Loopholes in the USPS

[@Msterri4u]

All kinds and management is a joke. I hope you’re not a manager. Lol

[@imsosmart942]

Ever since Ground Advantage came out, I've had terribly slow delivery or lost packages. One package took almost 30 days to arrive and another one still hasn't after 30 days. Try calling the post office, but be sure it's first thing in the morning or you'll never get through. THEY NEVER APOLOGIZE!

[@qp4367]

I feel like local and national newsmedia are double dipping. Reporting and investigatory standards aside, but how does it benefit the victim of identify fraud by putting a name with a face on national airways when she's coming to you for assistance not publicity. They have all the information with zero execution or wisdom

[@charlessantee8329]

This is scary

[@JohnDrummonds-bm9eh]

Right the rules should change when you change your address it should be private

[@tamjeanell]

Freeze your credit..its free

[@JC-qi5bn]

"Activate card sent to the new address" - Uh, how does this help prevent scamming when the person never moved to the new address? A notice needs to be sent to the old address lol

[@Sylvershade]

Yes, their changes actually make it easier for the fraudsters and harder for legit changes. Security theater is hilarious.

[@beatricehudgins2836]

💗💃 Glad the U.S. Post Office is cracking down on those scammers, some people will try to change a person's address to avoid answering legal issues which managed to catch up with them.

[@baylincoln7264]

I'm old enough and wise enough to know what bills. I'm supposed to have every month and some. I know that supposed to come at a certain month and if I don't get it I will call the post office always keep up with your business and your affairs and Put flyers in a Stratter

[@angelodelacuesta3882]

Go old school don't use the internet,take the address change in person, through the internet anything can & will go wrong

[@kam5925]

It's also happening in person at Post Offices.

[@CoverageAwarenessStudio]

and this is why you pay all your bills online, also opt out of sending mail to your address.

[@Tom-wn2qf]

Im willing to bet most of the people and the media commenting want to talk negative about the post office for things being stolen thru the mail, or their COA system, but will tell you that mail in ballets are working perfect and nothing bad going on. Oh yeah, and the COA system doesn't work that great anyway. Chances are the thief wont recieve your mail. How about you just call your people and tell them your new address, thats the smart way!

[@-iIIiiiiiIiiiiIIIiiIi-]

USPS needs to be overhauled. Physical mail service should be stopped. The USPS new role will be to maintain and provide email addresses to US citizens.

[@richardresendez2325]

It’s easy Just go to the post office and do a change of address I worked there for 10 years

[@flutey28]

Nope. Denied.

[@nick4088]

Who uses the mail for bills and checks now a days anyway.

[@Msterri4u]

Old people

[@lisa9867]

@@Msterri4u I guess that's me.

[@Tom-wn2qf]

They still put money in envelope. I had a 20yr old college student send her share of the rent in cash once, and she never did it again. I finally got my grandmother to stop a couple years ago.

[@AmorFati777X]

Shit ain't fixed. Still happening in 2024

[@flutey28]

Now we can't change an address at all! They denied my request after in person verification.

[@DontTakeItPersonall]

USPS don't EVEN leave notices for attempted delivery, they just leave packages on your steps & people steal them. There are NO delivery services that LEAVE PACKAGE DELIVERY ATTEMPTS. Let alone, you can't get them to HOLD packages, because the HOLD ALL MAIL. INFORMED DELIVERY is worthless, I leave 6 blocks from my PO, yet, my address is NOT AVAILABLE for INFORMED DELIVERY....Go figure! 😂

[@lisa9867]

When did you sign up for informed delivery? When I first tried to sign up it wouldn't let me. Said I didn't have a good address. Funny thing was I worked at the post office! Now I'm retired and I have informed delivery and I see what mail and packages I get everyday. Also, my carrier leaves packages where I live. They don't leave packages in high theft locations.

[@DontTakeItPersonall]

@@lisa9867 whenever I get a tracking number for a package, I sign up for the ALERTS. I, then, get a text or email saying "GREAT NEWS INFORMED DELIVERY IS AVAILABLE." I sign up, and I get the message, "YOUR ADDRESS IS INCORRECT, or, INFORMED DELIVERY IS UNAVAILABLE TO YOUR ADDRESS." I have given up. My dad (RIP) retired from the PO, also. Mail doesn't come until 4p (EDT).

[@pineapplesauce7499]

It's really annoying that you can't hold your mail for pickup at the post office like you can with UPS and FedEx. Not everyone lives in a house 🙄 So with large packages they can just leave them in the hallway

[@DontTakeItPersonall]

@@pineapplesauce7499 large packages are left on my STEPS, if my neighbor isn't home, they "DISAPPEAR".

[@esgee3829]

who stills paper bills sent and doesn't have all credit reporting bureaus reports frozen except when they want to apply for credit (and then only for a few days is the report unfrozen)? old people. that's who these and most scammers are targeting.

[@cricket1302]

Lol! And they don't want you to show ID for voting. So stupid.

[@chrisbourne3543]

To stop identity theft bank you need a bank account inform your bank requesting credit other than your bank the application Will automatically decline

[@donaldsanor2359]

Ive had three in the last 30 days. i reported but messed up and didnt report the actual phone number because the process of reporting is difficult.

[@Iquey]

Damn if you want to change your address, they should have to CALL you, and talk to you too voice verify. Maybe even schedule a video call.

[@kayowens6832]

A long time ago,😢 and the carriers ate robbing the red books 😢

[@kayowens6832]

Most routes are Low L and carriers got them up to High K

[@gasdorficmuncher9943]

now real people cant change address bmv requires postal service card to update drivers license and postal service update soo how can you get one to get the other

[@seanmurray8533]

usps employee's have empty 💀s

[@waeljallad671]

corrective action studies

[@Supreme896]

Hoodies are cool tho

[@gigichilawuiles1029]

I fell for it what do I do?

[@ENFPerspectives]

😠😡😤

[@sirloin869]

hotest take: nope

[@XiLi-gi1dm]

Which rome based international organization is responsible for encouraging overpopulation in central and south America and blaming the others for taking bribes and bringing them into the usa

[@MrSirlulzalot]

Postal service IS scam.