Pembroke Pines Letter Carrier Crescencio “Chris” Diaz knew something was wrong. Hundreds of mailpieces — all from financial institutions and each with a different name — were going to a single address on his route delivered from the Flamingo Branch. Then, he realized he was being followed by two men in a car as he delivered mail to the address.
Diaz contacted his supervisor and Postal Inspector Brian McCarthy of the Miami Division. McCarthy initiated an investigation, eventually uncovering a large and well-organized identity theft ring in South Florida.
McCarthy learned that members of the ring included a hospital emergency room registration clerk and an employee at a doctor’s office who were stealing patient information. Ring members applied for debit cards in victims’ names, and then used the cards to drain their bank accounts at ATMs throughout South Florida. The fraudulent cards were delivered through the mail.
Victim losses are mounting daily as the investigation continues. But so far, McCarthy estimates that postal customers and others have lost approximately $300,000.
McCarthy has arrested five suspects (the fifth involving a 10-block foot chase). One has already pleaded guilty and is facing up to 10 years in prison. Additional arrests are anticipated.
Postal Inspectors offer these tips to avoid ID theft:
-- Shred unwanted documents containing personal information before discarding them.
-- Review consumer credit reports annually.
-- Never give personal information over the phone or on the Internet unless you initiated the contact.
Publication 280, Identity Theft, has more information on how to avoid becoming a victim of this crime.
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