[109494] in Cypherpunks
USPS cracks down on crooks using private mail boxes
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (William Knowles)
Fri Mar 26 05:45:33 1999
Date: Fri, 26 Mar 1999 02:27:58 -0800 (PST)
From: William Knowles <erehwon@kizmiaz.dis.org>
To: DC-Stuff <dc-stuff@dis.org>, cypherpunks@cyberpass.net
Reply-To: William Knowles <erehwon@kizmiaz.dis.org>
Sounds like all the reasons to ban online anonymity!
-WK
WASHINGTON (AP) [3.26.99] - Postal authorities are trying to curtail
theft and consumer fraud with new regulations affecting private
businesses that accept mail for others.
Beginning April 24, customers who want to rent a private mailbox from
commercial businesses must show a photo identification and verify they
live or conduct business at the address listed on their application.
These customers also will be required to write their ``PMB,'' or
private mail box, number on the second line of their mailing address,
similar to the way people with post office boxes are identified with a
``P.O. Box'' number. The U.S. Postal Service will hold mail without a
PMB number.
Postal authorities said the changes target people who rent private
mailboxes to shield illegal activities, such as credit card fraud and
narcotics trafficking. Such mailboxes also are used as covers for mail
order fraud, child pornography rings and schemes to swindle the
elderly.
``The new regulations clarify addresses for individuals and
businesses,'' Chief Postal Inspector Kenneth Hunter said. ``A suite
number or a prestigious avenue can give the perception of a corporate
executive office of a well-established business. Unscrupulous
individuals rely on using these addresses to bilk American
consumers.''
Customers with preprinted stationery will be given six months from the
effective date to deplete current supplies.
Michael Mansfield, an assistant Queens district attorney in New York,
said many white-collar crimes involve commercial mailboxes.
In one common scenario, thieves will rent a box and reroute their
victims' mail to it after filling out fraudulent change-of-address
forms. Often, the criminals will rent the box for only a month before
moving on to another address. However, 30 days - the length of most
billing cycles - are all thieves need to look through credit card
statements, pension information, home equity lines and frequent flier
reports.
``During a 30-day period, someone can find out virtually everything
there is to know about you,'' Mansfield said.
Despite postal regulations to verify address changes, people still
find ways to use the mail for scams. After receiving a change of
address form, the Postal Service mails a confirmation letter to the
old address, regardless of the move date, and a second confirmation to
the new address.
Hunter said the Postal Service has sent out information about the PMB
designation and the other new regulations to companies that issue
credit cards, the rebate and mail order industry, and law enforcement
agencies. Postal authorities plan to conduct audits to ensure
compliance and make sure the regulations are working smoothly.
``We are not targeting commercial mail-receiving agencies, we are just
closing a loophole that allows criminals to take advantage of these
businesses,'' Hunter said.
==
Some day, on the corporate balance sheet, there will be
an entry which reads, "Information"; for in most cases
the information is more valuable than the hardware which
processes it. -- Adm. Grace Murray Hopper, USN Ret.
==
http://www.dis.org/erehwon/
