How to prevent mail and identity theft

Identity theft is when someone steals your name and personal information to access your finances, buy goods and incur debts in your name, or commit other crimes. Given the opportunity, identity thieves will get personal information by stealing mail or searching through the garbage for discarded mail.

You can help protect your mail from identity fraud by following these tips.

Protect the mail you receive

• Collect your mail every day.
• If you're away, use the Hold Mail service to pause mail delivery until you return.

• When you move:

  • Forward your mail to your new address.
  • Update your address with banks and other companies.
• If expected mail doesn't arrive, contact the sender to confirm your address. Report mail delivery issues to Canada Post Customer Service.
• Shred mail that contains personal or financial details, such as account statements and credit card offers.

Protect the mail you send

• Never send cash through the mail. Use postal money orders, available at all post offices.
• Deposit your mail close to the scheduled pickup time listed on the mailbox.
• For sensitive documents or large volumes of mail, use your local post office.
• Report overturned or damaged street mailboxes to Canada Post.
• If you notice suspicious activity near a mailbox, call your local police.

If you think you're a victim of identity theft

• Contact the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre.
• If you believe mail has been stolen from your mailbox, notify the police and report it to our customer service team.