Someone used local man's mail to steal his identity, he claims

MCCANDLESS, Pa. — A local man told Channel 11 someone used the U.S. Postal Service to steal his identity.

He claims someone forwarded his mail hundreds of miles away to an empty house in Pompano Beach, Florida, then opened a credit card in his name.

Police have said he may not be the only victim.

First he reported the fraud to the post office, then he came to the Mccandless police department.

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Police have turned over his claims of fraud to the U.S. postal inspector, who is investigating.

"Didn’t understand how I was picked or how I got so unlucky," said John Mlakar, who had no idea identity fraud was waiting for him in his mailbox. "I never put the two and two together that they set up the credit card to my correct address and then had the mail forwarded.”

He found out in April that a stranger stole his identity by simply filling out a change of address card at the post office.

"I got an email notification saying that package was being delivered to Pompano Beach, Florida, and I thought that was very peculiar because I live in McCandless, Pittsburgh," he said.

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When he checked with the post office in McCandless, he was given some surprising news: Someone else had filled out a change of address card in his name, using John's personal information they obtained a credit card in his name.

"They were able to provide the credit card company with my correct address and name and then because I never received it, I never knew the new credit card was issued," Mlakar said.

Police told Channel 11 they haven't had any other residents of McCandless report this change of address fraud, but have turned his information over to the U.S. postal inspector.

"(People) need to be aware any kind of change of address information they received to immediately contact their local post office and tell them they didn’t change their address and start monitoring their credit scores," Mlakar said.

Always look for that change of address confirmation from the post office, which they will send you within 10 days if a change of address form is submitted.

Officials from the U.S. Postal Inspectors office locally told Channel 11 the change of address fraud is about 1% of the 37 million they process every year.

Cox Media Group