A father collects mail from the mailbox with his young son.

What is Address Fraud and How to Detect It

3 min read

Last Updated: February 19, 2025

Table of contents

Key Takeaways

Mail rerouting scams, or address fraud, are when identity thieves successfully change your mailing address.
Address fraud could damage your credit score or financial health if thieves use sensitive information to make unauthorized purchases.

If you’re getting less mail or sometimes none at all, it could just be that mail is moving slowly. However, there might be more worrisome reasons too—namely mail fraud. But what is that? What are the fraud indicators you should be aware of?

It’s important to know what fraud threats are out there, how address fraud scams work, how they may affect your finances, and how Discover can help protect you from this and other types of identity theft.

How address fraud can shape your daily life

Your mail can be a big target for identity thieves. Letters from the Internal Revenue Service often have your Social Security number (SSN). Bank and credit card statements can list sensitive account numbers. Insurance bills are full of information about your healthcare providers and medical history. This information about you makes address fraud a tempting way for someone to get your data.

Scammers can use these everyday pieces of mail to get your sensitive information. The damage they do ranges from opening new accounts in your name to racking up charges on existing credit and debit cards. Identity thieves can use your health insurance to receive medical care—all at your expense. Finally, by rerouting your mail, thieves also have the chance to cause serious damage to your credit score and financial health before you even notice.

How does address fraud happen?

Scammers can use the United States Postal Service (USPS) to change your address. To change an address online, the USPS requires a credit or debit card plus a valid email address. If an identity thief has your credit card number or opened a new account in your name, they can circumvent security checks.

When identity thieves have gained access to your passwords or security questions, they can change your billing address. Scammers do this through official websites like your bank, credit card, or insurance provider.

How you can prevent mail theft

Safeguarding your mail is easier than you might think. Follow these practical tips that can minimize your risk of falling victim to address fraud.

Bring your mail inside every day to keep your personal information safe from theft.
If you're missing mail or you’re getting less than normal, reach out to your local post office to report fraud.
If you believe someone is intentionally sending mail to someone who doesn't live at your address, report fraud to the USPS.
Go paperless. Unlike your physical mailbox, most email providers add extra layers of security to protect your personal identifying information.

The USPS has a more tips to prevent identity theft through the mail on their website.

How to detect identity theft from address fraud

Review your credit card statements each month. If you don’t recognize a purchase, it might be a fraudulent transaction. Call the number on your card to talk to your credit card company about any suspicious activity.
Check your credit card statement and mobile app to ensure your personal data is correct. Verify your mailing address, email addresses, and other contact information is accurate.
Regularly check your credit score and credit history for any unusual activity. Federal law allows you to receive one free credit report every 12 months from each of the three major credit reporting agencies. The three credit bureaus have permanently extended the program to include one free report per week.

You can request your free credit report at AnnualCreditReport.com (the only website authorized by the federal government).

Get SSN, inquiry, and new account alerts from your Discover card. We’ll monitor your Experian^® credit report every day and alert you when anyone pulls your credit, so you can recognize possible fraud.¹Activate for free.