Mail tampering making rounds in Rabun County

TIGER — On Monday, the Rabun County Sheriff’s Office met with a Tiger resident who reported a meddling nuisance had been snooping through her mail.

The responding deputy arrived on scene at the complainant’s residence located near Glassy Orchard Road where they learned more about the reported incident.

The homeowner told law enforcement she had received an envelope in the mail last Friday, April 6 from the Social Security Administration which was postmarked on Tuesday, April 3.

She reported that when she retrieved the parcel of mail from her mailbox, it had already been opened by someone and had been retaped to seal it shut.

The document inside of the envelope contained her application summary for retirement insurance benefits which contained her social security number, date of birth, physical address and phone number along with other personal identity information.

The incident was documented by the responding deputy in case of an identity theft situation where the mail temperer could steal the homeowner’s identification.

Once identity thieves have your personal information, they can drain your bank account, run up charges on your credit cards, open new utility accounts, or get medical treatment on your health insurance. An identity thief can file a tax refund in your name and get your refund. In some extreme cases, a thief might even give your name to the police during an arrest.

If your mail has been tampered with and personal information has been compromised by an identity thief, it is crucial to report the incident to local law enforcement as well as the Federal Trade Commission as soon as possible.