Advice for object of possible identity theft/tax fraud/mail fraud?
June 2, 2016 4:46 PM Subscribe
A neighbor in my former apartment building saw a letter out in the mail area addressed to the IRS using my partner's name and almost our correct previous address as the return name. What kind of problem could this become for him, and how can we make it not a problem?
We moved out of this building and to a different (adjacent) country two and a half years ago. The neighbor saw the letter lying on top of the mailbox, and has not opened it. The return address is our building address with a different apartment number. My partner is checking with the landlord to see if someone with his name has indeed moved into the same building but a different apartment. His name is medium-common.
We are filling out IRS form 14039- identity theft affadavit just in case. He has called the postal inspection service but they are out for the day.
How worried should we be about this?
Should we ask the neighbor to remove the letter from the mailroom to prevent it being picked up until we confirm the name of the person in the apartment?
Should we try to contact the people in the apartment?
Should we contact the police?
We moved out of this building and to a different (adjacent) country two and a half years ago. The neighbor saw the letter lying on top of the mailbox, and has not opened it. The return address is our building address with a different apartment number. My partner is checking with the landlord to see if someone with his name has indeed moved into the same building but a different apartment. His name is medium-common.
We are filling out IRS form 14039- identity theft affadavit just in case. He has called the postal inspection service but they are out for the day.
How worried should we be about this?
Should we ask the neighbor to remove the letter from the mailroom to prevent it being picked up until we confirm the name of the person in the apartment?
Should we try to contact the people in the apartment?
Should we contact the police?
On preview, right, leave the mail: 18 U.S. Code § 1708 - Theft or receipt of stolen mail matter generally
posted by Room 641-A at 5:27 PM on June 2, 2016
posted by Room 641-A at 5:27 PM on June 2, 2016
Any idea if the return address was typed? If so, this sounds like someone maybe opened an envelope that contained a postage paid return envelope and they were just sending it back?
posted by showbiz_liz at 5:27 PM on June 2, 2016
posted by showbiz_liz at 5:27 PM on June 2, 2016
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Call the IRS and see if any action has been taken on your behalf to find out. I'm not entirely sure what a scammer would do with your IRS info, but it seems like that'd be a good place to start. The IRS has great customer service.
Should we ask the neighbor to remove the letter from the mailroom to prevent it being picked up
No, this is tampering with mail, which is a crime.
Should we try to contact the people in the apartment?
Yes, of course. It's a reasonable question to ask the apartment management if someone with the same name moved in.
Should we contact the police?
I don't think the police would do anything, as you have no indication any crime has actually occurred.
posted by saeculorum at 5:20 PM on June 2, 2016 [2 favorites]