A 65-year-old man's email was mistakenly sent to a San Antonio resident who used his personal information to buy a Mercedes-Benz and pay his rent - here's how to avoid identity theft

If you’ve ever received mail addressed to someone else, you’ve probably ignored it or returned it to the sender.

But when something like this happened to William Holiday, he saw an opportunity. The San Antonio man received mail intended for a 65-year-old Guadalupe County resident and used it to steal his identity, according to local news station KENS 5.

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Holiday opened 66 fraudulent accounts in the anonymous man’s name. He also used the senior’s name and information to purchase a 2021 Mercedes-Benz, avoid a ticket after a traffic stop, and live rent-free in an apartment he rented.

Identity theft is widespread in the U.S., but seniors are especially at risk. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s 2023 Elder Fraud Report found that people over 60 lost over $3.4 billion to fraud last year – an 11% increase since 2022. That means each individual victim suffered an average loss of $33,915 in 2023.

But it is possible for people of all ages to better protect their personal data.

Forward your emails

Although mailing errors happen, you can avoid having your mail go to the wrong address by proactively forwarding all of your mail—whether you’re moving permanently or temporarily.

According to the U.S. Postal Service, whenever you move, you can set up mail forwarding from your old address to your new one. This means your mail will end up at your address.

The forwarding process is also a helpful reminder of which agencies, banks or companies have your address on file – and who to call to change your address. This prevents new residents at your old address from accessing your information.

Monitor your balance

Holiday opened over 60 fraudulent accounts in the senior citizen’s name – most of which were classified as delinquent.

But those accounts would have shown up on a credit report, possibly even before a debt collector calls. By regularly monitoring your accounts, you can keep an eye out for possible fraudulent activity.

There are a variety of free online services that provide credit reports from credit bureaus so you can check your accounts. Many of these bureaus will notify you when a new account has been opened, so you can keep an eye on your account without having to constantly log into the bureau’s website.

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Destroy documents

Holiday happened to have a piece of mail delivered to her doorstep with confidential information. But even if you recycle mail, you no longer have to file it, it’s still accessible to those who look for it.

Bank statements, phone bills and government notices contain personal information that only you should see. Instead of throwing your personal information in the trash – where someone could see it and then take it – shred all papers with confidential content.

Do not share your passwords

While it’s nice to have someone to call if you forget your bank account password, you shouldn’t share that information with anyone.

You never know when someone might take advantage of you. Actress Sharon Stone had $18 million stolen from her accounts because someone accessed her data while she was recovering from a stroke.

If you can never remember your passwords, signing up for a secure password manager is a great way to keep them all in one place under a common security code.

Applying all of these safety methods simultaneously can help prevent a similar situation from occurring – or, if it does occur, stop it early.

This article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.