Protect your stimulus payment from mail thieves

People who are expecting a check in the mail for stimulus payment worry about mail theft.

Darcy Spears has what you need to know to help make sure your check doesn’t go missing.

BEING MAILED OUT -- PEOPLE AREWORRIED THIEVES WILL INTERCEPTTHOSE PAYMENTS.13 CHIEF INVESTIGATOR DARCYSPEARS HAS WHAT YOU NEED TOKNOW TO HELP MAKE SURE YOURCHECK - DOESN'T GO MISSING.TAKE PKG /NAT TIGHT SHOTOPENING BOX/ AMANDA MATLOCKWONDERS EVERY DAY...IS IT HERE YET?

IF NOT, WHEN?AMANDA MATLOCK 49:49 I'MWAITING ON IT AND I DON'T WANTANY DELAYS.AS A NEW MOM, HER STIMULUSCHECK IS CRITICAL.AND SHE WORRIES SHE MIGHT NOTGET IT BECAUSE OF ONGOINGPROBLEMS WITH HER MAIL.AMANDA 10:46:46 BEFORE WE OPENIT, IT'S ALREADY PARTIALLYOPENED.SOMETIMES PARTIALLY ORSOMETIMES IT'S EVEN BEEN HALFWAY THROUGH THE ENVELOPE.IN JANUARY AMANDA WAS SHOCKEDTO FIND SHE'D BECOME A VICTIMOF IDENTITY THEFT.AMANDA 47:44 SOMEBODY WASTRYING TO OPEN UP LOAN ACCOUNTSAND CREDIT CARD ACCOUNTS IN OURNAME, WITH OUR INFORMATION.47:57 THEY APPLIED FOR A GASCARD AND A LOAN.AND WE ENDED UP HAVING TO PUT AFREEZE ON OUR CREDIT TO KEEPANYBODY FROM BEING ABLE TOAPPLY FOR THINGS WITH OURINFORMATION.SHE BELIEVES THIEVES MAY HAVEGOT HER INFORMATION FROM TAXDOCUMENTS THAT WERE STOLEN FROMHER NEIGHBORHOOD'S CLUSTERMAILBOX.AMANDA 48:51 THE IRS HAS SENTME A COUPLE FORMS AND THEY TOLDTHEFT VICTIMWHO'S REACHED OUTTO 13 INVESTIGATES.WE'VE REPORTED NUMEROUSINCIDENTS OVER THE PAST YEAR.AND IT'S ALL OVER SOCIAL MEDIAA NEIGHBOR ON NEXT DOORBELIEVES SHE CAUGHT MAIL THEFTINPROGRESS AS, ON CAMERA, ANAPPARENT THIEF TRIES TO BREAKINTO A CLUSTER BOX.NOT ONLY ARE PEOPLE SAYINGTHEIR MAIL IS MISSING,SOMETIMES THIEVES MAKE OFF WITHTHEENTIRE MAIL BOX.SO HOW DO YOU PROTECT YOURSELF?WE REACHED OUT TO THE I-R-S,THE US POSTAL SERVICE ANDMETRO.DARCY STAND UP BOTH THE USPSAND METRO SAY DILIGENCE IS KEY.WHETHER YOU'RE EXPECTING A LIVESTIMULUS CHECK OR NOT, YOUDON'T WANT TO DELIVER THIEVESAN EASY OPPORTUNITY.SO THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT YOURMAIL ISTO CLEAR YOUR MAIL BOXAS SOON AS POSSIBLE EVERY DAY.<NATS COMPUTER