MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11) -- Mail thieves are targeting seniors and low-income New Yorkers, stealing their benefits and identities.
It has become the number one issue reported to Congressman Dan Goldman, who represents Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn.
After years of back-and-forth and help from Goldman's office, Phil Hadley was about to finally get an overdue tax refund from the IRS, then he got a call from a police detective about a different problem.
"I was apparently a victim of identity theft," Hadley explained. "They had my name, my social security number, they made a fake ID, and they had the check, the physical IRS check, which they had stolen out of the mail somehow."
What happened to Hadley is getting increasingly common with identity fraud rings targeting apartments where seniors are known to live or public housing. They're hoping to get their hands on a benefits check or other vital documents.
Goldman said it is the number one complaint he gets.
"These are often vulnerable communities, but in general, this is important people need to pay their bills," Goldman said.
The representative said his team works to get Social Security checks, passports and other vital documents re-issued.
He also told local US Postal Services supervisors to make sure delivery agents are more aware and advises anyone in a bigger building to make sure vestibules lock properly.
Goldman's now co-sponsoring legislation to give the USPS more subpoena power.
He said this would allow inspectors to get their hands on bank records and surveillance video to bring serial fraudsters targeting the mail to justice.
"This is not just a simple: 'Oh my Christmas card got stolen,' these rings of thieves are targeting letters they know contain checks," the Congressman said.
Goldman said even legislation like his, which is apolitical, has been moving slowly through the current Congress. However, he hopes it might move forward by the end of the year.
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