Postal Service Putting Restrictions On Private Mailboxes to Fight Fraud

To crack down on fraud, the Postal Service on Thursday imposed tough restrictions on the use of private mailboxes.

Starting in September, mail sent to boxes operated by private companies such as Mail Boxes Etc. must be marked "PMB" for "private mailbox." Change- of-address forms also must include "PMB." Mail without the designation will be returned.

The change is designed to combat the growing problem of criminals stealing credit card numbers by illegally forwarding mail to a private box.

"A PMB designation on a change-of-address form may prompt a banker to verify with the customer that he did in fact request that his credit card financial statements be sent to a new address," said Donald G. Ogilvie, executive vice president of the American Bankers Association.

Operators of private mail facilities also will be required to register with the Postal Service. People who rent private boxes will have to register with the operator. Both must give their address and present two forms of identification, one of which must contain a picture.