The warning follows news that police had arrested and charged a 22-year-old woman after she allegedly used her neighbours’ mail to transfer cash and buy goods over the internet.

More than $42,000 was allegedly transferred from the accounts of a number of residents in a suburban unit block and a further $23,000 worth of goods were allegedly illegally purchased using internet shopping websites.

Less than a month ago, police busted a larger identity fraud syndicate that had laundered millions of dollars into overseas bank accounts by stealing documents from residential letterboxes in Sydney’s lower North Shore.

“It’s incredible the amount of personal and financial information simply lying about unsecured in street letterboxes”, said Bob Mackinnon, MBE West End. “Few people would allow others to access their personal email without a password, yet we receive the same types of documents in the post and the majority of street letterboxes are completely unprotected.”

To significantly reduce the risk of identity theft, Bob Mackinnon recommends households consider a private mailbox.

“Our private mail receiving service greatly enhances the security of sensitive mail and allows people concerned about identity theft to take that crucial extra step in maintaining their privacy.”

The MBE Private Mailbox Service has a full street address that allows householders to keep their real residential address confidential. Items such as cheques, bank statements, bills, medical records and other private correspondence are received at the MBE street address – not a post office box number. This allows the resident’s mail to be treated in the same manner as a person who opts for a silent telephone number.

Mackinnon also reminded people to shred old bills, financial records, receipts and expired credit and other cards, and never give out personal information to someone they don’t know and trust.

MBE has 40 locations throughout Australia including MBE West End at the corenr of Russell and Merivale St, South Brisbane.

For further information contact MBE West End on (07) 3846 1111 or log on to www.mbewestend.com.au.