USPS Informed Delivery: Monitor Your Mail for Complete Identity Protection

Mail theft is one of the most overlooked vulnerabilities in personal identity security. Every day, sensitive documents containing your personal information travel through your mailbox – bank statements, tax documents, credit card offers, and government correspondence. Without proper monitoring, you may not know these items have been stolen until it’s too late.

What You’ll Accomplish

In this guide, you’ll learn how to set up USPS Informed Delivery, a free service that provides digital previews of your incoming mail and package tracking. By the end, you’ll have:

Complete visibility into all mail heading to your address
Daily email notifications with scanned images of your mail pieces
Package tracking for all deliveries
The ability to quickly identify suspicious or missing mail
A crucial first line of defense against mail theft and identity fraud

Why This Matters for Your Security

Mail theft affects millions of Americans annually, often going undetected for weeks or months. Criminals use stolen mail to:

Open new credit accounts in your name
Access existing financial accounts
File fraudulent tax returns
Obtain government benefits
Build complete identity profiles for sale

At IdentityProtector.com, we’ve helped thousands of individuals recover from mail-related identity theft. The common thread? Most victims didn’t realize their mail was being stolen until significant damage had occurred. USPS Informed Delivery changes that by giving you real-time awareness of what should arrive in your mailbox.

Time Required

Initial setup: 10-15 minutes
Daily monitoring: 2-3 minutes reviewing your email notifications
Long-term benefit: Ongoing protection against mail-related identity theft

Before You Start

What You’ll Need

A valid email address
Access to your physical mailbox
A smartphone or computer with internet access
One form of identity verification (driver’s license, state ID, or passport)
Your current residential address where you receive mail

Information to Gather

Before beginning the setup process, collect:

Your complete mailing address (exactly as it appears on mail you receive)
A valid phone number
An email address you check daily
Basic personal information for identity verification

Prerequisites

You must be 18 years or older
The service is only available for residential addresses and PO Boxes
You must be able to receive mail at the address you’re registering
Only one person per address can register for the primary account

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Navigate to the USPS Website

Go to informeddelivery.usps.com in your web browser. Look for the blue “Sign Up For Free” button on the homepage and click it.

Tip: Always type the URL directly or navigate through the official USPS website to avoid phishing sites that mimic the registration process.

Step 2: Create Your USPS Account

Click “Create an Account” and provide:

First and last name (as they appear on your ID)
Email address
Create a strong password (at least 8 characters with numbers and symbols)
Confirm your password

Click “Create Account” to proceed.

Security Warning: Use a unique password that you don’t use for other accounts. Consider using a password manager to generate and store a strong password.

Step 3: Verify Your Email Address

Check your email for a verification message from USPS. Click the verification link in the email within 72 hours, or you’ll need to restart the process.

If you don’t see the email within 10 minutes:

Check your spam/junk folder
Ensure you entered your email address correctly
Try clicking “Resend verification email”

Step 4: Complete Identity Verification

USPS requires identity verification to prevent unauthorized access to your mail information. You’ll need to provide:

Full name
Date of birth
Social Security number (last 4 digits)
Current address
Phone number

The system will attempt to verify your identity using public records and credit files.

Step 5: Answer Security Questions

You’ll be presented with multiple-choice questions based on your credit history and public records. These might include:

Previous addresses
Loan amounts
Associated phone numbers
Property records

Answer carefully – you typically have only one attempt.

Troubleshooting: If you can’t answer the security questions, you’ll need to verify your identity by mail, which takes 7-10 business days.

Step 6: Choose Your Notification Preferences

Select how you want to receive Informed Delivery notifications:

Email notifications: Daily emails with mail preview images (recommended)
Text notifications: SMS alerts about packages and mail delivery
Mobile app notifications: Push notifications through the USPS app

We recommend enabling all notification types for maximum security awareness.

Step 7: Add Additional Services (Optional)

Consider enabling these additional features:

Package alerts: Notifications when packages are out for delivery
Mail hold requests: Ability to hold mail when traveling
Address change notifications: Alerts if someone attempts to change your address

Step 8: Download the USPS Mobile App

For convenient access, download the official USPS Mobile app:

iOS: Search “USPS Mobile” in the App Store
Android: Search “USPS Mobile” in Google Play Store

Common Issues and Troubleshooting

Problem: Identity Verification Fails

Solution: This happens when the automated system can’t verify your identity through public records.

Double-check that all information matches your official documents exactly
If verification continues to fail, you’ll receive instructions to verify by mail
Mail verification takes 7-10 business days but is just as secure

Problem: Address Not Eligible

Solution: Some addresses aren’t eligible for Informed Delivery:

Newly constructed homes may not be in the system yet
Some rural routes have limited service
Contact your local post office to confirm mail delivery service
Business addresses require separate registration

Problem: Not Receiving Daily Emails

Solution: Check these Common issues:

Emails may be going to spam – add noreply@usps.com to your contacts
Verify your email address is correct in your account settings
Some email providers block automated emails – try a different email address
Daily emails are sent by 9 AM local time, so check timing expectations

Problem: Images Are Unclear or Missing

Solution: Image quality depends on several factors:

Some mail pieces (like magazines) may not be scanned clearly
Very small mail pieces might not appear
The system captures the front of mail pieces only
Images are for preview only – you still need to retrieve physical mail

When to Seek Additional Help

Contact USPS customer service at 1-800-ASK-USPS if you experience:

Repeated login failures
Consistent missing mail that appears in previews
Suspicious mail activity
Technical issues with the website or app

For identity theft concerns related to your mail, contact IdentityProtector.com’s expert recovery team for comprehensive assistance.

Verification and Confirmation

How to Confirm Successful Setup

You’ll know your USPS Informed Delivery is working correctly when:

You receive a confirmation email stating your account is active
Daily digest emails arrive by 9 AM local time on mail delivery days
Mail preview images show mail pieces that arrive in your physical mailbox the same day
Package tracking information appears for all your deliveries
The mobile app displays your mail and package information

What to Check Daily

Make monitoring your mail a daily habit:

Review your morning digest email as part of your routine
Compare previewed mail with what actually arrives
Note any discrepancies immediately
Track package deliveries throughout the day
Report missing mail to USPS if items don’t arrive

Expected Outcomes

With USPS Informed Delivery active, you should experience:

Complete awareness of incoming mail before it arrives
Quick identification of missing or suspicious mail
Peace of mind about mail security
Better package delivery coordination
Enhanced overall identity protection

Related Actions for Complete Mail Security

Physical Mailbox Security

Install a locking mailbox or use a P.O. Box for sensitive mail
Retrieve mail promptly – don’t let it sit overnight
Secure outgoing mail by using post office drop boxes instead of mailbox flags

Address Change Monitoring

Set up address change alerts through credit monitoring services
Notify trusted contacts before making legitimate address changes
Monitor credit reports for signs of address change fraud

Financial Mail Management

Switch to electronic statements for bank and credit card accounts
Opt out of pre-approved credit offers at optoutprescreen.com
Use direct deposit for government benefits and tax refunds

Ongoing Maintenance

Update your contact information if you change email addresses or phone numbers
Review notification settings periodically to ensure they meet your needs
Monitor service announcements from USPS about system updates or outages

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is USPS Informed Delivery really free?

Yes, USPS Informed Delivery is completely free for residential addresses. There are no hidden fees or premium tiers. USPS provides this service as part of their commitment to mail security and customer service.

2. Can other people in my household sign up for Informed Delivery?

No, only one person per address can register for the primary Informed Delivery account. However, the primary account holder can share the daily digest emails with other household members, or household members can view mail through the account holder’s mobile app.

3. What happens if I move to a new address?

You’ll need to update your address in your USPS Informed Delivery account, and you may need to re-verify your identity for the new location. The service will continue uninterrupted once verification is complete. Make sure to update your address in Informed Delivery as soon as you file a change of address with USPS.

4. Will I see images of all my mail?

Most standard mail pieces are scanned and included in your daily digest, but there are limitations. Very small pieces, magazines, catalogs, and packages may not have clear images. Additionally, mail marked as “Do Not Image” by the sender won’t appear in previews.

5. What should I do if I notice mail is missing?

If your Informed Delivery shows mail that doesn’t arrive in your physical mailbox, contact your local post office immediately. This could indicate mail theft or delivery issues. Document the missing mail with screenshots of your Informed Delivery images, and consider filing a report with postal inspectors if theft is suspected.

Take Control of Your Complete Identity Security

USPS Informed Delivery is an excellent first step in protecting yourself from mail-related identity theft, but comprehensive identity protection requires more than just monitoring your mailbox. Mail theft is often just one component of sophisticated identity fraud schemes that can include credit monitoring, dark web activity, and financial account takeovers.

At IdentityProtector.com, we help thousands of individuals and families stay ahead of identity thieves with comprehensive monitoring services that go far beyond what you can do alone. Our platform combines real-time alerts across multiple threat vectors, dark web scanning for your personal information, credit report monitoring from all three bureaus, and expert recovery support when you need it most.

Don’t wait until you become a victim. Take control of your identity security today with IdentityProtector.com’s proven protection system, backed by easy-to-understand guidance and expert recovery assistance when you need it most.

Ready to protect more than just your mailbox? Visit IdentityProtector.com to discover comprehensive identity monitoring that keeps you one step ahead of criminals.