# Credit Card Theft

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-card-theft/246929>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 25, 2004, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-card-theft/246929 "2004-05-25T03:27:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Qwisp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qwisp/32/397_2.png) [@Qwisp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwisp)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-card-theft/246929/1 "2004-05-25T03:27:39Z")

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There seems to be a lot of identity theft going on lately, either that or you just here about it more. My question is _not_ how to comit said fraud, but I was wondering how the heck people who buy things over the internet recieve such items without the authorities tracking them right away and showing up at their door. Can you receive packages through a P.O. box? If so wouldn’t that be a federal offence for using a fake name in addition to identity theft?Besides a lot of these people use numerous cards and I can’t see many people having access to a lot of different P.O. boxes, I know the people at my post office recognize me after I go there awhile. Any ideas?

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**Author:** ![Mr.Slant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c57346/32.png) [@Mr.Slant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Slant)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-card-theft/246929/2 "2004-05-25T04:19:09Z")

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I hate to say it, but I’m pretty sure this thread is against SDMB rules. Might want to be careful what you post.

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**Author:** ![Qwisp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qwisp/32/397_2.png) [@Qwisp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwisp)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-card-theft/246929/3 "2004-05-25T04:21:29Z")

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Like I mentioned in the OP I’m not looking for a way to commit fraud…I don’t understand how the people who do, don’t get caught right away.

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**Author:** ![Electronic\_Chaos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Electronic\_Chaos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electronic_Chaos)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-card-theft/246929/4 "2004-05-25T04:32:15Z")

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Regardless of if you intend to use the information or not, someone else reading this may get ideas. I’d wait for a mod’s approval before furthering this discussion.

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**Author:** ![Qwisp](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qwisp/32/397_2.png) [@Qwisp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwisp)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-card-theft/246929/5 "2004-05-25T04:37:55Z")

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If I’ve stretched any rules, I apologize.  
Mods, please forgive me and remove this thread if it is a problem. It’s just this has been driving me crazy any time I see those Identity theft commercials.

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**Author:** ![MannyL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MannyL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MannyL)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2004, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/credit-card-theft/246929/6 "2004-05-25T20:45:30Z")

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Mod’s delete this if you wish, but just a guess do they ship the items to houses where people on on vacation or to a private mail place. Not a PO box but a private store that accepts packages