Is Your Mail Safe? New ‘Mail Fishing’ Scams Reported Across Bergen County
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Glen Rock NJ — Residents in Glen Rock, Norwood, and surrounding Bergen County towns are being urged to exercise caution when mailing checks following a string of sophisticated “mail fishing” attempts at local post offices.
From adhesive traps to stolen master keys, thieves are evolving their tactics to intercept your personal information. Here is what you need to know about the recent spike in mail theft and how to protect your finances.
The Return of ‘Mail Fishing’ in Glen Rock
On the morning of March 3, 2026, Glen Rock police responded to the post office on Glen Avenue after postal employees discovered a sticky, “adhesive substance” inside an outdoor collection box. This tactic, known as mail fishing, involves using glue traps—often designed for rodents—attached to strings or belts to pull envelopes out of the bin.
While it is currently unknown if any mail was stolen during this specific incident, the mailbox has since been cleaned and the case referred to the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).
Beyond Glen Rock: A County-Wide Trend
This isn’t an isolated incident. Bergen County has seen a wave of mail-related crimes over the past few months:
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Norwood: An alert resident helped police apprehend two suspects from the Bronx at 4:30 a.m. in early January. Officers recovered ski masks, stolen checks, and glue traps inside their vehicle.
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Maywood & Fort Lee: Similar reports of intercepted and “washed” checks have surfaced, where thieves alter the payee and amount to drain victim accounts.
What is Check Washing? Once a thief “fishes” your check, they use chemicals to erase your handwriting while keeping the signature intact. They then rewrite the check to themselves for thousands of dollars.
How to Protect Yourself from Mail Theft
The United States Postal Service and local police departments recommend the following steps to ensure your sensitive documents reach their destination:
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Go Inside: Whenever possible, hand your mail directly to a clerk inside the post office or use the internal wall slots.
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Watch the Clock: If you must use an outdoor blue box, do so before the last daily pickup. Never leave mail in a box overnight or over the weekend.
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Check Your Accounts: If you have mailed a check, monitor your bank account daily until it clears to ensure the amount and recipient are correct.
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Switch to Gel Pens: Use pens with permanent “pigment” ink (like a Uni-ball 207). These inks are much harder for thieves to “wash” off than standard ballpoint ink.
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Report Suspicious Activity: If you see someone lingering near a mailbox or notice a sticky residue on the slot, call local police immediately.
Join the new Saddle River Valley, Ramapo and Pascack Valley Communities Facebook group
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Tags: #BergenCounty #GlenRock #PublicSafety #MailTheft #NewJerseyNews #ConsumerProtection
I pay my bills online since the post office was constantly losing my payments or delivering late
The Glen Rock thefts have been going on for years as reported here in the blog and elsewhere.
Can’t USPS stop it? Or at least install a “doorbell” type camera to see who’s doing it?
Doesn’t anyone care?
I’ve been using an extra-fine black Sharpie to write checks that I’m going to mail.
This is so sad. Half of the point of mailboxes was to provide a convenient way to mail things at any time.