Whether you are a fisherman, truck driver or boater there are specialty mailboxes that send your special message to everyone who passes by your house. Many are in the shape and colors of your hobby and are legal for delivery of the U.S. Mail.

It usually begins with a denied credit application or a call from a creditor saying a payment has been missed on an account the individual had not idea existed. After dealing with the company or their collection agencies, it may suddenly become clear someone else has used their personal information to obtain credit. This can leave the victim holding the bag for possibly thousands of dollars in debts.

Sitting in the middle of the lake, casting a baited line into the water and retrieving it slowly, hoping to attract a big fish is one of the country’s favorite pastimes.

However, sitting in an office, sending out artificial bait to thousands of computer users is one of the lucrative pastimes of criminals. It’s their reality as they phish the Internet for identities to steal.

One way to guard against identity theft (or least be made aware of it before it can do a lot of harm) is to take advantage of new laws which enable people to get a free credit report every 12 months.

Since there are three credit reporting agencies, some people space them out over 12 months. Others want to receive them all at the same time to compare the information they contain.

Many mailboxes are placed on top of a post. This is done to of course meet the height requirements of the United State Post Office and also to find an aesthetically pleasing way of incorporating the mail receptacle in the overall landscaping that is making up the front yard.

While identity theft is making all the headlines, vandalism is another occurrence homeowners must factor in when considering the purchase of a mailbox. Vandalism comes in many different forms. But, by far the most common outcropping is mail theft.

This is closely followed by mail destruction – usually in the form of fires set inside the mailbox – and mail defacing accomplished by placing something undesirable inside the mailbox with the mail and leaving you with unsavory cleanup duty.

Generally only found in rural areas where they are by the side of the thoroughfare, those who favor a sturdy mailbox have found taking hints from rural customers is actually a great idea.

Although the usual commercial plastic and even the occasional aluminum is much more commonly seen in the everyday city landscape, when only a sturdy mailbox will do, rural consumers have a leg up on the rest of the population.

The kind of mail boxyou will find at an apartment building – be it a large 400 unit complex or simply a smaller bungalow property – is usually a generic commercial receptacle. It has no frills and although more often than not it actually locks, these locks cannot be considered security locks by a long shot. Anyone with a crudely made passkey or even a hairpin stands a good chance of getting into your mail. Renters beware!

Decorative mailboxes come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Most are sanctioned by the United States Post Office and while there are a few of those that are a bit iffy, most mail carriers are willing to work around the personal taste of the box’s owner. A new twist that is hitting the market for decorative mailboxes are those which light up – and they are quickly becoming all the rage!

It is a sad testament to the times that homeowners must now fear not only thieves and home invasion robbers but also those who would steal their mail and subsequently also their identities for personal gain. In response, Rubbermaid plastic weather and vandalism resistant mailboxes are seeking to provide concerned mail recipients with mail receptacles that are safe, functional, sturdy, and nonetheless aesthetically pleasing.