35 Strangers Were Fraudulently Added To Her Card During A Cruise, But One U.S. Postal Service Was Key In Preventing A Possible Disaster

In August, Jodi Hayes and her spouse were leisurely cruising when things took an unanticipated and distressing turn. While they were still on board the ship, Jodi got an alert from the U.S. Postal Service’s Informed Delivery program. The email showed that 35 credit cards were on their way to her home – all in the names of people she had never heard of.

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Each of these 35 strangers was added as an authorized user to her Marriott Bonvoy Chase Bank credit card and they could each charge up to $19,000 on her card or withdraw $950 in cash, potentially leaving Jodi responsible for a massive debt.

"I know I have good credit, but I've never seen anything like this ever," Jodi said, clearly frustrated. "This fiasco ruined the end of our vacation."

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As ABC7 reported, she quickly called Chase Bank while still on the cruise ship to report the issue. However, their response left much to be desired. They initially brushed it off as a possible glitch in the system and said they would stop the cards from being activated. They didn't offer much more than a new card and account number without explanation or investigation.

When Jodi contacted ABC7, hoping to get more answers and help, the situation caught the attention of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Matthew Norfleet, a postal inspector, explained that this was likely an identity fraud scheme. Using the mail for such schemes is a serious crime that can carry up to 20 years in prison.

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Nevertheless, the deception did not end with Chase. Jodi soon received credit applications from additional banks, including Capital One, Discover, and Citibank, all rejected because of insufficient credit history. The repeated use of the same fictitious names demonstrated these con artists’ persistence when they “smell” an opportunity.

Jodi protected herself in many correct ways despite the danger and absurdity of the situation. She kept an eye on her mail using the USPS Informed Delivery program and secured her mailbox with a lockbox to deter burglars. To further lower the chance of mail theft, the Postal Service even advises holding your mail at the post office while you’re on the road.

This situation demonstrates how essential it is to monitor your accounts and personal data. While Jodi's quick actions and the use of Informed Delivery helped catch the problem before it got worse, not everyone is so lucky. Identity theft can happen to anyone, but tools like Informed Delivery can help spot potential problems early.

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