You’ve found a new place, packed your stuff and hired the movers. Now all you need to do is submit your change of address form at the post office so your mail will follow you.

Due to ongoing issues with change of address fraud, however, the U.S. Postal Service is changing that process.

USPS processed more than 33 million change of address transactions last year and thieves looking to intercept financially oriented mail, credit cards or checks were behind some of those requests. To combat fraud, USPS implemented dual authentication Identity Verification Services for online change of address transactions in April. Enhanced change of address steps will be put in place for in-person transactions by the end of May and customers can verify their identity by presenting an approved form of identification to the postal clerk.

Also, customers seeking a change of address customers will now receive a validation letter at their old address and an activation letter at their new one. USPS will no longer accept third-party change of address submissions.

READ MORE: 12,000 security mailboxes being deployed by USPS: What you need to know

Counterfeit postage

Targeting phony change of address requests isn’t the only thing getting a closer look. USPS is also targeting counterfeit postage.

In 2022, USPS seized more than 340,000 packages with counterfeit postage and more than 7.7 million counterfeit stamps equaling a loss of some $7.8 million. USPS now said it will step up interdictions of packages with counterfeit labels, to “fully exercise new authority to take possession of dispose of packages identified” with the phony postage.

Shipments on postal service docks and warehouses will be scrutinized to a greater degree and online sites selling face commerce will be shutdown, among other actions.

You can see more on USPS change of address here.