Post #2144413

2026-04-04 14:15 UTC

Heads up, the 9 digit zip code (xxxxx-xxxx) alone is as valid of a mailing address as any "full" address. That is to say, by leaving the full zip, you've low key exposed the actual address, which can be found with a quick google search.

Replies (6)

@Zachariah@lemmy.world 2026-04-04 15:13

Hey, maybe Fuck Off wants free stickers mailed to them.

Open ##2144425
@stankmut@lemmy.world 2026-04-04 15:39

Surely the last 4 digits don't point to an exact house. I'm fairly certain my zip code has more than 9999 houses. It does seem like it would get you pretty close though.

Open ##2144426
@ttyybb@lemmy.world 2026-04-04 19:22

TIL

Open ##2144427
@VicksVaporBBQrub@sh.itjust.works 2026-04-05 02:18

I went down a brief rabbit hole on the zip+4 and the IMb (intelligent mailer barcode). The +4 was originally a local division inside a single zipcode, like a neighborhood or mail route. +4 and the barcode was then called POSTNET -- decommissioned and now upgraded barcode encoding to IMb, which can contain like 2000 bits of data. The zip +4 technically now has a length of 11 digits, and is inside a IMb barcode. Conclusion, barcodes have sensitive data too. ~✍️ edit add: i wanted to see if my phone's barcode app could scan too see if OP's post office really calls him Mr. Off, but it cant natively read mailer codes and I fell asleep and the rabbit hole ended.

Open ##2144428
@ToastedRavioli@midwest.social 2026-04-04 23:23

1-8-5-0-5 dash 7-4-2-7 Neighborhood pride

Open ##2144429
@stupidcasey@lemmy.world 2026-04-04 15:21

Sure but why do you care? It's not like they did anything it was the guy who mailed this to them and all they did was a mildly funny prank.

Open ##2144430