My name is Shantkumar Daniel, and I’m an information technology specialist for the Postal Inspection Service. I use computers, software and other materials to help protect USPS employees, customers and the mail.
I’m part of a team of about 50 people at the Criminal Investigations Service Center in Chicago. We get calls, faxes and online complaints from fraud victims, and we process and store this information in our secure systems.
Many of the victims we help are older people who aren’t savvy with technology. Sometimes they unknowingly send their medicine money to scammers. Scams come in all forms. I even get calls from scammers who try to disguise themselves as IRS employees. Technology can be good, bad and ugly.
In addition to my regular duties, I’m a member of the national CyberSafe Guardians program. In this role, I help promote good cybersecurity practices among my Postal Inspection Service colleagues in the Chicago area.
I emigrated from India to the United States 30 years ago and joined the Postal Service in 1999 as a tractor-trailer operator in Carol Stream, IL. I got into IT because I felt left out when my cousins would talk about computer programs. So I went back to school in my 40s and got a bachelor’s degree in computer information systems, followed by a master’s degree in information systems.
When I’m not working, I enjoy gardening. I also love to sing and perform Christian music in a band with my three sons. I’m known as the “Indian Elvis” because I sound like him. Additionally, I’m a licensed respiratory therapist and I’m passionate about keeping myself, my family and my co-workers healthy. I’ve helped at least seven people stop smoking, which is something I take a lot of pride in.
I love working for the Postal Inspection Service. I wanted to do something different, and I’m glad I made this choice. I see how important this job is.