OCCUPATION: POSTAL INSPECTOR--MAIL FRAUD SPECIALIST

Name: Aaron Ward

Company: U.S. Postal Inspection Service

Thumbs up: “I like the challenges of trying to put together complicated mail fraud investigations. Surveillance is what I like most about my work. It’s complex, but it’s very rewarding to catch a crook.”

Thumbs down: “I don’t have any dislikes. It’s a great career.”

Next step: “My goal is to one day be an assistant postal inspector in charge (in Los Angeles). They have a little bit more input into the direction the field agents will take. Instead of having just one team of inspectors under my direction, I’d have several teams.”

Advice: “Patience would be one key to success in this line of work. You can’t get too excited just because you’re walking around carrying a gun or a badge. You have to have empathy for the victims of these unscrupulous con artists.”

Salary range: $41,000 to $90,000 yearly.

Fringe benefits: Paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, health, vision and life insurance, paid physicals and optional retirement at age 50, after 20 years of service.

Hours: “The case dictates the hours you put in,” Ward says. “This is not a 9-to-5 job.” Inspectors do not receive overtime pay.

Educational and training requirements: At least 21 years of age, bachelor’s degree, U.S. citizenship, no felony convictions, good physical and mental condition. There may be additional requirements for applicants who are not already postal employees.

Size of work force: In Orange County, 20 people work as postal inspectors.

Expected demand: Says postal inspector Pamela Prince: “We are continually recruiting inspectors. . . . It’s hard to find someone to meet all of our qualifications, but if someone is qualified and interested, it’s fairly likely they’ll get in.”

Job description: Investigate mail theft and prohibited mailings, such as illegal narcotics and guns; burglary or robbery at facilities, assaults on postal employees, break-ins of vending machines and mail fraud. Says Prince: “Mail is almost always used in a large fraudulent scheme, when they mail phony documents, or when the victim is mailing a check to them.” For more information: Call the Postal Employees Development Center in Santa Ana at (714) 662-6200.

Researched by DALLAS M. JACKSON / Los Angeles Times