Quick Answers
– It’s illegal to open mail addressed to someone else. You should return it to the post office unopened.
– Write “Not at this address” on the envelope and put it back in the mailbox.
– Submit a change of address form for the person to forward their mail elsewhere.
– Contact the senders directly and ask them to update their records.
– If it continues, report it to your local postmaster. They can officially request the sender update their mailing list.
What should I do if someone else’s mail keeps getting delivered to me?
If you repeatedly receive mail or packages addressed to someone else at your address, don’t just throw it away or keep it. That could be considered theft or obstruction of mail, which are federal offenses. Here are the proper steps to take:
1. Return the mail unopened
It’s illegal to open mail that’s addressed to someone else, even if it was delivered to you by mistake. Don’t open the envelope or package – doing so could make you liable for obstruction of correspondence charges. Just return it unopened.
2. Write “Not at this address” on the mail
In large letters, write “Not at this address – Return to Sender” on the envelope or package. You can also simply write “Return to Sender.” Cross out any barcodes and the original address so it doesn’t get resent to your address.
3. Put it back in the mailbox
Once you’ve marked the mail as undeliverable, put it back in your mailbox with the flag up. This signals your mail carrier to collect it and return it to the sender. You don’t need extra postage.
4. Submit a change of address form
For persistent mail errors, submit a Change of Address form with the USPS on the recipient’s behalf. On the form, indicate the person has moved and provide their known new address if you have it. This forwards their mail to the new address.
5. Contact the sender
Look for a return address or account number on the mail and contact the sender – whether an individual, company or organization – directly. Explain the situation and request they update their mailing lists and records to stop sending mail to your address.
6. Talk to your mail carrier
If it’s the same piece of misdirected mail week after week, speak with your postal carrier directly. They may be able to identify the issue and get it corrected through the post office’s channels.
7. Call your local postmaster
If contacting the mailer doesn’t resolve the problem, get in touch with your local U.S. Postal Service postmaster. They have the authority to contact the sender on your behalf and officially request they stop sending the wrong mail to your address.
Is it illegal to open someone else’s mail?
Yes, it’s a federal offense to intentionally open, destroy, hide, or redirect someone else’s mail without proper authority. According to the U.S. Code, mail covers letters, postal cards, packages, bags and other sealed mail in transit. Even if it was delivered to you mistakenly, tampering with it in any way is against the law.
Obstruction of correspondence charges
Opening or destroying someone else’s mail can result in being charged with obstruction of correspondence. This includes:
– Opening mail addressed to someone else.
– Destroying or hiding another person’s mail.
– Not returning misdelivered mail in a reasonable amount of time.
– Resealing an opened envelope or package to conceal you opened it.
Fines and imprisonment
Obstruction of correspondence charges can lead to fines up to $5,000 and up to six months of imprisonment for each act of tampering. Federal law allows for prosecution of each piece of mail obstructed.
Civil liability
In addition to criminal charges, purposely interfering with someone else’s mail could make you civilly liable. You may have to pay damages like compensation or repayment for harm caused by tampering with or destroying the contents.
What are the risks of receiving someone else’s mail?
While it may be tempting to open mail not addressed to you, especially if it looks like it could contain something valuable, there are serious risks involved:
Identity theft
Mail can contain sensitive information like social security numbers, bank details, and other personal data. Opening it gives identity thieves what they need to illegally access finances and commit fraud.
Legal repercussions
As explained above, tampering with mail not belonging to you is a federal offense that can lead to thousands in fines and jail time if prosecuted. It’s not worth the legal risk.
Dangerous contents
You have no idea what could be inside an envelope or package. Opening it could unknowingly expose you to dangerous, prohibited, or hazardous contents. Let the intended recipient or authorities handle unknown packages.
Invasion of privacy
Reading someone else’s private correspondence is an extreme invasion of privacy. Put yourself in their shoes – you wouldn’t want your mail read by strangers. Respect people’s privacy.
Mail theft accusations
If you open mail and the actual owner complains to the post office about missing contents, you could be wrongly accused of theft. Avoid the hassle by only opening mail addressed to you.
How can I prevent someone else’s mail from being delivered to me?
Take these steps to help prevent mix-ups where your address ends up on someone else’s mailing list:
Return all misdirected mail
As discussed above, return all erroneous mail unopened with “Return to sender – Not at this address” written clearly. This helps notify the post office and sender of the problem.
Notify the post office
Contact your local post office about mail delivered to your address but meant for someone else. Your mail carrier may be able to catch the issues early.
Confirm your address
When providing your address for accounts, memberships, subscriptions, etc., carefully check that it’s accurate down to the ZIP code. Correct any errors.
Check address before moving in
Research the occupancy history of any home or apartment you’re planning to move into. See if you can find previous resident names who could still be receiving mail there.
Meet your mail carrier
Introduce yourself to your mail carrier and explain the situation. They’ll be able to look out for mail that’s not yours and intercept it.
Check your credit report
Misdelivered mail can hint at potential identity theft if someone used your address without consent. Routinely check your credit report to catch unauthorized accounts early.
What if the sender keeps sending mail to my address?
If a company or organization persists in sending misdirected mail to you after you’ve returned it, notified them, and had mail carriers attempt to fix it, take these additional steps:
Submit a change of address form
You can submit a Change of Address form with the USPS on behalf of the intended recipient – list their name with either their known new address, or use “Moved, left no address” if you don’t know it.
Contact the sender again
Get in touch with the sender again, this time through a traceable method like certified mail. Reiterate that the person they’re mailing to no longer resides at your address.
Contact the Better Business Bureau
If a business continues directing mail to you, file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau to prompt them to update their records.
Consult a legal professional
A cease-and-desist letter from a lawyer carries more weight in demanding a mailer stop sending misdirected items. They can advise if you have grounds for harassment charges.
Inspect and return packages
Unpaid merchandise and surprise packages can signal an unauthorized transaction using your address, a version of address fraud known as “brushing.” Inspect and reject unwanted deliveries.
Talk to the postmaster again
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service may get involved on your behalf for chronic cases of errant mail, especially if it appears connected to a larger mail fraud scheme.
Can someone else’s mail be used for identity theft?
Yes, mail containing personal information falling into the wrong hands presents a risk for identity theft and fraud. Here’s how thieves exploit mail:
Open pre-approved credit offers
Pre-approved credit card and loan offers contain enough data for thieves to open new fraudulent accounts.
Steal social security numbers
Tax forms, benefits paperwork and other mail can include full social security numbers that thieves use to open fake accounts.
Access medical information
Information found in medical bills, records and statements can facilitate medical identity theft to obtain services.
Gather passwords and PINs
Banking mail often includes one-time passcodes and PINs that thieves can intercept to access accounts online.
Access sensitive documents
Legal documents, payroll information, investment statements, and insurance policies contain exploitable data like account numbers.
Submit change of address
Identity thieves reroute mail to acquire data and falsify identities. Victims don’t realize until it’s too late.
What should I do if someone used my address for fraud?
If you discover your address was used as part of an identity theft scheme or other fraud, act fast to limit the damage:
– Contact banks, creditors and service providers to flag unauthorized accounts opened in your name. Close affected accounts immediately.
– Place a fraud alert and get a copy of your credit reports to identify all fraudulent accounts. Dispute any errors with the credit bureaus.
– Report the identity theft to the FTC and file an identity theft report with your local police department. Submit copies to creditors.
– Consider freezing your credit reports to block thieves from opening any more accounts. It’s free with an identity theft report.
– Sign up for the USPS Informed Delivery service to monitor mail scanned to your address and watch for any suspicious activity.
– Fill out a change of address form with the post office in case the thief rerouted your mail. Provide a safe new address.
– Continue monitoring your credit reports and bank statements for signs of further suspicious activity. Extended fraud alert and credit freezes can help protect you.
What are mail brushing scams?
Mail brushing scams involve fraudsters sending unsolicited items to strangers’ addresses to generate fake buyer profiles for reviews. Here’s how they work:
1. Seller buys merchandise from own store
The seller uses stolen credit cards or bank accounts to place orders for their own products to stranger’s addresses.
2. Packages shipped to random addresses
The orders ship to the names and addresses of real people who didn’t actually purchase the items.
3. Seller posts glowing reviews
Posing as satisfied buyers, the sellers post fake 5-star reviews about their own products to boost ratings.
4. Review platforms can’t verify purchases
Review sites have no way to confirm reviewers actually bought or received the products.
5. Brushing boosts search rankings
More positive reviews influence search engine optimization algorithms, lifting sellers higher in results.
How to protect yourself from mail brushing scams
Here are tips to avoid being a victim of shady mail brushing tactics:
– Don’t open packages you didn’t order – mark them “Return to sender” and give back to the post office unopened.
– Inspect package labels and sender information. Look up unfamiliar shippers online for reviews.
– Check credit and debit card statements closely for purchases you don’t recognize and report them immediately.
– Monitor your credit report for new accounts opened without authorization and dispute them promptly.
– Sign up for USPS Informed Delivery notifications to monitor incoming packages to your address.
– Consider installing a locking mailbox to deter mail and package theft.
– If you receive repeated unwanted packages, report the activity to ecommerce sites, delivery services, and the FTC.
– List your address on the Direct Marketing Association’s “do not mail” list to reduce junk mail solicitations.
What happens if you keep getting someone else’s packages?
When you repeatedly receive packages addressed to someone else, follow these guidelines:
– Refuse delivery or return to sender – you have no obligation to accept packages sent to the wrong address.
– Don’t open packages – this could be considered obstruction of correspondence.
– Alert the sender – look up the company’s customer service number online and explain the mix-up.
– Contact the shipping carrier – notify them of the incorrect address and have them update records.
– Talk to your neighbors – see if they are expecting packages mailed to your address. Make sure your addresses aren’t similar.
– Report unusual packages to authorities – be wary of packages you didn’t order as they may indicate a mail scam.
– Consider getting a locking mailbox – prevents packages and mail from being left where others can access them.
– Sign up for Informed Delivery – the USPS service emails package tracking information so you know what’s coming.
– Update your own accounts – double check your address is current everywhere to avoid mix-ups.
– Submit a change of address form – for persistent errors, submit a change of address for the recipient redirecting mail from your address to theirs if known, or indicating they moved with no forwarding address.
What should I do with mail and packages after a resident moves out?
When someone moves out of your home or apartment, do NOT keep their leftover mail and packages. Doing so would be tampering with mail and obstruction of correspondence. Instead:
– Return individual pieces of First Class mail back to the post office unopened. Write “No longer at this address” and put it back in your mailbox. This forwards the mail to the new address if the sender has a change of address form on file.
– Hand the rest of the resident’s mail over to the USPS letter carrier. Make sure to mention the name of the intended recipient who moved. The carrier can officially hold the mail for them at the post office.
– If packages arrive after the former resident moves, refuse delivery. The shipper can have the package redirected to the new address.
– Never open mail or packages belonging to someone else. This is illegal even if they no longer live at your address.
– Do NOT put another person’s mail in your own mailbox. Take it directly to the post office unopened and have them forward it.
– Confirm the former resident submitted an official USPS change of address form to have their mail permanently redirected to their new address.
– Notify companies and senders of the change of address directly so they update their mailing lists.
– Monitor your mail in case any residual mail shows up for the previous resident and continue returning to sender immediately.