Can someone use your address if they don't live there?

Asked by: Olin Will  |  Last update: June 27, 2025
Score: 4.2/5 (38 votes)

A resident temporarily living in a different state for school or work may want to forward mail to a domicile address. But someone who isn't the owner of a home or apartment must ask for permission. If permission is not requested and granted, that person is committing address fraud and maybe even mail fraud [*].

What to do if someone is using your address but doesn't live there?

Contact your mail carrier and tel him or her that this person is using your mail address , but does NOT live in your home or at your address - Tell them how long this has been occurring and ask what you need to do to make certain that their mail doesn't come to your address again.

Is it illegal for someone to use your address if they don't live there?

People may use your address for their insurance, driver's license, and proof of residence. These are totally against the law and can even help criminals get away with bigger crimes.

Can someone use your address without your permission?

Is It Illegal for Someone To Use Your Address? Yes, using someone else's address or someone using your address is illegal. This type of fraud is known as address fraud and manifests in various guises such as brushing scams and rental scams.

What to do if someone is using my mailing address?

If someone is using your physical address report it immediately to the supervisor of your local post office. Bring such mail to the station and keep records. Let it be known that this is fraud. As someone mentioned earlier, Postal inspectors can and will investigate.

What can someone do with YOUR IP address??

30 related questions found

Why am I getting mail for someone else at my address?

Misdelivered mail or email can be the result of an innocent mistake. But before you trash it, shred it, or return to sender, take a closer look. It could be a sign that you're being scammed or targeted for identity theft.

Can you stop someone from getting mail at your address?

The simplest way to try and stop previous owners' mail from coming to your address is by writing “no longer at this address” or “return to sender” on the mail you do receive for them. Put these mail items in your outgoing mailbox so that your mail person knows that this resident no longer lives at your home.

How do I stop strangers from using my address?

Write “Refused” on the letter or package, then return it to your carrier, put it back in your mailbox, or drop it off at the post office. You can even refuse mail that you have to sign for. Check “Refuse” on the delivery person's app or on the delivery slip that they leave at your door. And don't forget to sign it.

Do you have to live at your mailing address?

A mailing address is an address that senders can use to send you postal mail. For many people and businesses, this is your home or office address. However, for some people or businesses, a mailing address is not their home or office address. A common example of a mailing address is a P.O.

Is it illegal to lie about your address?

Address fraud is a type of fraud in which the perpetrator uses an inaccurate or fictitious address to steal money or other benefit, or to hide from authorities. The crime may involve stating one's address as a place where s/he never lived, or continuing to use a previous address where one no longer lives as one's own.

What to do with mail with your address but someone else's name?

What to Do with Mail That is Not Addressed to You
  1. Mark “RETURN TO SENDER.” This instructs the mail carrier to return the mail to whoever sent it. You can also write “NOT AT THIS ADDRESS,” to let the sender know that the recipient has moved.
  2. Cross Out the Barcode. ...
  3. Contact Your Landlord. ...
  4. Contact the Post Office.

Can I let a homeless person use my address?

In many states the person becomes a legal resident if they can show they have received mail at an address for 30 days. He could move in to your apartment and you would not be able to remove him. If you tried to keep him out, police would be obligated to arrest or ticket you.

Am I obligated to return mail that isn't yours?

Reporting / returning misdelivered mail

If you are receiving mail for the previous resident and do not know their address, simply return the mail piece back to the mailstream (by leaving in a Collection Box or other mail receptacle) with the notation "Not at this address" marked on the envelope.

How do I know if someone is using my name and address?

You can check for suspicious or fraudulent activity on your credit report — such as new accounts or lines of credit in your name or a sudden drop in your credit score.

What if someone no longer lives at address?

First, write the words "no longer at this address" on the outside of the envelope and put it back in your mailbox. The mail carrier will then pick the mail back up, drop it off at the local post office, and update the system.

How to stop mail coming to your house for someone who doesn t live there?

However, if the source isn't budging, one of the easiest ways to avoid getting their mail in the future is to simply put a note inside your mailbox for your postal worker. Sometimes, all it takes is an all-caps sticky note reading “JOHN SMITH DOESN'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE” to keep John's mail out of your hair.

Does your permanent address have to be where you live?

A permanent address goes beyond being just a physical location; it embodies a legal and societal identity. It is a fixed location where you reside for extended periods, unlike temporary or mailing addresses.

Can you kick someone out if they have mail coming to your house?

Usually anyone living in your house, and receiving mail there is considered a legal resident there. And you would have to go to court to have them evicted.

How do I get mail for someone who does not live at my address?

If you're receiving mail for someone who no longer lives at the address, write "not at this address" on a note attached to the misdirected mail. If the problem persists, contact the post office on the phone or in person and alert them to the situation.

Is it illegal to use an address you don't live at?

It is not illegal per se to use someone else's address without their consent. However, the REASON they are using the address could be where the illegal conduct arises. For example, if he is using her address to avoid paying higher taxes in CA, this would be tax evasion in CA and that is a felony.

What do you do if someone is using your address without permission?

A stolen address can result in financial or legal trouble, mail fraud, identity theft, and worse credit scores. If you believe someone is using your address to commit fraud, you should: Report it: Report the ID theft to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and consider contacting your local police department.

How do I make my address unsearchable?

You can send a request to Google, contact website administrators, or use data removal services to erase your address from the internet. How do I keep my address private? You can keep your address private on websites like Whitepages by sending a request to remove it.

Why is someone using my address?

A change-of-address scam is a type of mail fraud where scammers trick the postal service into diverting your mail to a new address. They then use your bank statements and other sensitive material to steal your identity.

How do I report someone using my address?

Call 1-877-876-2455. Visit www.uspis.gov to report suspected fraud online. To learn more about mail fraud or to report suspected fraud, visit the U.S. Postal Inspection Web site at www.uspis.gov.

Why am I getting mail with someone else's name at my address?

According to Equifax, the scam is “a special form of fraud in which a real person's Social Security number (SSN) is stolen and then a name, date of birth, mailing address, email account and phone number are made up and applied to that legitimate SSN to create a new identity.”