What do I do if someone else's mail comes to my house?

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.

What to do with mail delivered to an old tenant?

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

More ominously, a letter that comes to your address in someone else's name may also be a sign you're caught up in synthetic identity theft—a type of identity theft in which a thief mixes real and fake information to create fake identities.

Can I throw away mail that isn't mine?

In a word, no. It is a federal crime to destroy, hide, open, or embezzle mail that is not intended for you. The official crime is obstruction of correspondence, which is a felony.

What to do if you keep getting mail for people who don t live here?

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.

How do I stop someone from using my mailing address?

What to do with mail delivered that isn t yours?

Can I open someone else's mail sent to my address?

Absolutely do not open it. Even if your intentions are good, or you know the person the mail is addressed to, opening and reading another person's mail is a felony.

What happens if another person uses your address in mail?

While not as egregious as mail fraud, address fraud can be an inroad to identity theft. Victims may be left reeling from social media harassment, stolen tax refunds, and damaged credit scores. They may even lose their homes due to mortgage and deed fraud.

What to do with mail that is not yours?

A quick way to inform the mail carrier that the letter doesn't belong to you is to write "return to sender" on the back or front of the envelope. However, you should be careful not to tamper with the letter. Writing with ink is one way of tampering with the letter. To avoid tampering with the letter, use a sticky note.

How do I stop someone's post from coming to my house?

You can write or email the sender directly indicating that you no longer wish to receive mailings from them.

How do you stop someone else's mail from coming to your house?

The most effective way to stop receiving mail for previous residents or strangers is to talk to your local Post Office. Most of the time, you'll be able to quickly resolve any issues by listing your household members as the only people who should receive mail at your address.

Is it a felony to throw away someone else's mail?

For these reasons, the U.S. government takes mail tampering very seriously. Stealing, destroying, defacing, or interfering with the delivery of mail is a felony, punishable by up to five years in prison or a $10,000 fine. To avoid potential legal troubles, here's what not to do with mail that isn't yours.

Is it illegal to keep mail that isn't yours?

Although you may have opened someone else's mail unintentionally, what you do with it afterward is what really counts. Toss the mail in the garbage, and you have intentionally obstructed the delivery of that correspondence. That is a crime, and there may be consequences.

How do I remove someone from my mailing address?

Explain the problem either to your specific postal carrier or to a clerk or postmaster at your local post office. Ask them to stop delivering the previous resident's mail to your mailbox.

What to do if someone is receiving mail at your address?

What to do if someone is falsely using your address?

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.

Am I responsible for old tenants mail?

The bottom line on handling mail from a previous tenant

Rental owners should know that their responsibilities as landlords don't end immediately after a tenant moves out. If you find yourself wondering what to do with previous tenants' mail, you should either contact them to pick it up or forward the mail.

What to do with wrongly delivered mail?

Is it illegal to keep a misdelivered package?

Yes, it's a crime to keep a package meant for your neighbor. You can face theft charges for such a stunt, and the consequences are severe. Consider your defense options if you find yourself in this situation.