Roger Morph 
Knowing what to do if someone uses your address without permission is the best way to be prepared in the event that something happens. Whether it’s something you’re currently going through or you’re worried about it happening to you in the future, you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, we help you figure out exactly what to do if someone uses your address without your permission. This includes the steps you can take to resolve the issue along with how to protect yourself. Read on to learn more.
Is it Illegal to Use Someone’s Address Without Permission?
If someone is using your address without your permission, yes, there’s a good chance they’re breaking the law. Furthermore, if someone is using your address to apply for lines of credit or to steal your identity it can quickly become a case of fraud. The only time it’s legal for someone else to use your address is if you grant permission for something like mail forwarding because someone lives out of state or somewhere else.
How to Stop Someone from Using Your Address Without Permission
Whether someone is trying to commit address fraud or you’re getting sick of someone forwarding their mail to you without permission, there are steps you can take to mitigate the problem. We take you through some actions you can take to stop someone from continuing to use your address without your permission.
File a Complaint with Your USPS Office
One of the best ways to stop someone from using your address is to file a complaint with your local USPS office. Since USPS handles your mail, notifying them of any issues can prevent you from getting unwanted mail or stop someone from using your address at all.
You can go about this in a few ways, but one of the best ways is to call the office using the number they have listed. It’s also possible to file a complaint with your mail carrier and some offices may have email addresses you can use. This is a great way to stop someone from using your address without permission because you’re going straight to the source.
Refuse the Mail
Refusing mail is a great way to get someone to stop sending you mail. It may sound simple but it’s one of the most effective methods to stop someone from using your address without permission. Instead of writing something like return to sender, you can write not at this address and return the mail to your local post office.
If the mail is coming from a business you may also want to notify the company, especially if you’ve accidentally ended up on a mailing list. You can also remove your email from bulk emailing lists by using a do-not-mail service.
Reach Out to Law Enforcement
If someone is using your address without permission and you’re worried about potential fraud, reach out to the necessary law enforcement agencies.
The agencies you need to contact include:
- Your local police department can help you get started
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC) if you suspect identity fraud
- The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV)
- United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS)
These resources can help you prevent fraud and stop someone from using your address.
What to Do if Someone Uses Your Address Without Permission: Ways to Prevent
It’s always a good idea to be prepared, so we take you through some ways to prevent someone from using your address below. These methods involve removing your address from public records databases and leveraging tools to monitor the usage of your address.
Check to See if Someone Is Using Your Address
A great way to figure out if someone is using your address is to use a reverse address lookup tool. When you run a search with a tool like UnMask you can look to see if anything seems off about your address, especially if there are names and public records you don’t recognize. If you weren’t sure if someone was using your address, this is a great way to confirm it. Plus, UnMask will notify you when there are any changes to records associated with an address, so you’ll know if something is wrong immediately.
Remove Your Address from Public Websites
A great preventative measure to avoid people using your address is removing your address from public websites that sell your information. You’ll want to visit each site individually or work with a service that helps you remove information in bulk.
To find out which sites may be hosting this information you can use a reverse address lookup tool.
Know What to Do if Someone Uses Your Address Without Permission
The second you find out that someone is using your address without your permission you need to act fast. Make sure you contact the appropriate federal and local authorities, like US Inspection Service or your local police, and take the steps necessary to resolve the issue.
