What happens if you use someone elses address?

Asked by: Casimir Reilly  |  Last update: September 1, 2025
Score: 4.2/5 (12 votes)

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.

Can you get in trouble for using someone else's address?

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.

Is it illegal to use an address that is not yours?

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 can someone do with someone's address?

For example, with your name and address a thief could:
  • Research public databases for further pieces of information about you.
  • Get yet more personal information about you from online data brokers.
  • Send you phishing attacks and scams by physical mail.
  • Redirect your physical mail, essentially committing mail fraud.

Is it illegal to put someone's address?

While it may not be wise to give out someone's address, it is not illegal to do so. If for example, you gave out someone's address to a person intent on causing harm to that person, and they then cause harm to that person, you could theoretically become embroiled in civil and even criminal proceedings.

Throwing Away Someone Else's Mail Is A Felony — Here's How To Get Rid Of It Legally

32 related questions found

Can you use an address you don't live at?

Can Someone Use Your Address If They Don't Live There? In essence, yes: someone who requests your permission can legally use your address. To clarify why, let's review the difference between “residence” and “domicile.”

Can you report someone for using your address?

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 you deal with someone using your address?

If someone is using your address without your permission, and you're receiving post addressed to someone else, simply write 'not at this address' on the envelopes and post them back to the senders. You don't need to put new stamps on them. The senders should soon stop sending correspondence to your address.

Can you use someone else's address for car insurance?

Using a friend or family member's address, especially if they live in a safer neighborhood, is a common tactic to reduce auto insurance premiums. However, this practice, seemingly harmless and financially savvy to some, is viewed as fraudulent by insurance companies.

Can two houses have the same address?

It isn't uncommon for a community of townhomes or condos on same street to share same address with different unit numbers. The shared parking may be an underground garage.

Can I use my friends' address for work?

Use your real actual address. Obvious to any employer that if you are applying for an on-site job you are planning on relocating.

Is it a crime to not change your address?

Answer: You can get in trouble for failing to update the address on your driver's license—and exactly how much trouble depends on various factors, including luck. If you never get pulled over, then the odds are that nothing will happen, but you would still likely violate a state regulation.

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

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 sue someone for using my address?

In situations where you incur damages or losses due to someone using your address, a civil lawsuit might be an appropriate course of action.

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.

Is it illegal to say you live somewhere you don't?

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.

Is it against the law to use someone else's address?

Using someone's address without permission is illegal. If someone does this to you, you must take prompt and serious action. First, you need to determine if it's just a hunch or if someone is really misusing your address. Don't panic because there are simple ways to help you get out of this problem.

Can I have a different address on my license and insurance?

First of all, your insurance policy and your driver's license (as well as your vehicle registration) should use the same address. Depending on which insurance company you have, that will determine how quickly you should get this taken care of, but generally it's around 30-60 days.

Is car insurance tied to address?

Your location, where you park your car each day, is a key factor in determining your car insurance coverage price. Your insurance rate can increase for many reasons, including moving to a new address.

How do you find out if your address is blacklisted?

To check whether your IP address or Domain is blacklisted, use Site24x7's blacklist checker - simply key in your IP address or domain name and Site24x7's blacklist checker tool will verify the given address across the popular 10+ blacklist databases and let you know if your domain or site is blacklisted or not.

How long can I use my parents' address as my permanent address?

Your parents' home where you can return to at any time still remains your permanent home address. This is even if you've lived away from this address for the past four or five years.

How does identity theft usually begin?

Credit card statements or offers and basic bills can include enough data to steal your identity. Criminals will often steal or go through your mail looking for these critical documents. How to prevent identity theft via dumpster diving: Shred all sensitive bills, receipts, and documents before throwing them away.

What happens when you report someone to the FBI?

The FBI will ask you to provide as much information as possible about the perpetrator and details of the threat you have experienced. The FBI will ask for your contact information to follow‐up with you if needed. The FBI will attempt to protect your identity and confidentiality.

Who investigates mail theft?

U.S. Postal Inspection Service. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service supports and protects the U.S. Postal Service and its customers by enforcing the laws that defend the nation's mail system from illegal or dangerous use.

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.