I have posted about the many awesome neighbors we have had roll through the rental house right next door to us.
Each family has gotten just a little bit worse.
The family that lives there now are a bunch of welfare moochers(see older posts for the story), this is not something I would use lightly because I believe in the ''safety net'' theory.
Anyways, that is not my question it was just to some what paint a picture before I continue....
When I saw who I was living next too, at first I was kinda excited. We had gone to school together.
As I got to know her as an adult through being neighbor's I witnessed her do one fraudulent thing after another. A few times trying to convince me I should try as well.
In about May I noticed that she had written her last name on the inside mail box marker. We receive mail for My family, our house mate and then my sister and brother in law because we rent from them. So slipping one other name of there probably seemed like it would go unnoticed. Except she wrote in black marker, so it stuck out like a sore thumb.
We immediately crossed the name out.
We pretty much had forgotten about it.
Until my house mate saw her do something totally outrageous, she had seen the garbage truck coming far enough down the street where she rolled her bins over to the neighbor across the way so that they picked her trash up as extra charge to the neighbor. Stupid did not see my housemate, which made telling the victim neighbor what had happened. She called and things were dealt with.
Then Friday we get our mail. I am going through it, my jaw dropped when I saw that she had a letter from a State given Cell phone plan. Under her name. My address.
Is this illegal?!?
She has straight up told me she is nothing but a hustler when it comes to living. She is getting $5k a month from the state and gov't assts.
She is constantly watching my house. Seeing when I leave and come home she tries ti bully me into given her rides.....Which I have been standing up to her and telling her no daily.......She keeps telling me they are leaving....But every month they stay I dread them never leaving:(
Anyways.....Is knowingly using someone's address illegal??
I have reported her for the Welfare abuse and all the stuff I have at least recorded.
My husband has had a conversation with the company that she received the mail from. We have a claim out. We have to fax proof of us living at this address, and then they will contact her to submit proof that she is at our address.
Thankfully we get absolutely no important mail at this address. We live in a very very bad part of town. So, we keep our bank statements and things of that nature going to my mom or his mom depending on what it is and if it was something we had before or after we were married.
My husband works for a Law firm and he looked up what the offense is considered. It is a Federal Crime but carries a misdemeanor sentencing.
We are calling the Post Office tomorrow to see what our next step is to make.
I dont trust this women. Which kills me.
I now fully understand and get how bad the system is being ''used''. I get why those people are so complacent in their situations. What makes me even more sick, is her kids are learning this behavior. They steal, and lie constantly.
I feel badly for the kids, they did not ask to be born into crazy.
Thank you for the response's. I hate feeling that I am being stalked. I will keep you posted
Oh and, the locked Mail Box is being put in this weekend:) I can not wait! I love my neighborhood, for the families that are not dirt bags...but for everyone ''good family'' there seems to be four more that are shady.
YES, it's called FRAUD,
Contact the Post Master, Welfare and the Police and let them know what is going on. Stop communicating with the people next door. They seem like poeple who have been in trouble with the law and you need to be careful. If they are career criminals, the police will be watching them.
Once she's messed with the mail, I believe that's a felony. Time to let the authorities know. I hope her butt gets kicked.
I would send the bill back to the state marked, "Return to Sender, does not live at this address." Do it every time she gets any mail. I would also contact the post office, see what there is you can do legally, then do it. You don't want this to turn into identity theft.
Your next post will be: Identity Theft ----neighbors stole my bank accounts...
You had better do EVERYTHING you can to distance yourself...tell the post office, the non-emergency police numbers, the welfare system, anyone who has any power and/or authority...
What a potential nightmare. GL!
Did you report her for welfare fraud as most here recommended? I'd first start by reporting her to the postal service (you might try this, or contact your local office https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/forms/MailFraudComplai.... I would also contact the agency that used your address and let them know what is going on.
You're right, it's illegal. She's committing fraud against the state by using your address instead of her own. Very shady. I would report it. Take down the address and department on the envelope, her full name, and look up the phone number and then call them to report it. I'd ask them for advice on that and see if they think you should report it to the post office too. It may be a Federal Offense since they don't have your permission. I'm almost positive that it is but I could be wrong on that.
EDIT: I also like Purple Mom's response to write "Return to Sender" with the reason that it's "Incorrect Address." Do NOT give your neighbor the mail. I wouldn't put it back in your mailbox for the mailman but I'd physically bring it back to the post office or drop it off in a blue box.
I would first and foremost get your credit report to make sure she hasn't stolen your identity! If she is watching you she may be taking more of your personal information. I would check with a lawyer (or google :0) to find out how to protect yourself legally.
You can put in a change of address at the post office but that sometimes screws up YOUR mail. I'd start out with "not at this address" and drop it in a mailbox far away so she can't get it. If you think it's fraud, call the department the mail is coming from.
ETA: a locked mailbox is a good idea. We got ours at Home Depot. If someone REALLY wanted in, they could, but they'd be awfully suspicious while they were doing so. They make them that mount to your house as well as ones that go on posts. Both drop the mail out of reach.
I had somehow missed that she wrote HER name inside YOUR box. I'd be talking to the postmaster about this.
And this is why God made the words "return to sender"!
Is this a locked mailbox? A mailbox in your yard?
Mail fraud is a serious crime. Do everything the other posters said. I'd start by taking it to the PO and going right to the counter. The clerk may handle it or may refer you to a fraud person or the postmaster. Explain that it's not an error by the sender, that the neighbor wrote her name in your box.
If you just send it back to the sender, it doesn't get dealt with as fraud. You can ask the PO what to do about things in the future.
I still get stuff for the former owner of this house (only been gone 25 years!) but that's not fraud, and I have returned it and/or written letters of explanation (for example, to his university which sends all kinds of alumni information). Now I just throw it out since they choose not to get the message or to notify all departments.
If I get mis-addressed junk mail, I toss it. If I get something for a mystery individual, I write "Addressee unknown" and put it in the outgoing mail.
But your situation is more serious than this and I'd handle it officially. And ask the PO what to do about things from state agencies or any government outlet - whether you should handle it or keep giving it to the Post Office. I would not handle it directly with your letter carrier as that puts all the pressure on that person and your neighbor could take it out on her/him.
And keep refusing her rides!
Kinda tempting to report her to the state, no? If you can do it safely...
I live in Chicago and tampering with someone else's mail or mailbox is a felony. She shouldn't even touch your mailbox. Identity theft is next. You could have all your mail sent to a PO Box. Sure this is a hassle, but she won't get anything. Honestly, I would confront her. She's a scammer, I'm sure she use to it and will have a story about why she did It. Yada, yada, yada.
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IS there a way to call the post office or talk with your post man/woman? Make sure that they know that you are ONLY to receive mail for the people you posted?
Do you know who the landlord is? Is there a way to speak with the landlord about his tenants?
L.
I would call the authorities if you want it stopped. Mailboxes and the postal services are matters of the federal government, so any unlawful tampering or fraud is a felony.
Get a locked mailbox. Problem solved unless she wants to "break into it" which I believe is a felony. Return all of her mail courtesy of "RETURN TO SENDER" written in big black marker. If you choose - find out who it's from from the return address and call them to notify that this person does not live at the said address. If you do all these things, she'll probably move and realize she can't hustle you.
You do need to watch your back for identity theft. She sounds like a creep.
Good luck!
If you send it back marked "Not at this address" the sender will get it back and know they have a wrong address.
Is it legal? I doubt it as taking mail out of a mail box that doesn't belong to you is a crime. So her sticking her hand in your box is illegal. I would contact the postmaster and advise what went on and requesting that any mail addressed to her at your address be returned and not delivered.
As for turning her in for welfare fraud, unless you have more info than you put here, I don't think you have enough for them to do something. Just because she told you she gets $5k per month, doesn't mean she really does! People say all kinds of things.
I'm praying that she moves and not next door to one of our other MP mama's!
Call the post master about he using your address. She may not have paid her bill with the trash people and they might not have picked it up otherwise. Sounds fishy to me.
This is SCARY! I can be a passive aggressive at times and I know mamas won't like this one but--- you can load you car with boxes and then there will be no where for her to sit.
I can't even begin to address the other egregious behavior!
Collecting mail at an address makes her a tenant in most states even if she's not on the lease. If she barges in one day and refuses to leave, then she can use the mail delivered to her at that address to prove that she lives there. You would have to then go through the lengthy process of evicting her in order to remove her from the place.
Collect mail as soon as it is delivered and write in big letters "NOT AT THIS ADDRESS" and drop it in the post box. Do not allow her to collect it.
I believe it is illegal, called fraud. Notify postmaster, make copies of mail sent to your mailbox, document, document, document! Write not at this address return to sender & drop in blue boxes so she can't get at them. Call some one at the state until you get something done about her. I would get a restraining order so she can't come near you or your mail box. That might force her to have to move.
