Don’t routinely toss mail addressed to somebody else. What you do next depends on whether it was misdelivered, sent to a former resident, or opened by mistake.
Keep ordinary mail together and use the Postal Service step that fits the situation.
Match the Mail to the Right Step
Your address, wrong or former resident: Leave it unopened, mark “Not at this address,” and return it to the mailstream.
A different street address: Leave it unopened and give it back to your carrier or Post Office as misdelivered mail.
Opened by mistake: Mark it “Opened by Mistake,” sign it, and return it to the mailstream.
Unordered merchandise addressed to you: Treat a suspected brushing scam separately and use Postal Inspection Service guidance.
Mail for a previous resident at your address is a different problem from your neighbor’s mail landing in your box.
Return Mail for a Former Resident
USPS Postal Operations Manual section 611.3 says to mark unopened mail for a person not at your address “Not at this address” and return it.
Don’t open the piece to identify its sender. Don’t write in a new address that you found yourself.
If it keeps happening, tell your carrier or local Post Office which names currently receive mail at your address.
Read the whole address first. Wording such as “Current Resident,” “Postal Customer,” or another occupant description includes whoever lives there now.
Return Mail Delivered to the Wrong Address
If the street address on the piece isn’t yours, leave it unopened. Hand it to your carrier or local Post Office and explain that it was misdelivered.
That keeps you from carrying it to an unfamiliar address or leaving it where weather or a passerby could get to it.
Correct an Accidental Opening
If you opened somebody else’s mail by mistake, USPS says to mark it “Opened by Mistake,” sign it, and return it to the mailstream.
Put the contents back together. Don’t copy, photograph, share, or act on personal information you happened to see.
For damaged contents, sensitive documents, or a dispute about intentional opening, ask USPS or an attorney for advice about the specific facts.
Read the Federal Rule Carefully
Title 18, section 1702 covers taking, opening, hiding, or destroying mail before delivery to the intended person when someone means to obstruct correspondence or pry into secrets.
The statute does not make every accidental opening a felony. Its wording concerns conduct before delivery to the intended person and the stated intent.
Use the USPS return steps when you make a mistake. Report suspected mail theft or deliberate interception to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Keep Brushing Scams Separate
An unordered package addressed to you may be part of a brushing scam. The Postal Inspection Service says you may keep or dispose of that unordered merchandise.
That rule doesn’t cover mail or packages addressed to somebody else. Check the name and complete address before deciding which situation you have.