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Help! eBay Sent Stealth Mail to my Real Address!!
 

I just received mail from ebay saying Congratulations you have achieved Top Rated Seller Status, sent to my stealth name but to me real address. The only way they could have gotten this is through my EIN somehow. What do I do??? I have started to go into my other accounts and opt out of any communications possible through ebay and paypal including "ad choice", 3rd parties, and the notification within paypal where it asks if you would like to share info with ebay companies and partners. I never even knew these options existed, do you think it will raise flags since I have opted out of them?

Others should confirm this first.

I dont think it makes a difference to eb if you opt out of communications. There is nothing extraordinary about that.

Do you guys think they will link me? How does everyone else with an EIN get past this?

are you sure you are not using mail forwarding? i doubt they would look up the address listed under your ein just to send you this automated letter

I am using mail forwarding but it was not forwarded. My real address is the original address typed out on the envelope.

What kind of address are you using for your business (ie postal box, registered agent, virtual office)? Or are you saying you used your home address for the corporation and EIN? If so what kind of address did you use for your stealth account ( a completely made up address, a friend or family member's address, or mailbox service?

The business is registered at my home address. I had originally had it registered to a friends address but was criticized by members for not providing the IRS with my true information.

So then what kind of address did you use for the stealth account?

The stealth account uses a neighborhood address in which I don't have access but do have mail forwarding set up with it.

The only things I can think of are: maybe you provided your original address to Ebay without thinking or you somehow you got linked. The IRS does not provide your address or corporate addresses to third parties.

No way, there is no way I provided them with my address. Could it be they use public records?

I just googled my business name and the address came up....
EDIT- Disregard this, I was searching a business name of mine not associated with ebay. The one associated with ebay does not show up in the results, at least i didnt see it anywhere.

Does it say anywhere on the envelope: address service requested?

No, no where

Was I supposed to register the business under a different address and only register the EIN under my own address?

I register everything regarding the business to a mailbox service. I know that your business address is a matter of public record but I don't see ebay having any reason to doubt the address you provided them. Then to search out your actual address without just limiting you does not make sense. The only possible indication Ebay could have received to the invalidity of your address is maybe a returned piece of mail (like the one you received). Then they would have just limited you. Maybe they are insourcing the USPS, who is using public records. But this is just me giving you the benefit of the doubt because I think there is something you forgot, you were careless, or there is something you are not telling us.

In the future, as a better safe then sorry measure, make sure nothing can be traced back to your old information. Use mailbox service.

I am not going to rule out the fact that there is always a possible something could have been forgotten on my part but I am 99.9% positive I never slipped up on that account. I am no hiding anything from you guys, that would only provide me with non valid responses from everyone. I am completely honest with all forum members. Do you have any mailbox services you could suggest? Should I use a mailbox service for the business and the ein or just the business?

I really am very confused. I just thoroughly went over my ebay and paypal accounts and could not find any trace of my real address anywhere under addresses or the listed business address. How did they do this??

Could be linked or maybe it's a matter of innocent address service or forwarding. Just because your address is printed on the envelope does not mean it was not done by a service outside of ebay.

So what you are saying is ebay may use a 3rd party to mail out their brochures, which may have access to see that an address has a forwarding service set-up before actually mailing the parcel? They then correct it and send it out?

is this a private box or a usps box? for private, nobody else has public access to your forwarding service address ie. the ultimate recipient address.

if a private box, the only people who know the address forwarded to, is the owner of the box and the box company.

As FM says this does not make any sense. I can see them asking and even getting a forwarding address from a careless employee, it can happen but what prompted it and why would it just be done for a piece of junk mail?

I'm 100% sure you screwed up.

Do you keep track of all your info on an Excel spreadsheet or similar?

If so, then go back and check your records. It's easy to make a mistake with stealth accounts, especially in todays ADD multi-tasking society.

Both the forwarding address and my address are private homes. The forwarding is through USPS.

I keep everything on spreadsheets. How could I mess up and accidentally give them my real address? The pc and dongle used have never been associated with any accounts containing my real info. If somehow I messed up in some way I never even thought possible, and they got my address, wouldn't it be listed in the addresses section on my account?

That's an easy mistake to make for any of us. Maybe you were thinking one thing and typed another.

I capture "Screenshots" of all my accounts, just in case I screwed up or Paypal messes with my account.

This way I know for sure what info I typed.

Snagit, Mac and Windows screen capture software from TechSmith <<< I snag everything.

Have you ever purchased anything on a website, given the website your real address and then paid with the stealth paypal?

This would be my best guess as to how they got your real info.

Nope never, although I have purchased something on ebay a long time ago in the stealth account sent to the stealth address just to make sure that the forwarding would also forward my packages successfully. Still, my real address could not have been revealed this way.

I am very alert and aware when I am on a stealth account, even if I did mess up somewhere and provide them with my address then wouldn't it now be listed under "addresses" in my account profile? LoL this mail is driving me crazy I had dreams trying to figure it out last night

I wasn't sure if you still had access to the account.

Yes, I'm sure we'll all be interested as to how this happened.

Yes the account is still up and running...

the forwarding is via usps BUT is the actual box a usps box. It may be different in USA, but in UK a box with our Royal Mail is publically searchable ie. the real address is open to enquirers....just a thought, if pertinent.

Remember in the USA.

They ask everyone to fill out one of those change of address forms.

Once you do that the post office goes right into sending everyone who places a piece of mail in your box or has your previous address a card with your brand new address on it.

When I last moved I got a piece of mail from a neighbor who did not know where I moved to. I saw the return address and thought how in the world.

Read the letter and she said she sent me a letter to my old address and it was returned with the new address on it. So she automatically got my new address by knowing the PO will provide her details of my move address etc.

I dont like this because they send info to people and businesses that did not ask for your change of address.

Can cause some people problems in the end.

Careful with using a PO box and thinking you are hidden away from people or businesses who you do not want your new address.

I dont think it is right for them without your permission but its the government, what can you do.

I even had a PO fee show up on my credit file once. Small town clerk thought she had the right to report my as past due when I did not renew my PO Box at her location. I had to go to the post master to get this resolved and removed from my credit report as once your 6 month contract ends they cannot report it as due as you did not agree to pay for another 6 mo.

WOW I didn;t know this! Thank you so much. So what should I do now, switch to some type of private forwarding service?

Yah, but anyway the USPS does not forward junk mail. Maybe you created a test account or something that you have since forgotten about.

But why would that be considered junk mail? It was one of those big Top Rated Seller awards...

Oh, thought I read somewhere in the thread that it was junk mail. My bad...

Maybe try a test letter send to your stealth address and see what happens.

Any mail that is not considered junk mail USPS send that letter back to the sender with your new address on it.

Even people or businesses you dont want to have your new address sends letters anyway knowing they will get your new address.

** Tactic used by collectors all the time. USPS hands them your new address and they now know where you live or your new PO box.

Besides the fact of receiving returns, what is the point in even setting up mail forwarding. The only thing I could imagine would be to get any tax forms from PayPal which you can always download from them anyway. So what's the point?

There is no point. I would even argue its not necessary for returned items.