Random address in my area

[Kristy]

I have a question regarding using a unlinked address.
What if I used a random address in my area

Will this constitue as mail fraud.

[jojo2012]

Do much research

[jeffweico]

You can use a random address, but it must be a real address. If you use an address that does not exist, eBay/PayPal will know. They have a list of every deliverable address in the USA, which they use to verify that an address is valid. They cannot use the list to verify that a specific person lives there, but they know if the address is phake.

[vogeltron]

If you use it as an address to register a stealth eBay. I wouldn't think so. I would still prefer to use an invalid address on a real street etc, than try to steal a good one.

However, if you do it right and never have anything mailed there you should be ok. I would always advise using a invalid or "twiner" as I like to call them. Than ever using somebody's else real address.

If you go stealth in most cases at-least in the U.S. you are pushing the limits of what is legal and what really isn't. Any way you slice it. For me with stealth. It is all about never getting friends, family, or other real people involved. If that means on A Street there is House 598 and 600 and my stealth account is house 599. I will make it work. I will do all other necessary things when selling and shipping etc, to make sure it works out.

Anytime you get into things like this you are walking on a tight rope.

[rsot]

And avoid having stuff sent or returned to this other real address that you have no access to...

[vogeltron]

Originally Posted by rsot

And avoid having stuff sent or returned to this other real address that you have no access to...

Yes, always suggest having a company name at a Mail Box or P.O. Box all things considered. You use as the return address for multiple stealth accounts. Personally black out the return address on all my stealth labels and tape over my company name & return address.

[ovidiu]

Yes, using a ⊗⊗⊗⊗ name and address is mail fraud, but if you aren't performing any actual fraud, you will go unmolested. Mail fraud is one of those things the government will get you for as a topping on their prosecution sundae, or as a last-resort if they can't get you for anything else.

They cannot use the list to verify that a specific person lives there, but they know if the address is phake.


Jeff, USPS now has a digital database of addresses and who officially lives there. eBay and PP will most definitely have access to this, if they decide to take a closer look.

[GreenBean]

@ovidu

That's an assumption. You should not answer for the behavior of others.

What if this is a toerag seller who turns and burns accounts? You implied it's OK to implement this method.

Bad bad bad

[ovidiu]

@Greenbean:

my apologies; that is definitely not what I implied.

What I mean is that as long as no illegal or unethical activities are taking place, it's OK to use a ⊗⊗⊗⊗ name on a REAL address. Not technically legal, but no one will get fried for it. I don't endorse the use of made up addresses, or using turn & burn accounts to perform illegal or unethical activities, to be clear.

[vogeltron]

Originally Posted by ovidiu

@Greenbean:

my apologies; that is definitely not what I implied.

What I mean is that as long as no illegal or unethical activities are taking place, it's OK to use a ⊗⊗⊗⊗ name on a REAL address. Not technically legal, but no one will get fried for it. I don't endorse the use of made up addresses, or using turn & burn accounts to perform illegal or unethical activities, to be clear.

I would have to disagree. I would much rather use a real street and a non existent address than use somebody's address who I have no access to. Simply select your accounts to make sure you don't receive any mail promos from eBay and never use the registration address as a return address. Get a P.O. Box with a Biz name and tape over it.

There are people on here who have hundreds of stealth accounts. Unfortunately due to the 1099k laws implemented in the States here a few years back. Many of us have had to change our stealth practices.

You are making quite the assumption about using accounts for illegitimate purposes.

[rsot]

Apartments and complexes have so many fictitious numbers open

[vogeltron]

Originally Posted by rsot

Apartments and complexes have so many fictitious numbers open

Yes, and high turnover rate of residents. I probably shouldn't give away my secrets. But I love to register stealth accounts in college towns.

[rsot]

Originally Posted by vogeltron

Yes, and high turnover rate of residents. I probably shouldn't give away my secrets. But I love to register stealth accounts in college towns.

With the occasional party over there as a...scouting trip?

[vogeltron]

Originally Posted by rsot

With the occasional party over there as a...scouting trip?

20 year old trying to sell a few things to make a few bucks. Kinda fits into that "stealth identity" I would say you want to have. Unless you are selling antiques or items like Sandy. But for me it has been golden.

[GreenBean]

Originally Posted by rsot

Apartments and complexes have so many fictitious numbers open

Here we go again.

Last year after this got bandied around, the users who tried the variation got MC999.

Why bother with what is now out of fashion.


The adding of a phake number flops.

[ovidiu]

Now eBay probably automatically checks the address for validity and demands ID when you try to sell something on an account with a made up address.

[vogeltron]

Originally Posted by ovidiu

Now eBay probably automatically checks the address for validity and demands ID when you try to sell something on an account with a made up address.

Making lots of assumptions there. Do you work for eBay? How many years have you been running stealth accounts? How many have you created?

[ovidiu]

I think it's wise to assume the worst when dealing with eBay, don't you? Been running stealth for over 8 years. They use databases to confirm stuff now, it makes sense they would actually USE those databases to do a quick and easy address check. That certainly explains all the failed brand new stealth accounts.

[BiN4RY]

What ovidiu saying is absolutely true. Even if eBay doesn't check you right after you register, they will check when something raises concern on your account.

[GoteBay]

Thread closed - get back to work!

[jeffweico]

As an FYI, the USPS does NOT verify any type of personal information. They will only verify if an address exists or not. However, once the address is verified and standardized, eBay can use public record data to see if they can match on a name. This is not perfect, because such records are not 100% accurate. If someone moves into a new house or apartment, and does not apply for credit, their name may not show up in the public record databases for months or even years.

If you want to see what types of things are available from the USPS, one of their vendors, Melissa Data has a product called Mailers+4 (and a few others) that contain the national database:

Mailing Software | Data Management Software | Address Verification

[ovidiu]

jeff,

what I see there is that every frigging piece of information is available on an address. Even software to parse gender information.

And yes, the USPS does have this information in databases same as any other government agency and many private companies. When I moved about 2 years back (I rent a room in a house), the post office gave the carrier a list of names that were supposed to reside there, and he taped it inside the mailbox. Just because they don't match it up here and there doesn't mean that most people aren't in it. That's the reason eBay gives you the option to call them to verify ID, in case there is a database mix-up.