I’m reporting Identity theft and mail fraud using my name and address., Illinois, USA

Illinois, United States

This is happening to me except someone is using my name and address as the sender and creating fake shipping labels. I started receiving small packages in the mail with return to sender, which had my name and address as the sender, but I never sent anything. The package was something cheap like a squeaky toy, an eyelash curler, a plastic cell phone stand, etc. The addressees are from all over the US. The packages have labels over the addressees information that say things like unable to deliver or forward, no such number, no mail receptacle, or insufficient postage, refused. Then I started getting letters from people asking why I sent them an empty package with a piece of cardboard in it! I wanted to reach out to them and let them know I had my identity stolen and whomever stole it is sending fraudulent packages of junk or a piece of card board. I don’t understand what the scammer is getting out of this? I’m not out any money, but it is very scary. I even had one lady from Louisiana find my number online and call me! I ended up calling her to explain it wasn’t me sending the empty package to her. She was very nice and sent me pictures of the package she received. She says d she had her identity stolen and it took a year and a half to clean up the mess. I have a cousin who works in financial fraud and she told me to file a police report, file a report or call the USPS Inspector General, the report should include pictures of the packages and letters, freeze my credit with the 3 credit bureaus, monitor my credit report and bank statements. She said the Inspector General will reach out to the addressees if/when they investigate. The police really couldn’t do anything because it was a USPS issue, but at least I got a report number from them on record. I dread going to the mailbox because I’m afraid I’ll have more return to sender packages or letters from people asking why I sent them an empty package! It’s a terrible feeling knowing someone is doing this in my name. I checked tracking on a couple packages and they show the label and package were created in my hometown and went through my local post office so I am going to go there and have them halt any mail they receive with my name and address as the sender. I hope this will stop sooner than later and it’s not the beginning of something bigger! 🙏🏻