The Postal Inspection Service is combatting an increase in counterfeit postage scams, which are costing USPS millions of dollars in lost revenue.
Scammers are selling fake stamps on social media marketplaces, e-commerce websites and other sites. Fraudsters are also reselling stolen goods at a deep discount and then shipping them using counterfeit postage.
To fight back, postal inspectors are working with online shopping platforms to identify sellers of counterfeit postage and seizing website domains related to the sale of counterfeit stamps.
Inspectors are also reviewing shipments on USPS docks and intercepting packages with counterfeit labels affixed. Since October 2024, they have seized $16.2 million of counterfeit stamps, and they’ve issued 358 voluntary discontinuance orders to individuals and businesses who have used counterfeit postage.
“The Postal Inspection Service has no tolerance for people who create, distribute or use counterfeit postage,” said Chief Postal Inspector Gary Barksdale. “These practices erode the inherent trust in the USPS brand, and it’s not fair to all the consumers and business owners who lawfully pay for postage.”
The Inspection Service is launching a public relations campaign to urge consumers to purchase stamps directly from the Postal Service or from retailers that have legitimate resale agreements with the organization.
The campaign, which will include social media posts and news articles, will also advise consumers to avoid work-from-home scams that traffic in counterfeit postage.
These “jobs” involve reshipping packages, but the merchandise being shipped is typically purchased with stolen credit cards. The person who is hired then reships the packages using counterfeit shipping labels.
Consumers can avoid these scams by contacting the human resources department of the company to verify if the job opportunity is legitimate, and they should verify the business with the appropriate state attorney general’s office, consumer affairs office, the Federal Trade Commission or the Better Business Bureau.
To report counterfeit postage, consumers should email or call the Inspection Service’s tip line at 877-876-2455.
