For 250 years, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service has safeguarded the nation’s postal system, protecting the mail, keeping employees safe and ensuring that mail and packages are delivered securely. That vigilance has never been more important than it is today. Criminals continually find new ways to scheme, whether through fake packages, fraudulent QR codes, or phishing emails; the holiday rush gives them even more chances to strike.
This winter, the Postal Inspection Service is calling on everyone to “Cut Out Crime This Holiday Season.” By working together with the public, postal inspectors can protect USPS employees, customers and the integrity of the system — all to keep the holidays joyful and secure.
As we highlight in our “Cut Out Crime This Holiday Season” public service campaign, one scam that increases during the holidays is brushing. It begins with a package you never ordered, often containing cheap merchandise and no return address. While it may look like a harmless mistake, the sender is using your name to post fake product reviews. This misuse of your identity can be unsettling, and while it is important to remember that you never have to pay for or return unsolicited merchandise, you must stay alert, as brushing often serves as a gateway to more invasive scams.
One of those scams is quishing. Here, criminals send a package with a QR code inside, urging you to scan it to discover the sender. These codes can be a front for fake websites designed to steal personal or financial information. The safest approach is simple: never scan a QR code from an unknown or untrusted source.
Digital scams like phishing and smishing are also becoming more common. One example we often see is fake emails or texts claiming to be from the U.S. Postal Service, warning that a package cannot be delivered or that a small fee is required. They look official but are fraudulent. USPS never sends unsolicited messages asking for payment, login credentials or personal details. If you didn’t request tracking information, delete the message. And to stay informed on your delivery, it’s best to check through usps.com or the Informed Delivery® app.
Mail theft also spikes during the holidays. Beyond cards and packages, thieves target checks, credit cards and sensitive documents for identity theft. Some criminals even attack letter carriers to steal mailbox keys. To combat this, the Postal Inspection Service and USPS launched Project Safe Delivery in 2023, a nationwide initiative to crack down on mail theft and related crimes.
This campaign has been very successful, resulting in thousands of arrests. But prevention is just as important as enforcement, so the Postal Inspection Service recommends that you collect your mail promptly, avoid leaving it overnight and use USPS Hold Mail® services when away. For valuable items, consider Hold for Pickup service at your local Post Office.
The mail has always been a trusted part of American life, and it’s the Postal Inspection Service’s mission to keep it that way. By staying informed and cautious, you protect yourself and help secure the entire postal network. Together, we can cut out crime this holiday season to keep the mail safe, reliable and worthy of the trust it has earned over two and a half centuries.
And if you believe you’ve been targeted by a scammer, fraudster or mail thief, report it to the Postal Inspection Service at www.uspis.gov/report or call 1-877-876-2455.
Andrea Avery
U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Assistant Postal Inspector in Charge
This story is hilarious. The Postal Inspection Service is a joke. They are nothing but talk, talk, talk. They have proven over and over that they don’t care about mail theft.