Daily printout: May 7

The Postal Inspection Service has added a Project Safe Delivery section to its website, highlighting the agency’s joint effort with USPS to combat mail-related crime.

The page, part of uspis.gov, debuted in mid-April. It offers background information, statistics and several success stories since the initiative’s launch last May.

The section also explains the importance of prevention and the role of communications, both internal and external, in raising awareness.

“The Postal Inspection Service is dedicated to safeguarding letter carriers and upholding the integrity of the mail system,” said Chief Postal Inspector Gary Barksdale. “The launch of this webpage signifies our commitment to educating the public about the critical importance of mail security and the decisive actions the Inspection Service is taking to ensure the safety of our postal workers.”

Since October, the Inspection Service has made 73 percent more arrests than in the same period the prior year. It conducted law enforcement surges in high-crime areas and supported the installation of high-security blue collection boxes and electronic locks in locations across the nation.

The Postal Service wants employees and contractors to be aware of the threat social engineering poses to the organization.

Social engineering occurs when cybercriminals use technical, interpersonal and psychological methods to try to get financial and personal information from their victims.

This could involve a cybercriminal calling or emailing an employee or contractor while impersonating a real business to gain their trust.

It could also involve a cybercriminal targeting an employee or contractor to get usernames and passwords in an effort to plant ransomware on the organization’s network.

A successful social engineering attack would jeopardize the Postal Service, its partners and customers.

Employees and contractors should always:

• Limit the information they share online about their job, family and other personal details.

• Verify any request for information to make sure the person or company is legitimate. Never send information if you have any doubts.

• Report if you suspect you are being targeted on your USPS-issued device. Call the Cybersecurity Operations Center at 866-877-7247 or send an email to cybersafe@usps.gov.

The CyberSafe at USPS Blue and LiteBlue pages have more information.