Monday, March 3, 2025
There’s a new rule for shipping cremated remains
Customers must use a special Priority Mail Express box
Postal Service customers who want to ship human or animal cremated remains in any form — such as ashes, jewelry or keepsakes — must use the Priority Mail Express Cremated Remains Box.
Customers no longer have the option of using their own packaging.
The new rule takes effect March 1 and is designed to increase the visibility and security of these shipments through the postal network.
Cremated remains must be sent by Priority Mail Express or Priority Mail Express International.
Free box kits are available through the online Postal Store.
More information can be found in Publication 139, How to Package and Ship Cremated Remains.
A reminder to watch out for imposters
Inspection Service shines spotlight on personal scams
National Consumer Protection Week is March 2-8, and the Postal Inspection Service is reminding employees and customers to beware of imposter scams.
Imposters will often pose as a friend, relative or representative of a bank or government agency to defraud people of their personally identifiable information and then use it to steal their money.
“There are many types of imposter scams,” said Eric Shen, inspector in charge of the Inspection Service’s criminal investigations group. “But they all start with messages like ‘I’m in trouble’ or ‘I need’ or ‘You’ve won!’ or ‘I have a great offer for you!’ These scammers lull consumers into a false sense of trust, gain access to privileged information, and then drain financial accounts.”
Here are some tips to thwart imposters:
• Don’t hastily send money to someone making unsolicited investment, lottery or sweepstakes offers.
• Don’t call a number that you haven’t verified, and never click on any links in an unverified email or text. To verify if a text or email is truly from your bank, call the bank at the number you were given when you opened your account.
• Grandparents should call their grandchildren before sending money to rescue them from an allegedly desperate situation.
• If involved in a potential online romance, beware if the other person asks you to send money for travel expenses to come meet you right away.
• Add your phone number to the National Do Not Call Registry by calling 888-382-1222 or emailing donotcall.gov.
The Inspection Service is also reminding employees and customers that USPS never sends unsolicited texts or emails.
Any message claiming that a customer has a package delivery problem is a scam intended to steal personally identifiable information.
Recipients of such messages should forward them to spam@uspis.gov, then delete them.
The Postal Service offers USPS Informed Delivery, a free service that allows customers to preview their incoming mail and packages. Customers can register online.
Victims of an imposter scam can submit an online report to the Inspection Service or call 877-876-2455.
Heroes
She spotted a scam
This retail associate acted when a customer said she was mailing cash
Retail Associate Vicki Steinbach was working at the Potosi, WI, Post Office recently when she noticed an older customer mailing several envelopes to the same address.
The customer said the envelopes contained cash, and she wanted to use Priority Mail Express to mail them. Steinbach questioned whether this was a legitimate transaction, but the customer seemed convinced that it was.
Steinbach then contacted a postal inspector, who soon uncovered a scam.
According to a colleague, the customer lost $30,000 in the scam — and would have lost more if the retail associate hadn’t intervened. Steinbach has since retired.
Employees featured in “Heroes” receive letters of commendation through the Postmaster General Heroes’ Program. The nomination form is available on Blue.
Week in Review
Here’s what Link covered Feb. 23-March 1
A PMG update, a Post Office program and more made news
Last week, Link brought you Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s latest employee video message, which addressed recent developments involving USPS and the latest update on the Delivering for America plan.
We also spotlighted the Postal Service’s 5-Star Banner Program, which rewards Post Offices that receive high customer-satisfaction marks on several metrics. “It’s all about positivity, highlighting our best practices,” said Misty Wilhelm, a USPS retail experience specialist.
Link also published the first of several stories that will look back at 250 years of the American postal system. We kicked things off at the very beginning of the organization, when the Second Continental Congress — aware of the importance of a safe mail system in their revolutionary effort — named Benjamin Franklin postmaster general.
And we told the story of the Missing Post Office, a 2013 art project in Japan that blossomed into a permanent museum where people can write letters to living and departed relatives, friends, pets, past selves, future selves, inanimate objects and more.
Meanwhile, “Heroes” highlighted the actions of Vicki Steinbach, a now-retired Potosi, WI, retail associate who stopped a customer from losing more money in a scam than she already had; and we told you about Steven Murphy, a WestPac Area logistics implementation strategy manager whose much-in-demand blood type inspires him to give blood regularly.
Link also featured stories on proposed USPS service standards changes; a new rule for shipping cremated remains; post-employment ethics; and the release of stamps celebrating the Appalachian Trail.
The “People” column helped bring the week to a close on two upbeat notes: A quartet of signed banners that will be presented to four offices affected by the Los Angeles wildfires; and a Flagstaff, AZ, job fair that exceeded expectations.
“Our team tries to engage with anyone coming into the Post Office to let them know we are hiring,” said Stacy Peoples, a Phoenix senior workforce planning specialist.
March 10, 2025
Datebook
‘PSHB and Medicare in Retirement’
USPS employees may participate in a webinar that will help explain how the new Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program and Medicare work in retirement.
The session, “PSHB and Medicare in Retirement,” will be held Monday, March 10, from noon to 1 p.m. Eastern.
Representatives from CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, a provider of health plans for federal employees, will lead the webinar.
Participants must register on the webinar website.
Participation is voluntary. Nonexempt employees must be off the clock or on authorized breaks.
Employees who have questions can email the USPS Benefits and Wellness team.
View past printouts
Printout details
What's included
-
There’s a new rule for shipping cremated remains
-
A reminder to watch out for imposters
Inspection Service shines spotlight on personal scams
-
Heroes
She spotted a scam
This retail associate acted when a customer said she was mailing cash
-
Week in Review
Here’s what Link covered Feb. 23-March 1
A PMG update, a Post Office program and more made news
-
March10Datebook
‘PSHB and Medicare in Retirement’