Monday, September 29, 2025
Inspection Service to consumers: Don’t fall for fake stamp schemes
Scammers are defrauding USPS of revenue
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 use the Inspection Service’s online form or call the agency’s tip line at 877-876-2455.
Heroes
He saw a car on fire and stopped to help
This employee grabbed an extinguisher as the vehicle burned at a gas station
Rural Carrier Associate Nicholas “Nick” Hernandez was recently driving to work in Kihei, HI, when he spotted a blaze at a gas station.
He checked if anyone was inside the burning vehicle and then grabbed a nearby fire extinguisher. As another person called 911, Hernandez remained there and assisted firefighters in extinguishing the blaze.
A passerby filmed Hernandez’s efforts to help and posted the footage on social media.
The Postal Service employee later learned the fire had been started deliberately.
Employees featured in “Heroes” receive letters of commendation through the Postmaster General Heroes’ Program. The nomination form is available on Blue.
Here’s what to stock in your emergency supply kit
USPS offers tips for National Preparedness Month
To help mark National Preparedness Month in September, the Postal Service is encouraging employees to prepare or refresh their home emergency supply kit.
Such a kit is a collection of basic items to meet the needs of your family — including pets — for at least 72 hours.
At minimum, experts recommend that an emergency supply kit have the following:
• One gallon of water per person, per day;
• Nonperishable, easy-to-prepare food;
• Medications and any needed medical items;
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio, flashlight and extra batteries;
• Cellphone with chargers and a backup battery;
• Copies of personal documents (medication lists and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed or home lease, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies);
• First-aid supplies;
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties; and
• Other items needed by family members and pets.
These items should be packed in a portable container, such as a plastic bin or duffel bag, in the event you need to evacuate. Everyone in your household should know where the kit is kept.
The Postal Service’s Personal Preparedness Blue page and the Ready.gov website have more information.
Week in Review
Here’s what Link covered Sept. 21-27
Extended contract talks and a stamp contest deadline made news
Last week, Link led with the news that USPS and the National Postal Mail Handlers Union have agreed to extend contract talks after the union’s contract expired Sept. 20. The union represents more than 50,000 mail handlers nationwide.
We also reminded readers that Stamp Encore — the contest that lets the public vote to bring back one of 25 selected previous releases — ends Sept. 30 at midnight; offered an ethics refresher regarding employee gifts; alerted readers to a new slate of leadership courses for Executive and Administrative Schedule employees; and reported that there would be no stamp price changes in January.
Additionally, we featured a new video highlighting the Elie Wiesel stamp.
“Off the Clock” spotlighted Elizabeth Matthews, a general clerk in Minneapolis and Deaflympics medalist in curling; “Heroes” told the story of Nick Hernandez, a rural carrier associate in Kihei, HI, who helped firefighters extinguish a blaze at a gas station; and “People” highlighted Stacy Harris, an acting customer services supervisor at Chicago’s Norwood Park station who understands the power of employee appreciation
Finally, Link took a look at how the organization has grown in 250 years from a handful of routes crisscrossing the Colonies to a 234,000-route network encompassing 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories from the Caribbean to the Pacific.
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Inspection Service to consumers: Don’t fall for fake stamp schemes
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Heroes
He saw a car on fire and stopped to help
This employee grabbed an extinguisher as the vehicle burned at a gas station
-
Here’s what to stock in your emergency supply kit
-
Week in Review
Here’s what Link covered Sept. 21-27
Extended contract talks and a stamp contest deadline made news