Daily printout: March 3

The Postal Service is reminding employees that federal ethics laws place certain restrictions on them while working at USPS — and after they leave the organization.

Here are some important rules to keep in mind:

• Employees working on matters involving outside companies — such as contracts, projects, licenses, applications or investigations — cannot simultaneously seek employment with those companies.

Employees interested in working for such a company in the future must first sign a recusal agreement approved by their manager, and all work-related matters involving that company must be assigned to another employee.

• Former employees can work for any outside employer, but they cannot communicate with the Postal Service on behalf of their new employer regarding matters they worked on at USPS.

Even if former employees did not personally work on a matter, they must wait two years before communicating with the Postal Service if they managed subordinates who did. Former employees can, however, work behind the scenes on any USPS-related project with their new employer.

• Former senior-level employees have a one-year “cooling off” period before they can communicate with the Postal Service regarding any matter on behalf of a new employer.

Employees must meet a certain salary threshold — in 2025, it’s $195,231 — to be considered senior level.

Details and situations may vary, so current and former USPS employees should seek guidance by emailing the USPS Ethics Office or calling it at 202-268-6346.

During National Consumer Protection Week, March 1-7, the Postal Inspection Service is warning employees and customers about not only AI scams, but also romance scams.

Scammers use social media and dating websites to trick people into romantic relationships. The con begins with the fraudster building rapport with their victim and then asking them to send money.

Often, the grifters create urgency by claiming to have a medical emergency or promising to travel to come be with the person — as long as they are sent money to cover expenses. None of their stories are true.

Although many dating sites try to provide a safe forum for meeting online, customers can take additional steps to protect themselves:

• In any online relationship, keep your personal details to yourself;

• Perform an online search of the other person’s name and the town they claim to be living in;

• Look for inconsistencies in the other person’s profile and the information they share;

• Keep an eye out for signs the relationship is moving in a direction it wouldn’t otherwise go if meeting in real life; and

• Do not take the conversation to private email. Keep communications on the website or app until it’s time to meet in person.

Indications that someone may not be who they say they are include — but are not limited to — giving a name that doesn’t match their email address, suddenly deleting their profile, asking you to send or receive money or packages, and requesting money for a family or medical emergency or a business opportunity.

If you believe you have been the victim of a romance scam, cease all communication with the fraudster and block their attempts to resume contact. If your bank or credit accounts were used, contact the bank and credit provider to put a credit alert or freeze on the accounts.

The Inspection Service has more information on its romance scams page.

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