Daily printout: Aug. 11

When a customer dropped off hundreds of envelopes at the Avalon, NJ, Post Office recently, Retail Associate Patrick Selfridge sensed something was off with their postage.

“The first thing that caught my eye was the date of the stamps — 2018 — and their being so pristine,” he said.

“The second head-scratcher was the volume of stamps: 200-plus. What are the odds?” He took a closer look. “I noticed there was a glossy finish and they actually felt smooth, plastic-like. Never felt any stamps like that before.”

Postmaster Melissa Lomax notified Postal Inspector Gregory Kliemisch, whose investigation confirmed Selfridge’s suspicions: The stamps were fake.

Last year, the Postal Inspection Service launched a public awareness campaign urging customers to purchase stamps directly from USPS or from retailers with legitimate resale agreements with the Postal Service.

In the Avalon case, it turns out the customer was unwittingly using counterfeit postage. Their organization had been purchasing fraudulent stamps from social media marketplaces for several years.

The Inspection Service’s website has more information on counterfeit postage. Incidents can be reported through the organization’s Counterfeit Postage Reporting System.

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The Postal Service is reminding employees who operate motor vehicles to be extra vigilant near schools and playgrounds as students start the new school year.

Children can sometimes be distracted by friends or mobile devices and unaware of their surroundings while attempting to cross streets. There are also the additional road hazards of young people on scooters, bicycles and skateboards.  

While driving on duty or in your own personal vehicle, remember to:

• Slow down and obey speed limits, especially in school zones and residential neighborhoods.

• Watch for groups of students gathered at street corners during the early morning and late afternoon.

• Double check mirrors and blind spots.

• Avoid backing up unless it is necessary.

• Avoid distracted driving.

When approaching a school zone, watch for yellow flashing lights indicating that you must reduce your speed to the posted limit. Do not attempt to pass other vehicles or change lanes.

Slow down when approaching a school bus. Never pass a school bus with flashing red lights or its stop sign extended.

The MyHR website has more information on driver safety.

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The Postal Service is reminding employees and contractors to use the USPS National Emergency Hotline number to receive up-to-date information about facility closings, changes in reporting times and other workplace information during severe and inclement weather.

The toll-free number, found on the back of most USPS employee badges, is 888-EMERGNC (888-363-7462).

After dialing the number, you will be prompted to enter the first three digits of the ZIP Code where you work. Information specific to operations in your work area will then be relayed.

Hearing-impaired callers who use Telecommunications Relay Services (TRS) should call their state’s toll-free TRS number. The operator will interact with the USPS emergency hotline on the caller’s behalf.

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