Counterfeit postage: If deal is a steal, it isn't real

(BPT) - Everyone loves a deal, but when something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. The same thing holds true when it comes to purchasing deeply discounted stamps. Scams involving counterfeit U.S. postage are costing the U.S. Postal Service millions and could cost you too. Customers using counterfeit postage risk having their items confiscated and could face stiff penalties. That's not all. Now scammers are targeting job seekers with work-from-home scams that use counterfeit postage to reship packages.

How big of a concern are these scams? Since October 2024, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service has already seized more than 6.3 million counterfeit stamps and have issued 138 cease-and-desist orders to individuals and businesses using counterfeit postage.

Here's how to avoid common scams.

Hefty discounts

Have you seen online offers for United States Forever^® stamps at 50% off? When you do, keep scrolling … stamps offered at such a steep discount are likely counterfeit. You may see offers on social media marketplaces, e-commerce sites via third-party vendors and other sites, often sold in bulk quantities at a significant discount — anywhere from 20% to 50% off the face value of the stamps.

• Why it matters: If you use counterfeit postage, even unknowingly, your mail, documents or other items likely won't reach their destination. Items mailed with counterfeit postage will be considered abandoned and are subject to being opened and disposed of at the Postal Service's discretion. Using counterfeit postage is not a victimless crime beyond defrauding the U.S. Postal Service, you're also putting your own mail, property and personal information at risk.
  
  
• What to do: To ensure postage you use is legitimate and your mail arrives safely, always purchase stamps directly from the Postal Service or from an Approved Postal Provider™. Approved vendors can include legitimate "big box" or warehouse retailers who may offer small discounts on postage stamps through resale agreements with the Postal Service. Find approved vendors in your area here. To report counterfeit postage to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, visit USPIS/gov/report or call 1-877-876-2455.

Work-from-home scams

These scams often start with a job posting on social media. The job sounds so easy — you to work from home reshipping packages to their intended recipient.

Here's how the scam works. The scammer sends items, usually purchased with stolen credit cards, and instructs the work-from-home employee to reship the package to the recipient using prepaid shipping labels they provide. Those labels are usually counterfeit and the employee has now, oftentimes unknowingly, committed a crime.

• Why it matters: When the scam is complete, you'll find that you won't be paid. On top of that, you've helped the scammers' customers receive stolen goods, the Postal Service loses revenue, and you've become involved in a criminal scheme that could lead to time in prison.
  
  
• What to do: To protect yourself from these scams, remember: Legitimate companies and websites will have corporate contact information, a physical address, a phone number, terms and conditions, and privacy policies.

Still unsure if the business is legitimate? Contact the human resources department of the company offering work-from-home opportunities to verify the job or reach out to your state's attorney general's office or consumer affairs office, the Federal Trade Commission or Better Business Bureau.

Suspicious packages

What could be better than getting an unexpected package? But you didn't order it, and it's not from someone you know. You may get a package addressed to you with no return address or with a retailer's name. Unfortunately, when seemingly harmless free items come from a company, they may come with a higher cost than you realize. Unsolicited merchandise can be part of a larger "brushing" scam, which is illegal in the U.S. In these scams the sender is usually an international third-party seller who found your address online, and sends you merchandise to designate you as a "verified buyer." The retailer then writes a fake review in your name to fraudulently boost product ratings and sales numbers — which they hope results in more sales.

A new variation on brushing aims to steal your personal information — often to commit fraud or steal your identity. Called "quishing" or QR code phishing, this scam involves, packages containing cards with QR codes. The recipient is instructed to scan the code to get more information or discover who sent the gift.

• Why it matters: Since the merchandise is usually cheap, scammers consider losing the item an acceptable loss. But the fake review in your name may encourage people to purchase worthless stuff. Further, while you may like getting free items, scanning unfamiliar QR codes could compromise your device's security, allowing scammers to steal personal information and use it for illicit activities. In some instances, bad actors may use your address and account information to receive merchandise, then steal it from your home before you can intercept it.
  
  
• What to do: Receive unsolicited merchandise? There are three things you can do: First, the merchandise is free, so you can keep it. But you didn't order it, so don't let senders convince you to pay for it. Second, if there's a return address and it's unopened, mark it "Return to Sender" and the Postal Service will return it. Finally, you can discard the item. Also, to protect yourself, change account passwords and monitor your credit reports and credit card bills regularly. And never scan an unfamiliar QR code included in a package you didn't order.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service encourages you to share these tips with family and friends to avoid bogus stamps and scams. Learn more at Counterfeit Stamps — United States Postal Inspection Service, and report suspected scams at USPIS.gov/report.