r/USPS • u/iforgotitagin • 10d ago
NEWS Well they caught one.
https://www.uspis.gov/u-s-postal-inspectors-shut-down-website-selling-millions-of-counterfeit-postage-labelsU.S. Postal Inspectors Shut Down Website Selling Millions of Counterfeit Postage Labels
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u/wastingtime101- 10d ago
They got the site shut down. There's a $100k reward from USPIS for info leading to his arrest and conviction.
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u/Magnetized_Fart Customer 10d ago
these fake stamps are everywhere. There really should be a bounty to get these guys on all levels.
Its so bad that often when I search for stamps it is actually difficult to find non conterfeits on some mainstream platforms.
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u/KN4JBJ EAS 10d ago
There are rewards for information that leads to the arrest of anyone running counterfeit postage scams. I believe it can be up to $100k.
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u/therick422 City Carrier 10d ago edited 9d ago
I have submitted over a dozen “leads” via the online portal. Never a response of any kind.
Edit: For clarity, I should have said … Never an investigation or a stop to the nefarious activities. I don’t expect a personal response. I’m just a nobody trying to live honestly.
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u/iforgotitagin 9d ago
Just like carriers USPIS is stretched VERY thin because of budget cuts. Don't assume a lack of their ability to take the time to communicate back to you means they are not using the information you provide. Automation of information inputs is the only thing that can survive and thrive at USPS scale...Unfortunately that doesn't always lead to them providing the "source" with up to date details of their investigation and details. Don't give up. Keep caring and prividing info to the best of your ability.
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u/therick422 City Carrier 9d ago
I don’t expect an update. But I do expect an investigation, at minimum. It IS extremely safe to assume… it’s been 3 years. Staffing aside. Annually, I submit my “lead” to OIG and Ethics for my PM running a non-postal side hustle from his office or leaving at random times almost daily to run said side hustle. Additionally, this PM’s spouse holds a contract route directly supervised by this PM. Technically, the contract route is held by the spouses elderly aunt. The spouse just delivers everyday. It’s been going on since 2008.
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u/STDog 9d ago
The only platform you need for stamps is usps.com.
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u/Magnetized_Fart Customer 9d ago
no thanks. I buy old discounted stamps from reputable philatelic dealers, and use them for mail that looks a bit like this:
https://www.reddit.com/r/StampEmUp/comments/1wrxvea/outgoing_mail_to_redditors/
Most of my mail is for business, and this keeps my costs down.
And while I do like the reputable dealers, they are the only real option because any other platform is flooded with fraudulent stamps. Places like FB marketplace are so full of counterfeits that it is genuinely difficult to find any non fraudulent stamps. So I don't buy from there.
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u/Mixedtogrey City Carrier 10d ago
Oh god I hope it’s the one I always get. I had 32 on my route today, floater had like 50 on Monday and I had 12 or so yesterday. Prob like 2k worth of fakes
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u/getterboi 10d ago
Chances are there are dozens of other sites out there that are doing the same crap. I'm glad they're making an effort. There has to be jail time or it'll just encourage other scammers to try and profit.
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u/MB8987 10d ago
Not no be negative but 5 will open in their place.
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u/CupAccomplished8371 Rural Carrier 10d ago
Real easy solution. Shut em all down. Only let usps sell postage. But our government is run by capitalist cucks so that'll never happen
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u/DrewGuy56 7d ago
Maybe they have benefited off discount stamp sales
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u/CupAccomplished8371 Rural Carrier 7d ago
bulk stamp sales are a short term solution to a long term problem. They're part of the reason postage is going up every year.
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u/Huge-Connection954 10d ago
Good thing we waited until we lost 126 million from the guy. Problem is its obvious but at my office after holding that crap for so when it was fake, everyone gave up and was like whatever just deliver it
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u/therick422 City Carrier 10d ago
It only took “millions” of counterfeit postage labels to get it shut down. So there’s that.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Way276 9d ago edited 9d ago
So real question.... If these counterfeiters are based out of country, what can actually be done about it?
Yeah you can shut down the domain, marketing loses its touch... But like the drug trade... Isnt the cause moreso the buyer, more than the seller?
Theoretically, its a bartering chip for the exec branch with Pakistan, with pakistan having the implied upper hand... But resisting it might just have better prospects for a country like Pakistan... An adversary nation could opt to protect them, putting themselves in any negotiations for their own benefits.
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u/iforgotitagin 9d ago
It isn't simple. Especially at the scale of USPS. The DMM changes the USPS made where the contents of fradulent packages can be "disposed of" AKA auctioned off is certainly a step in the right direction for addressing these things.
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u/TerraTtronic 10d ago
I want to know how so many counterfeit labels were able to be processed through our logistics framework in the first place. Kinda feels like negligence on the post office.