CBP Seizes Fake U.S. Postage Stamps

HI INDIA NEWS DESK
DALLAS, TX U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport have seized 4,080 counterfeit U.S. postage stamps in 12 shipments arriving from China. The fraudulent stamps were discovered after CBP officers inspected packages that were manifested as “hand account/self-adhesive sheets.”

CBP officers found poor print-quality U.S. postage stamps once they opened the packages. One package included 200 Forever Stamps with a declared value of $10. Forever Stamps cost $0.63 each, and had this package been genuine, would cost consumers $126.

Counterfeit U.S. postage stamps have become increasingly common on e-commerce and social media platforms, which places consumers’ packages at great risk. The best place to purchase U.S. postage stamps is at a U.S. Post Office or by visiting USPS.com and clicking on the send tab.

Counterfeit postage scams are not a petty crime, and forging or possession of counterfeit postage is a violation of federal law that can result in up to five years imprisonment. These scams are harmful both to the U.S. Postal Service for a loss of revenue against services provided and to customers when their mailed item is either delayed and returned for payment or potentially disposed of.

The counterfeit U.S. postage stamps were turned over to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for further investigation. CBP has established an educational initiative to raise consumer awareness about the consequences and dangers associated with purchasing counterfeit and pirated goods online or in stores.

If you have any information regarding suspected fraud or illegal trade activity, please contact CBP through the e-Allegations Online Trade Violation Reporting System or by calling 1-800-BE-ALERT. Intellectual property rights violations can also be reported to the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center online or by telephone at 1-866-IPR-2060.