Federal agents in Chicago recently confiscated nearly 162,000 fake U.S. Postal Service “forever” stamps in a major counterfeit operation.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), officers at the Chicago international mail branch intercepted eight shipments from China containing a total of 161,860 counterfeit stamps. If they had been real, their total value would have been around $118,000.
Authorities noted that while these fake stamps were of poor quality, counterfeiters are improving their techniques, making it harder for consumers to tell the difference between fake and real stamps.
“Counterfeiters only care about making money,” said LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, director of field operations in Chicago. “They don’t think about how fake postage impacts your ability to send important mail or its effect on the U.S. economy.”
CBP officers, trained to detect such fraud, successfully identified these counterfeit stamps and prevented them from being used. The agency has seen a rise in fake U.S. Postal Service stamps, especially during holidays like Valentine’s Day.
In fiscal year 2024, postal inspectors and customs officers confiscated over 5 million counterfeit stamps. The most common type of fake stamp is the flag stamp. Officials say scammers sell counterfeit stamps online through social media, third-party vendors on e-commerce sites, and other websites.
Fake stamps are often sold in bulk at discounts of 25% to 50% off their original value. However, the U.S. Postal Service does not sell stamps at a discount. While some authorized sellers may offer small discounts, any significant markdowns should raise suspicion.
Officials determined that the seized stamps were counterfeit based on their extremely low invoice value, the shipping routes used, and the effort taken to hide them. These stamps were confiscated for violating trademark laws.
Anyone caught making or possessing counterfeit stamps could face up to five years in prison. Authorities advise consumers to buy stamps directly from the U.S. Postal Service or trusted retailers to avoid purchasing fakes. By staying aware, people can help prevent counterfeit operations from harming the postal system and the economy.
