USPS warns about surge in use of counterfeit postage

In recent years, a surge in the use of counterfeit postage has been found in the mail stream. In response to this problem, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is filing a federal register notice about changes to the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), that will allow items found in the mail stream bearing counterfeit postage to be treated as abandoned and subject for disposal.

Counterfeit postage is any marking or indicia that has been made, printed, or otherwise created without authorization from the USPS that is printed or applied, or otherwise affixed, on an article placed in the mails that indicates or represents that valid postage has been paid to mail the article.

“As the most trusted government agency in the nation, we will continue to work together with other law enforcement and government agencies to protect the sanctity of the mail,” said Chief Postal Inspector Gary Barksdale.

Public comments on the proposed rule update can be sent on or before March 15 to PCFederalRegister@usps.gov, with a subject line of “Counterfeit Postage.”

Photo courtesy National Postal Museum