Fake USPS® Emails – United States Postal Inspection Service (2024)

FAQs

Is the United States Postal Inspection Service legitimate? ›

The Postal Inspection Service is one of the few federal law enforcement agencies that promotes crime prevention. An important element of the Postal Inspection Service's crime prevention efforts is informing and educating consumers, especially older Americans, about mail fraud.

Be aware that the U.S. Postal Service does not notify customers of package delivery attempts, or request personal information, via email. Poor grammar and spelling errors are a good indication that the email is fraudulent. If the email requests “immediate action,” it could be a scam.

The United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) investigates packages and shipments that contain suspicious content pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3001. If you receive a letter from the Criminal Investigations Service Center, you must understand that you cannot afford to make any mistakes when handling this matter.

Turn on package tracking notifications and you'll automatically get text and/or email alerts with the status of your package and delivery details.

Postal Police Officer operations are under the administrative control of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), the law enforcement and security arm of the U.S. Postal Service. PPOs are represented by a union, the Postal Police Officers Association.

If there is probable cause to believe the contents of a First-Class letter or parcel violate federal law, Postal Inspectors can obtain a search warrant to open the mail piece. Other classes of mail do not contain private correspondence and therefore may be opened without a warrant.

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service supports and protects the U.S. Postal Service and its customers by enforcing the laws that defend the nation's mail system from illegal or dangerous use.

Scam Emails/Texts

Forward suspicious emails and texts to [email protected], then delete. If you receive a suspicious email or text about a package delivery failure, forward it to [email protected], then delete the email.

[email protected]. This is the USPS "Postal One" service, which can answer technical questions.

Does USPS respond to emails? ›

Typically, we respond to our customers within 24-48 hours. However, we do not respond to emails on closed days (Saturday, Sunday, and USPS Holidays). If you send your email between Friday 6:00 PM- Monday 9:00 AM, it will take a little longer to get back to you than normal.

USPS® and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service are aware of the recent occurrences of USPS customers receiving calls from individuals impersonating USPIS employees, to include Postal Inspectors. Please know USPIS officials would NEVER reach out directly to consumers and demand money or personal information.

If the package is not classified as Priority Mail Express™ service (domestic or international), Priority Mail® service, First–Class Package Service™, or an international letter package, it may be opened and its contents examined.

Postal inspectors spend a lot of time conducting surveillance and on-site investigations at postal facilities. FBI agents work standard office hours but are subject to being called in at any time when needed. Both roles involve some degree of risk dealing with criminal suspects.

For general inquires regarding our office, please call 703-248-2100, or contact our Hotline. Our mailing address is: USPS Office of Inspector General,1735 N. Lynn Street, Arlington, VA 22209-2020.