Recently, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that they have seized over 160,000 counterfeit U.S. postage stamps in Chicago. These counterfeit stamps originated from China, and if genuine, their face value would exceed $118,000.
Over the weekend, officials from the CBP’s Chicago International Postal Inspection Anti-Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team intercepted 8 shipments from China, containing a total of 161,860 fake postage stamps.
CBP stated that the number of counterfeit postage stamps has significantly increased recently, especially during peak mailing periods like Valentine’s Day. While authentic U.S. postage stamps are produced by the U.S. Bureau of Engraving & Printing, the seized counterfeit stamps, though of lower printing quality, are becoming harder for average consumers to detect due to advancing counterfeiting techniques.
Officials mentioned that if these stamps were genuine, their face value would exceed $118,000.
The CBP confiscated the counterfeit stamps under trademark laws. Enforcement officers identified the stamps as counterfeit based on their extremely low invoice value, suspicious shipping routes, and unusual packaging methods.
LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, the CBP Chicago Port Director, expressed, “Counterfeiters are only concerned with profit, they don’t care about the potential hindrance of important mail delivery or the broader impact on the U.S. economy that fake stamps may cause.”
Sutton-Burke highlighted that CBP officials and experts are trained to identify these “highly realistic” counterfeit stamps, demonstrating their professional abilities.
As the first line of defense for U.S. border security, CBP is the country’s largest law enforcement agency with over 65,000 employees responsible for ground, air, and maritime security to facilitate legal travel and trade while ensuring economic stability and national security.
Previously, the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) issued a warning regarding counterfeit stamps, noting a rise in the sale of fake stamps on online platforms. They advised consumers to avoid purchasing heavily discounted stamps as they may be counterfeit.
USPIS cautioned that scammers use social media markets, e-commerce websites, and third-party sellers to distribute fake stamps at significant discounts ranging from 20% to 50% below face value, a common characteristic of counterfeit stamps.
To ensure smooth mail delivery, USPIS advised consumers to purchase stamps directly from the United States Postal Service (USPS) or its authorized vendors.