U.S. Postal Service Alerts re Counterfeit Stamps Online

If you are buying online postage stamps, don’t fall victim to stamp fraud: here’s what happens if you buy bogus stamps.

Postage stamps are our good old friends. For some people, sticking them on is just a routine; for others, there’s something romantic about stamps that makes collecting them a fascinating hobby. For some, they symbolize great things, like the postal culture of the USA, its history, and its unity.

Unfortunately, there are people who associate stamps with a means of illegal profit. During the last century, counterfeiting stamps would have been a difficult and unprofitable task. However, in today's complicated world of technology, with its sophisticated equipment, capabilities for mass production, and access to online platforms and social media, everything has changed. Even doing such a simple thing as buying stamps, one can fall victim to cynical internet scammers, The U.S. Postal Service has issued an alert: The number of counterfeit stamps being sold online by third-party vendors has increased.

Forewarned Is Forearmed

The high frequency of such offers on internet marketplaces, the scale of the turnover, and numerous advertisements of so-called discount stamps on social media prompted the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) to come out with a explanation. The discounts for these counterfeit stamps range from 20 to 50 percent of the cost compared to those purchased from official sellers. The USPS doesn’t sell stamps below their official value, although you can get a small discount from some of its vendors. But it's never a significant drop in price, so an attractive discount is the first thing that should make you suspicious and lead you to think that the stamps are probably fake.

How to Identify Fake Stamps

The quality of bogus stamps keeps improving every year, so they are difficult to identify with the naked eye. Besides that, scammers advertise using photos of real stamps, so what you see online will not be what you receive. The most frequent cases of fraud involve counterfeit First-Class Forever stamps, particularly the U.S. Flag design.

Buy stamps only from:

• USPS.com
• Official USPS Post Offices
• Authorized postal providers
• Well-established national retailers

Red flags:

• Marketplace sellers with no physical address
• Newly created e-commerce stores

Always verify business legitimacy before purchasing.

Lack of Security Features

Real USPS Forever stamps contain security elements:

• Phosphorescent tagging that glows under UV light
• Embedded micro-printing
• Sharp perforation patterns
• High-quality adhesive backing

Counterfeit stamps often:

• Do not glow properly under UV light
• Have uneven perforations
• Peel unevenly
• Feel thinner or glossier than authentic stamps

Automated USPS sorting equipment detects stamps that fail fluorescence testing.

Packaging Looks Suspicious

Authentic USPS booklets and panes:

• Use professional packaging materials
• Display official branding and barcodes
• Include consistent formatting

Warning signs:

• Plastic wrap with no branding
• Misspelled words
• Poorly aligned printing
• No official UPC or retail identifiers

Small business owners who send large volumes of invoices and are looking for ways to cut mailing costs are especially at risk because counterfeit stamps are often sold in bulk and are presented as a good means of economizing.

What Happens If You Use Fake Forever Stamps?

If counterfeit Forever stamps are detected during processing, the mail piece may be rejected, returned to the sender marked “Postage Due,” or referred for further investigation. Because counterfeit stamps do not constitute valid postage, delivery can be delayed or prevented entirely.

How Counterfeit Stamps Are Detected

According to postal officials, genuine stamps issued by the United States Postal Service are printed with specialized phosphorescent tagging that fluoresces under ultraviolet light at a precise frequency. Automated mail processing equipment scans each mail piece and detects stamps that fail to emit the required glow. Mail identified as suspicious is automatically separated from the normal mail stream. Trained postal employees then examine the stamps more closely, comparing print quality, perforations, and security features. Confirmed counterfeit postage is forwarded to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service for investigation.

Consequences for Individuals and Businesses

When counterfeit postage is discovered:

• Mail may be delayed or returned to the sender
• The recipient may be required to pay postage due
• Bulk mailings can be disrupted
• Funds spent on fake stamps are lost
• Business communications may fail to reach customers on time

For small businesses that rely on timely delivery of invoices, legal notices, or contracts, even a limited number of counterfeit stamps can cause operational disruption and reputational harm.

Because fraudulent sellers often market counterfeit stamps as a way to reduce mailing costs, organizations attempting to economize are especially vulnerable. The safest approach is to purchase postage directly from authorized sources and avoid offers that appear significantly discounted below official USPS pricing.

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It’s About More than Cutting Expenses

True, DocuSend is reliable and cost-effective for mailing and it will also reduce the time you spend mailing manually. Instead of buying stamps, take advantage of what modern mailing technology has to offer. Using a cloud-based mailroom brings a whole new level of mailing service for small businesses. While those around you are still wasting time buying stamps, it’s better to join the ranks of businesses that enjoy a secure and comfortable mailing service. The time and effort you save will free you up for achieving more of your goals.