USPS warns about common scams — here’s how you can avoid them

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — The U.S. Postal Service and Postal Inspection Service want to warn consumers to be aware of mail fraud and spam and what to do to avoid them.

Brook Robinson, a postal inspector for the United States Postal Inspection Service, said one of the more common scams seen in Utah are romance scams. Robinson said victims meet people online and start relationships quickly, where the other person may begin asking for money. This can lead to financial and emotional losses.

“You should never send money or anything to anybody you have not met in person. Never send anything to anybody you don’t know or don’t trust,” he said.

In addition, another fraud is phishing, where emails will try to obtain personal identifying information from you. Another form of this is SMS phishing, known as smishing. In these, texts may say you owe money related to packages at the post office.

“Those are fraud. The post office will never send you an unsolicited text, and if there is a text, it’s never going to have a link. Do not ever click on a link,” he said.

Reporting Scams

If you do get a phishing email or text, Robinson said to forward them to 7226 (SPAM). Fraudulent emails or texts can be forwarded to spam@uspis.gov, or you can call 1-877-876-2455 to reach a live inspector.

Robison said when the Postal Inspection Service receives a report, the victim is contacted as soon as possible.

“We need to have them cease and desist what they’re doing. They don’t realize that they’re aiding and abetting in a larger criminal activity, usually it’s international,” he said. “… We have a fraud task force in this country that goes to the hot areas where we know where these people are perpetuating these scams.”

Protecting Mail Carriers: Project Safe Delivery

In addition to spreading awareness to keep consumers safe, Robinson said efforts are also being made to protect mail carriers from potential theft.

Amid an uptick in letter carrier robberies and mail theft, he said Project Safe Delivery was started in 2023. The joint initiative works to prevent mail theft and crimes toward letter carriers. Since its implementation, Robinson said there have been 2,400 arrests and letter carrier robberies are down 30%.

Most letter carrier robberies, he explained, are when robbers go for the mailman’s keys. As part of Project Safe Delivery, more than 49,000 high-security mail collection boxes will be deployed nationwide to deter thieves and move toward electronic locks.

“It’ll devalue the reason why somebody will want to rob a letter carrier. We have a lot of work with our local law enforcement partners and also just the customer, the public to be diligent and just watch out for anything suspicious and to call 911 or our hotline number,” he said.