Thread

U.S. postal inspectors shut down website selling counterfeit postage labels

281 points · 169 comments · ilamont

HarHarVeryFunny · 1790713300 · focus · HN ↗
So the USPS delivered these packages?
There's no verification built into a USPS label?
1. roachman · 1790713843 · focus · HN ↗
  they are real labels, im fairly sure. but they are generated fraudulently, likely via stolen credentials on various shipping providers with USPS api
  1. rafram · 1790714697 · focus · HN ↗
    They're completely counterfeit, not real but generated fraudulently. This article has an example: <a href="https://www.freightwaves.com/news/nullship-selling-counterfeit-postal-labels-freightwaves-investigation-finds" rel="nofollow">https://www.freightwaves.com/news/nullship-selling-counterfe...
    zucked · 1790716548 · focus · HN ↗
    This article has some inconsistencies with what I experienced. For example, my label absolutely had tracking before being intercepted. In fact, it made it all the way to my city's distribution center.
    <a href="https://www.freightwaves.com/news/nullship-selling-counterfeit-postal-labels-freightwaves-investigation-finds#:~:text=%E2%80%9CCounterfeit%20shipping%20labels,not%20paid%20for.%E2%80%9D" rel="nofollow">https://www.freightwaves.com/news/nullship-selling-counterfe...
    Here's the trajectory. Note that the final status has updated to no longer say "counterfeit" it's now just "postage assessment".
    ----- Delayed for postage assessment, Item in transit to destination
    August 13, 2026 5:44 AM
    Departed USPS Facility
    JERSEY CITY NJ DISTRIBUTION CENTER
    August 11, 2026 2:08 PM
    Delayed for postage assessment, held awaiting payment
    August 10, 2026 9:21 PM
    Arrived at USPS Facility
    JERSEY CITY NJ DISTRIBUTION CENTER
    August 10, 2026 4:53 PM
    In Transit to Next Facility
    August 10, 2026 6:24 AM
    In Transit to Next Facility
    August 9, 2026 7:13 PM
    Departed USPS Facility
    MYTOWN DISTRIBUTION CENTER
    August 9, 2026 8:18 AM
    Arrived at USPS Facility
    MYTOWN DISTRIBUTION CENTER
    August 9, 2026 1:28 AM
    Departed USPS Facility
    MYTOWN DISTRIBUTION CENTER
    August 8, 2026 10:30 AM
    Delayed for postage assessment, held awaiting payment
    August 7, 2026 6:29 PM
    In Transit to Next Facility
    August 7, 2026 9:14 AM
    Arrived at USPS Facility
    MYTOWN DISTRIBUTION CENTER
    August 7, 2026 7:17 AM
    In Transit to Next Facility
    August 6, 2026 7:04 AM
    In Transit to Next Facility
    August 5, 2026 5:53 PM
    Departed USPS Facility
    OPA LOCKA FL DISTRIBUTION CENTER
    August 5, 2026 4:46 AM
    Arrived at USPS Facility
    OPA LOCKA FL DISTRIBUTION CENTER
    August 4, 2026 2:33 PM
    mjmas · 1790719990 · focus · HN ↗
    I'm not sure how it works with USPS, but with AusPost here, there is generally an entry at the very start saying 'Label created'.
  2. happyopossum · 1790714721 · focus · HN ↗
    If they were real labels the charge wouldn’t be Counterfeiting.
    dawnerd · 1790718151 · focus · HN ↗
    They can still be real tracking numbers, but faked labels. USPS used to let a lot slide but they've definitely gotten more aggressive with catching packages even slightly out of spec of what the label was for.

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