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The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has been grappling with significant challenges for years, including an outdated business model and massive pension liabilities for retired employees. In addition to these ongoing issues, a new problem has emerged: counterfeit stamps from China are being sold online through paid advertisements on popular platforms like Google and Facebook.
Counterfeiting government-issued currency, bonds, and other valuable documents is a form of warfare that has been practiced throughout history. For example, the British printed counterfeit Continental paper dollars during the Revolutionary War to undermine the American economy. Similarly, the Union encouraged counterfeiting against the Confederacy during the Civil War. Even North Korea has gained notoriety for passing fake $100 Federal Reserve notes known as “Supernotes.”
Now we can add a new entry to the list of profitable fakery: counterfeit USPS Forever stamps manufactured in China. These stamps are being sold for as little as 7.7 cents each, a whopping 88% discount compared to the official price of $0.63 per stamp. To make matters worse, some counterfeit stamps even feature anti-counterfeiting detection ink that mimics the appearance of official postage under ultraviolet light.
The increase in the use of counterfeit stamps has prompted the USPS to issue a statement earlier this year, acknowledging the surge in counterfeit postage usage and emphasizing that it is a crime to obtain services without payment. In an effort to combat this problem, the USPS announced a revised policy effective from July 9, stating that mail and packages found to be using counterfeit postage would be considered abandoned and subject to opening and destruction.
However, this new policy poses a challenge for the Postal Service. Already facing suspicion from the public regarding reliable mail delivery, the USPS now faces the dilemma of some individuals who purchased counterfeit stamps feeling perplexed about their undelivered letters and unaware that the USPS destroyed their mail due to the presence of counterfeit postage.
Counterfeit stamps primarily affect First-Class Mail, which is the main source of revenue for the Postal Service. Despite a $1.5 billion increase in revenue last year, the USPS reported a $2 billion increase in losses, with labor costs rising by $1.4 billion and highway, fuel, and overhead expenses surging by an additional $2 billion.
Unsurprisingly, a quick Google search for “Forever stamp roll 100” yields numerous counterfeit stamp offers among sponsored search results. These sponsored ads appear above the USPS’s own sponsored online ads. The top Chinese supplier advertising the special anti-counterfeiting ink boasts an offer of 110 rolls of 100 stamps each for just $848.10, with free shipping. In contrast, purchasing legitimate postage for the same quantity would cost $6,930, which highlights the urgent need for every penny in revenue to offset the USPS’s mounting losses.
The USPS, which is supposed to be self-supporting, received a $50 billion bailout over the next decade from Congress. This substantial amount of financial assistance comes on top of a $10 billion federal loan that was forgiven, an additional $3 billion allocated for electric vehicles, and losses totaling $90 billion over the past 16 years. The Postal Service’s financial woes can be partially attributed to its outdated business model, as more and more individuals opt for online bill payments and electronic communication instead of traditional mail.
Counterfeit stamps are just one example of China’s systematic intellectual property theft, ranging from drugs to clothing. The country has even flooded the U.S. market with deadly fentanyl, resulting in the deaths of approximately 107,000 Americans last year alone. These actions, coupled with the fact that the Chinese Communist Party oversees and approves everything that occurs in China, create the impression that China considers itself at war with America.
Representative Michelle Park Steel, a member of the House Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, and the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, has expressed concern about the flooding of counterfeit stamps from China. Steel points out that this issue has cost taxpayers millions of dollars and led unknowing Americans to unknowingly commit federal crimes. She is currently investigating the matter to determine how Congress can crack down on counterfeit postage.
In response to inquiries about the ads promoting counterfeit stamps on their platform, Google stated that they have strict policies in place to prevent scamming users by concealing or misrepresenting information about the advertiser’s products. They claim to have removed offending ads after reviewing them. However, numerous counterfeit stamp ads can still be found prominently displayed on Google’s search results, indicating that more significant action is needed, such as imposing financial penalties on China’s exports to the United States.
The USPS and American consumers must actively work together to combat the counterfeit stamp problem. It is crucial to purchase stamps from verified, legitimate sellers to avoid falling victim to scams. Additionally, the Biden administration must take vigorous action to safeguard U.S. interests and protect the integrity of the postal system, including imposing stricter penalties on China for its counterfeit activities. Addressing this issue is vital for the long-term viability of the USPS and the trust of the American public in the postal service’s ability to deliver mail and packages reliably.
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