Latest news with #USPIS
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Dems question Trump's use of Postal Service inspectors
House Democrats are seeking more information and a face-to-face briefing from the U.S. Postal Service about the Trump administration's use of Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) officers to aid the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with President Trump's immigration crackdown. 'The investigative activities of USPIS are crucial in taking down criminal networks, drug traffickers and other dangerous actors who use or abuse the mail system to carry out illicit activities,' Democrats on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee wrote in a letter to Postal Service leaders obtained by The Hill on Wednesday. 'We are deeply concerned that the partnership between USPIS and DHS is not only an improper use of USPIS personnel but will also significantly detract from USPIS's critical mission of addressing the present and increasing threats of mail theft and fraud, and attacks against our Postal workforce,' the letter continued. Trump issued an executive order Jan. 20 shortly after he was sworn back into office that created a system of task forces under DHS and the Attorney General with 'representation from any other Federal agencies with law enforcement officers.' The Postal Inspection Service, one of the country's oldest law enforcement agencies, has nearly 1,300 postal inspectors and 500 uniformed postal police officers, according to the latest Postal Service figures. The House Oversight Democrats wrote in their letter that they want to know more about how postal workers are aiding with immigration efforts after a Postal Inspection Service officer was spotted at a recent immigration raid of a Colorado nightclub where more than 100 migrants were detained. 'To reach every address in the United States, the Postal Service maintains a wide swath ofpersonal information on individuals present in the United States,' they wrote. 'This data is highly restricted, may only be shared in very limited situations, and is largely protected by the Privacy Act, which requires the Postal Service to implement comprehensive protections of personal information.' The Postal Service didn't immediately respond to The Hill's request for comment. The Washington Post reported in April that the Trump administration was using the Postal Service's law enforcement arm to obtain photographs of envelopes and packages through its long-existing mail surveillance program, as well as 'package- and mail-tracking information, credit card data and financial material and IP addresses' to track down people who are in the country illegally. U.S. postal inspectors have similarly collaborated with law enforcement agencies in the past to locate fugitives, drug traffickers and other alleged criminals. According to The Washington Post report, Postal Service officials agreed to aid the federal immigration enforcement efforts because leaders fear a larger threat to the Postal Service from Trump, but one source told the outlet that 'Inspection Service is very, very nervous about this.' 'It is clear that DHS intends to use the highly sensitive information maintained by thePostal Service as part of its broader weaponization of personal information to carry out its mass deportation agenda,' House Democrats wrote in their letter. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Yahoo
USPS employee robbed at gunpoint on South Side
CHICAGO — Authorities are searching for answers after a USPS employee was robbed at gunpoint on the South Side on Tuesday afternoon. According to Chicago police, the robbery unfolded just before 3 p.m. Tuesday in the 700 block of West 73rd Street in Englewood. Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines Officers said the victim, a 20-year-old woman, was in the area when she was approached by a group of four people, one of whom was armed with a gun. The group then stole the woman's property and fled the scene. On Wednesday, officials from the U.S. Postal Inspection Service confirmed that the victim is a USPS employee. No injuries were reported and no arrests have been made in connection with the incident. While it is unclear if the victim was working at the time of the robbery, USPIS and CPD are investigating. LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to contact CPD Area One detectives at 312-747-8380 or dial 911. Those with information that could help authorities in their investigation can also leave a tip at Tips can be filed anonymously. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
11-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Dems question Trump's use of Postal Inspectors
House Democrats are seeking more information and a face-to-face briefing from the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) about the Trump administration's use of Postal Inspection Service officers to aid the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with President Trump's immigration crackdown. 'The investigative activities of USPIS are crucial in taking down criminal networks, drug traffickers and other dangerous actors who use or abuse the mail system to carry out illicit activities,' Democrats on the House Oversight Committee wrote in a letter to USPS leaders obtained by The Hill on Wednesday. 'We are deeply concerned that the partnership between USPIS and DHS is not only an improper use of USPIS personnel but will also significantly detract from USPIS's critical mission of addressing the present and increasing threats of mail theft and fraud, and attacks against our Postal workforce,' the letter continued. Trump issued an executive order Jan. 20 shortly after he was sworn back into office that created a system of task forces under DHS and the Attorney General with 'representation from any other Federal agencies with law enforcement officers.' The Postal Inspection Service, one of the country's oldest law enforcement agencies, has nearly 1,300 postal inspectors and 500 uniformed Postal Police officers, according to the latest Postal Service figures. The House Oversight Democrats wrote in their letter that they want to know more about how postal workers are aiding with immigration efforts after a Postal Inspection Service officer was spotted at a recent immigration raid of a Colorado nightclub where more than 100 migrants were detained. 'To reach every address in the United States, the Postal Service maintains a wide swath ofpersonal information on individuals present in the United States,' they wrote. 'This data is highly restricted, may only be shared in very limited situations, and is largely protected by the Privacy Act, which requires the Postal Service to implement comprehensive protections of personal information.' The USPS didn't immediately respond to The Hill's request for comment. The Washington Post reported in April that the Trump administration was using the Postal Service's law enforcement arm to obtain photographs of envelopes and packages through its long-existing mail surveillance program, as well as 'package- and mail-tracking information, credit card data and financial material and IP addresses' to track down people who are in the country illegally. U.S. postal inspectors have similarly collaborated with law enforcement agencies in the past to locate fugitives, drug traffickers and other alleged criminals. According to the Washington Post report, Postal Service officials agreed to aid the federal immigration enforcement efforts because leaders fear a larger threat to the Postal Service from Trump, but one source told the outlet that 'Inspection Service is very, very nervous about this.' 'It is clear that DHS intends to use the highly sensitive information maintained by thePostal Service as part of its broader weaponization of personal information to carry out its mass deportation agenda,' House Democrats wrote in their letter.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
US-Based Chinese Logistics Firms Caught Using Counterfeit USPS Labels
Two Chinese logistics firms based in New York and California have been barred from using the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) over allegations that they perpetuated a years-long counterfeit postage scheme. On May 15, the U.S. filed a civil complaint in a Brooklyn federal court alleging that YDH Express, Inc. and YDH Int'l Inc., which are based in Queens, N.Y. and Los Angeles, Calif., along with their owner, Yizhao 'Harvey' Hou, conspired and committed mail fraud by shipping thousands of parcels hailing from China using their own fake USPS postage labels. More from Sourcing Journal Trans-Pacific Freight Rates Soar as China Cargo Bookings Rebound Temu Re-Ups Direct-from-China Shipments Amidst Tariff Pause Trump Administration Slashes De Minimis Duties as Trade War Cools Joseph Nocella, Jr., a United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Edward Gallashaw, Acting Inspector in Charge for the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS), announced Wednesday that a temporary restraining order will bar both firms from utilizing the postal service. According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office, the companies would regularly receive packages from their customers in China and send them to customers through USPS. The U.S. complaint seeks injunctive relief under the Anti-Fraud Injunction Act, and it also seeks to provide relief to USPS, which suffered financial losses due to the long-running illegal operation. One day after the suit was filed, U.S. District Court Judge Natasha C. Merle served the defendants with a temporary restraining order. 'The Postal Service provides essential services to Americans, and we will not tolerate attempts by unscrupulous overseas businesses using fake postage to unlawfully deprive USPS of revenue it is entitled to,' Nocella said this week. 'My Office is working diligently with our partners at the United States Postal Inspection Service to stop this ongoing fraud against the Postal Service.' Nocella said the USPIS and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) rooted out the fraudulent activity. Gallashaw said that 'Hou allegedly cared only about making a profit at the expense of the USPS.' The government agencies worked together to identify him and unearth the bogus postage operation. 'Postal Inspectors will use all of our resources to put an end to the use of counterfeit postage and hold accountable all who seek to defraud the USPS. We will fulfill our mission to strengthen the American public's trust in the U.S. Mail,' he added. The complaint detailed a scam wherein the defendants conspired to ship—and did send—thousands of parcels that bore fake USPS labels, which they received from their customers located in China. They are charged with mail fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud, along with violations of the False Claims Act (FCA), which will allow the government to pursue 'treble damages and penalties' or three times the monetary damage caused by the firms through the scheme. The temporary restraining order said that there is 'probable cause to believe that defendants are still engaged in the ongoing commission of mail fraud, and are still engaged in the ongoing conspiracy to commit mail fraud,' and that without an order barring the defendants from usting the postal service, USPS would suffer 'irreparable harm.'
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
Receive a random package you didn't order? You may be a victim of a ‘brushing' scheme — here's how it works
Ray Simmons was baffled when an Amazon package containing beet chews landed on his doorstep. 'I did think that maybe someone in my family was playing a joke on me, that they were telling me that I needed to eat healthier,' Simmons shared with WSB-TV Atlanta. Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 5 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Nervous about the stock market in 2025? Find out how you can access this $1B private real estate fund (with as little as $10) But the package wasn't a joke. Simmons, as he would come to learn, had unwillingly become the target of a scam known as 'brushing.' The scheme is reportedly designed to exploit consumer data and manipulate online product reviews, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) reports. And while that may seem fairly harmless, USPIS has issued a warning to Americans across the country: if you receive a package that you didn't order, do not scan any QR codes that come with it. The brushing scam involves third-party sellers on e-commerce platforms that send unsolicited, low-value items to random people whose names and addresses were found online. Once the item is shipped, the scammers leave fake five-star reviews online using the recipient's name, or a fake profile made to resemble the recipient. The goal is to make the seller's products appear popular and highly rated in order to gain more visibility and sales. 'They didn't order anything, they received it, and it's generally a household item, a low-value item,' said U.S. Postal Inspector David Gealey. 'They have your personal information, which is easy to get because they can just Google a name and address. It's out there on the web, right?' Although the brushing scam might not directly lead to a financial loss, it signals that your personal information — such as your name and address — is being used without your knowledge. And that personal information could be circulating on unsecured databases or among bad actors online. All of this would be cause for concern, but the dangers of this scam can become a lot more severe if the target does not exercise caution. Read more: You're probably already overpaying for this 1 'must-have' expense — and thanks to Trump's tariffs, your monthly bill could soar even higher. Here's how 2 minutes can protect your wallet right now Postal inspectors say the real danger comes when these packages include a QR code, which urges recipients to scan for more information or to confirm the delivery. These codes can lead to malicious websites that steal personal data, install malware or phish for sensitive information. 'We do caution customers: do not scan any QR code on the package because sometimes that QR code can lead to a malicious site,' Gealey warned. Fortunately, Simmons' package did not contain a QR code. However, he still took a few necessary steps to protect himself and ensure his Amazon and banking accounts hadn't been compromised. Receiving an unexpected package could indicate that your personal information is being misused. Here's what USPIS recommends. Do not scan QR codes: As we discussed above, scanning QR codes from unreliable sources can bring on a heap of trouble that could lead to stolen personal data or harmful malware installed on your device(s). Do not return the item: You are not legally obligated to return unsolicited items. Simply keeping or discarding the package is safe, but don't follow any instructions that came with it. Check your financial accounts: Review your online bank and credit card statements, as well as your online shopping profiles and Amazon account activity immediately to ensure that your accounts haven't been hacked. Report the package: Notify your local police department, USPIS and/or the Federal Trade Commission about the unsolicited package. Reporting the package can help authorities with their investigation and can potentially prevent others from becoming a victim. Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Robert Kiyosaki warns of a 'Greater Depression' coming to the US — with millions of Americans going poor. But he says these 2 'easy-money' assets will bring in 'great wealth'. How to get in now Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
