Don’t fall for these holiday scams, USPS warns

The week before Christmas is the Postal Service’s busiest of the year, with people across the country scrambling to get those last minute gifts to friends and family before the big day. For fraudsters, scammers and thieves who prey on the mail, this week is a big one for them, as well.

However, there is no need to fear. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service released tips for customers to best get their packages where they need to be with zero hitches.

Mail scammers are tricky, but this year you can be trickier.

Recognize phishing and ‘smishing’ scams

Phishing and smishing scams, or scams perpetrated over email or text, respectively, can rise this time of year, because scammers believe people are more trusting and open to new communication.

Mail scammers will often disguise their methods as emails from the USPS on the status of a package, hoping you will click on the message’s link.

The USPS warns you should never click on links from unknown senders. They also tell customers to keep in mind that the USPS will never contact you via text message, unless first initiated by a customer.

Make sure your packages are protected

Mail theft rises during the holiday season, as thieves will go out of their way to target the excess gifts and packages that come in. Customers should add extra protection to their packages during this time.

To combat this, customers can request a signature confirmation on packages during this period and add package tracking.

As always, the USPS says you should never send cash through the mail.

Watch out for counterfeit stamps

In one lesser known scam, criminals will post deals for counterfeit stamps that are cheap and enticing. This scam has large implications, as it will slow down your package getting sent and may even cause legal consequences for the user.

The USPS warns users against buying or using any stamps with a dramatic price decrease, especially found on social media or third-party e-commerce sites. Customers should also try to purchase stamps only from the post office’s approved providers.