Arr! China be sendin' counterfeit stamps our way, mateys! They be quite the crafty scallywags, aye!
2023-07-12
Arrr! The United States Postal Service be fightin' for ages to fill its coffers. But lo! There be a new scallywag in its way to financial success: forged stamps from China! Aye, the seas be rough for sure!
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is facing multiple challenges, including an outdated business model and pension liabilities. Now, in addition to these issues, counterfeit stamps from China are being sold online through platforms like Google and Facebook. Counterfeiting government paper has historically been used as a form of warfare, and now China is producing counterfeit USPS Forever stamps that are sold at a fraction of the official price. Some of these counterfeit stamps even feature anti-counterfeiting detection ink. The increase in the use of counterfeit stamps has prompted the USPS to issue a statement, warning against the use or sale of counterfeit postage.To combat this issue, the USPS has implemented a new policy that considers mail with counterfeit postage as abandoned and subject to opening and destruction. However, this policy puts the Postal Service in a difficult position, as some people who unknowingly bought counterfeit stamps may wonder why their mail was not delivered. The use of counterfeit stamps is particularly concerning for the USPS, as First-Class Mail, which is most likely to be affected, generates a significant portion of its revenue.
The problem of counterfeit stamps is further exacerbated by the ease with which they are advertised online. A quick Google search reveals numerous sponsored ads for counterfeit stamps, some of which appear above the USPS's own sponsored ads. China's counterfeit stamp production is just one aspect of its larger issue of intellectual property theft, which includes drugs, clothing, and even deadly fentanyl.
Congresswoman Michelle Park Steel is investigating the issue of counterfeit postage and is calling on Congress to take action. Although Google claims to have removed offending ads, many counterfeit stamp ads still appear prominently in search results. This suggests that a more robust response is needed from the Biden administration to protect U.S. interests and potentially impose financial penalties on China's exports.
Overall, the USPS's struggle with counterfeit stamps is adding to its existing challenges, and a comprehensive solution will require efforts from both the USPS and the government.