A money order sent to a stranger who never delivered, or a package that arrived as an empty box instead of the item you paid for — the moment any part of a scam moves through the US Postal Service, it stops being a simple civil dispute and becomes a federal crime, with a dedicated federal agency built specifically to investigate it.
Who actually investigates this: not local police
The United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) is the federal law enforcement arm responsible for crimes involving the mail — one of the oldest federal law enforcement agencies in the country. Because mail fraud is a federal offense, USPIS has jurisdiction nationwide, regardless of which state the scammer is operating from, and works alongside the FBI on larger cases.
The actual law: 18 U.S.C. § 1341
Federal mail fraud carries penalties of up to 20 years in federal prison per count, with fines that can run into hundreds of thousands of dollars. If the fraud affects a financial institution or occurs in connection with a presidentially declared disaster, penalties increase to up to 30 years. These aren't symbolic maximums — mail fraud statutes are among the most frequently used federal charges specifically because they're broad and well-established in case law.
What to preserve before you report
- The original envelope or box, including the postmark — don't throw it away
- Any tracking labels or shipping confirmations from USPS
- Any written correspondence that arrived with the package or by mail
- Payment records showing what was sent (money order, cash, cashier's check) and to whom
How to file a report
- Go to the USPIS website and use their online complaint form.
- Provide as much detail as possible: dates, the scammer's mailing address if known, payment details, and a description of what was promised versus what was delivered.
- Keep a copy of your submission and any reference number provided.
A realistic expectation of what this actually does
It's worth being direct about this: USPIS's core mission is criminal investigation and prosecution, not individual restitution. Opening a case doesn't guarantee you get your money back, and federal investigations take time, particularly if the scammer is operating at scale across many victims. What a documented federal case number does give you is real, credible evidence to present to your bank or payment processor when disputing the transaction — showing that what happened wasn't just "a purchase you regret" but a transaction tied to an active federal fraud investigation can meaningfully strengthen a separate refund or chargeback request you file with your financial institution.
🗂️ Organize your evidence first: our Phishing & Scam Report template → structures the dates, addresses, payment records and correspondence into one document you can attach to the USPIS report and your bank dispute.
See also: filing a USPS lost/damaged package claim (for a genuine delivery failure, not fraud), and escalating a business dispute to your State Attorney General.