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(Evil laughter)
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Hi. I'm Haley Elliot,
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Director of the United States Postal  Inspection Service's Crime Lab.
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Chilly weather is on the way,
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marking the start of the holiday season.
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You are no doubt starting to think
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about mailing cards and  packages to those you love,
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and if your card list is as long as mine,
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you may be looking to score a deal on postage,
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like this online offer.
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50 percent off? It's a steal of a deal.
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But what's really getting stolen is your money.
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Don't get snowed by counterfeit stamps.
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The Postal Service does not sell  stamps below the face value.
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Legitimate retailers can sell  stamps at a small discount,
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and the stamps are authentic U.S. postage.
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These aren't.
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The number of counterfeit stamps  being sold online has exploded
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with many printed outside the United States.
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This is one seizure of counterfeit stamps.
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It's worth about $150,000 face value
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and being sold for half that.
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The fraudulent stamps result in a  revenue loss to the Postal Service,
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and ultimately, to you as a mailer.
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At the Postal Inspection Service's Crime Lab,
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our forensic scientists are able to pick out
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the subtle differences between a  counterfeit and actual USPS stamp.
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You probably can't.
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Be wary of any e-commerce or  online marketplaces on social media
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where stamps are being sold for  such a deeply discounted price.
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Your best protection against counterfeit stamps -
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don't buy stamps from someone you don't know.
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And online offers of 50 percent off?
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That's a big red flag.
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Buy your stamps from the U.S. Postal Service
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or an approved vendor licensed  by the Postal Service.
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Purchasing from an outside vendor could  render your package or gifts undelivered.
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And one more thing,
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buying and using counterfeit  stamps is also a federal crime.
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For more information,
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visit uspis.gov.
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Don't get snowed.