What makes a package suspicious?

Common Characteristics of Suspicious Packages

Package or envelope with suspicious leaks, stains, or powdered substances. Package is rigid, bulky, or has excessive tape/string. Poor handwriting, misspellings, improperly addressed. Excessive postage, no postage, or no/strange return address.

What are 3 examples of a suspicious package?

What makes a USPS package suspicious?

Items of unusual weight relative to their size, or that are lopsided or oddly shaped. Items which are sealed with excessive amounts of tape. An item containing a postmark which does not match the return address or bears an excessive amount of postage. Mailpiece is leaking an unknown powdery substance.

Which of the following are indicators of a suspicious package?

Misspelled common words. No return address or strange return address. Unusual addressing, such as not being addressed to a specific person or the use of incorrect titles or titles with no name. Restrictive markings, such as “personal,” “confidential,” or “do not x-ray”

How do packages get flagged?

Mail may be flagged if the letter or package is stained or is leaking. According to a USPS brochure, reused packaging and boxes are only acceptable when all markings and labels are removed or completely marked out.

GPD shows us what makes a package suspicious

Does USPS check whats inside packages?

When you bring your mail to the post office, employees will ask if there are any liquids, flammable, or hazardous material inside the package. It's your responsibility to make sure anything you mail complies with what's allowed. Each local post office has an area where non-mailable items are detained.

Does USPS xray all packages?

Is Mail X-Rayed? Some of the mail that is sent through the United States Postal Service will pass through an X-Ray machine. There are no specific guidelines as to what may or may not be x-rayed, though mail sent to or through larger cities is likely to pass through an X-Ray machine.

What are the 4 C's when discovering a suspicious package?

When dealing with suspicious items apply the 4 Cs protocol: CONFIRM, CLEAR, COMMUNICATE AND CONTROL. a log of decisions and actions is maintained.

What does USPS do with suspicious mail?

Postal Inspectors within the Dangerous Mail Investigations Program are specially trained to recognize the common characteristics of suspicious mail and use an array of specialized screening equipment to identify and mitigate threats to postal infrastructure, its employees, and the general public.

What makes a Fedex package suspicious?

A suspicious package is a mail item of unknown contents which can potentially cause injury or destruction or is designed to appear threatening in nature.

How does USPS check packages for drugs?

The only way that an item sent through USPS can be seized and searched is with a search warrant. If there is probable cause to believe that a letter or package contains something that is in violation of federal law, then the Postal Inspectors can request a search warrant to open the piece of mail.

How does USPS know what's in your package?

The Postal Service's goal is to scan all barcoded mailpieces (flats, letters, and packages) that enter the mailstream and track those items with additional scans up to the point of delivery. Scanning accuracy is critically important to the success of real-time visibility.

What happens if USPS finds drugs in a package?

Once the package is 'seized', it may be examined by a drug dog, and a warrant will be issued to open the package should the dog alert for the presence of drugs (typically, the post office will line up 6 packages, five which they know do not contain drugs, and the suspected package).

What are suspicious indicators?

Possible Indicators of Suspicious or Terrorist Activities:

Suspects may possess Forged, Altered or Stolen Identifications. May try to have a “cover story” or appear 'normal' in their behavior such as portraying a student or tourist. Identity Documents may be in various names. May carry and use large amounts of cash.

What do police consider suspicious?

Suspicious activity is any observed behavior that could indicate a person may be involved in a crime or about to commit a crime.

What does suspicious activity look like?

Suspicious activities or behaviors may include, but are not limited to: Wandering around campus areas attempting to open multiple doors. Seeming nervous and looking over their shoulders. Entering restricted areas when not authorized or following immediately behind others into card-access areas while the door is open.

Can USPS open suspicious packages?

Unlike in criminal investigations, the ANP program does not require postal inspectors to obtain search warrants to open detained packages. Rather, they request consent from mailers or addressees to open detained packages. If there is no response after 21 days, packages are declared abandoned and can be opened.

Does USPS actually investigate?

We Do!

As a federal law enforcement organization with almost 250 years of experience, our Inspectors investigate every aspect of mail-related crime--including mail theft, mail fraud, and mail containing dangerous items or substances.

Which of the following are signs of a suspicious postal item?

poorly or inaccurately addressed address printed unevenly or unusually. unfamiliar writing or unusual style. unusual postmark or no postmark. more stamps than needed for size or weight of package.

What does hot stand for suspicious package?

H – Has the item been Hidden? Has it deliberately been concealed? O – Is it Obviously suspicious? Does it seem odd or out of place, is there wires, liquids or batteries sticking out of it? T – Is it Typical for the location?

How do you deal with suspected packages?

What procedure must you follow if you discover a suspicious package in your store?

Leave the room, close the door and section off or isolate the area where the suspicious package or letter was discovered to prevent others from entering. Wash your hands with soap and water and take care not to contaminate your face. Report the incident to your local 9-1-1 operator.

What happens if you send drugs through the mail?

If you get caught sending or receiving illegal drugs in the mail or through a parcel service like FedEx or UPS, you could be facing federal felony drug trafficking charges. It could mean years in prison and heavy fines.

Is USPS allowed to open packages?

If there is probable cause to believe the contents of a First-Class letter or parcel violate federal law, Postal Inspectors can obtain a search warrant to open the mail piece. Other classes of mail do not contain private correspondence and therefore may be opened without a warrant.

Does UPS or FedEx check packages for drugs?

At FedEx and UPS, officers often gain permission to monitor packages at the site. In some cases, an employee at FedEx or UPS will call the police to alert them to a suspicious package. In other cases, a K9 drug dog might “alert” to a suspicious package.