A Pakistani national has been charged in the United States over an alleged counterfeit postage operation involving more than five million fake shipping labels and losses exceeding US$126 million to the U.S. Postal Service.
Faheem Akram is accused of operating an unauthorised website through which counterfeit U.S. Postal Service (USPS) postage labels were allegedly sold online at heavily discounted fixed prices, according to information released by United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Jason Reding Quiñones.
U.S. authorities allege that the scheme involved more than 5.1 million counterfeit postage labels and resulted in losses of more than US$126 million.
According to the U.S. Attorney, counterfeit postage was allegedly sold for as little as US$2 per label, regardless of the weight, size or destination of the package, allowing customers to avoid legitimate USPS postage charges.
“The alleged scheme was simple but massive,” Quiñones said, adding that the indictment alleges more than 5.1 million counterfeit labels and over US$126 million in losses.
The website allegedly used to carry out the operation has since been shut down and its domain seized by U.S. authorities.
A seizure notice states that the domain was taken over by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in coordination with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida pursuant to a seizure warrant issued by a U.S. District Court.
Authorities said federal charges have been filed against Akram, but he remains wanted.
The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is now offering a reward of up to US$100,000 for information leading to his arrest and conviction.
Anyone with information regarding Akram’s whereabouts has been asked to contact U.S. Postal Inspectors at 1-877-876-2455 and say “Law Enforcement.”
Authorities have also warned members of the public not to attempt to apprehend him themselves. (Newswire)
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