A friend of mine went to check on her SHEIN order and saw it was held up due to counterfeit postage. Apparently, this is also happening on other sites like Amazon, TikTok Shop and Temu. So, what happens when your package gets seized for counterfeit shipping?

You can see the tracking detail screenshot below, where USPS says, “Tracking information will not be displayed because this package was shipped with counterfeit postage.”

The Counterfeit Postage Crackdown

The United States Postal Service has been tightening enforcement on counterfeit postage, and the changes are catching a lot of everyday senders and online sellers off guard. Here’s what’s really going on, why it started, and what it means for your mail.

In May 2023 the USPS updated its policies to treat mail with counterfeit postage as “abandoned.” That change gave them the authority to dispose of those packages rather than delivering or returning them.

Things escalated significantly on August 1, 2024, when USPS introduced enhanced detection systems that can verify postage in real time. From that point on, enforcement became much more visible—and much stricter. Through 2024 and into 2025, reports of intercepted packages and destroyed shipments increased as the system improved.

Why USPS Is Taking This So Seriously

At the heart of the crackdown is a growing problem: counterfeit postage has become widespread. Fake stamps and shipping labels are being sold online at discounted prices, often through social media or third-party marketplaces.

For USPS, this isn’t just a minor issue—it’s a financial hit. The agency loses millions of dollars each year due to fraudulent postage. Since USPS operates on its own revenue rather than tax funding, those losses directly affect its operations.

There’s also a legal side. Using counterfeit postage is considered fraud, and in some cases, it’s tied to larger scams or illegal activity. That combination of financial loss and misuse pushed USPS to act more aggressively.

What Types of Mail Are Affected

The crackdown isn’t limited to one type of shipment. It applies broadly across the system.

Packages are the most commonly affected, especially those shipped via online platforms such as SHEIN and Temu. Shipping labels are under heavy scrutiny for counterfeit postage, particularly those generated through unofficial or deeply discounted sources.

Even traditional stamps are part of the issue, especially if they were purchased at unusually low prices from non-authorized sellers.

One interesting tell these counterfeit postage shipping labels have is that they usually start with 95 instead of 93 or 94. You can see my friend’s label above stats with 95.

SHEIN’s Reply About the Counterfeit Postage

My friend messaged SHEIN to let them know the package had been seized by USPS for counterfeit postage. This was their reply:

They were apologetic and basically instructed her to be patient and wait. But honestly, if your package was seized like this, you are not going to get it.

If USPS determines that postage is counterfeit, the package will not be delivered. It doesn’t matter if the recipient is willing to pay the difference. The shipment is pulled from the system, often at the very first scan.

In many cases, the package is treated as abandoned. That means it may be opened, seized, and ultimately destroyed or discarded. Unlike older policies, it typically won’t be returned to the sender, and you won’t receive a refund from USPS on any shipping paid.

You’ll have to go through the seller for a refund. After about a week, my friend got another reply in which SHEIN admitted the package wasn’t coming and processed her refund.

So that’s what happens when your package gets seized for counterfeit postage- you are not going to get it. If this happens to you, let the shipper know and then wait for them to admit it’s not coming and give you a refund.

There’s no way you can avoid this in advance if you shop on sites that have 3rd party sellers, because they can’t control it. But be suspicious if you get the tracking and it starts with 95.