Pakistani Man Indicted In $126m US Postage Fraud Case

A Pakistani national from Khanewal district has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Florida over allegations linked to a large counterfeit postage operation in the United States. The case centres on claims that a website sold millions of fake shipping labels and caused heavy financial losses to the US Postal Service.

The accused, identified as 33-year-old Faheem Akram, allegedly operated LabelsBank.com, an online platform that sold counterfeit postage labels at fixed cut-rate prices. US authorities alleged that the website offered postage labels for around $2 each, regardless of a package’s size, weight or destination.

According to the US Department of Justice, the website was not authorised to sell US Postal Service products or services. Investigators alleged that customers used the labels to ship packages at prices far below legitimate postal rates, resulting in more than $126 million in losses.

Officials said the alleged operation involved more than 5.1 million counterfeit postage labels. The investigation also found that over 5,200 people used the website to buy the labels, making the case one of significant scale for postal fraud enforcement.

US Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida described the alleged scheme as simple but extensive, saying the indictment involved millions of counterfeit labels and losses exceeding $126 million. Authorities said the website has been shut down and its domain seized under a court order obtained by the postal service.

The case is being investigated by the US Postal Inspection Service’s Miami Division. Inspector in Charge Bladismir Rojo said postal fraud networks operating across borders would be pursued, adding that those involved in selling fake postage and targeting consumers would be brought before the justice system.

Akram has been charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to make and sell counterfeit postage stamps. He also faces five counts related to making and selling counterfeit postage stamp labels and four counts of wire fraud.

If convicted, he could face up to five years in prison on the conspiracy and counterfeit postage counts. The wire fraud counts carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison each, although any final sentence would depend on court proceedings and applicable US sentencing rules.

The indictment does not represent a conviction, and the accused will have the right to contest the allegations in court. The next steps are expected to include further federal proceedings in the US, while investigators continue to document the alleged financial impact and the network of users who bought the counterfeit labels.