Fake USPS Product Recall Return-Postage or Refund Phishing Scam
Scammers impersonate USPS by claiming a product recall requires the recipient to mail back an item using a prepaid USPS label obtained through a verification portal, or that a recall refund cheque from USPS is awaiting collection. USPS provides postal infrastructure for recalls but does not administer recall programmes or issue recall refunds.
Part of: Fake Product Recall Refund Scams
Last reviewed: 8 June 2026
Product recalls are administered by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the NHTSA for vehicles, the FDA for food and drugs, and individual manufacturers. USPS may be the carrier used to return recalled products, but it is never the organising authority for a recall, and it does not issue recall refunds.
Scammers combine awareness of ongoing product recalls — widely reported in consumer news — with USPS branding to send messages claiming a recall refund cheque or prepaid return label is waiting to be claimed through an online portal. The portal collects personal details, bank account numbers, or credit-card information under the guise of processing the refund.
Genuine product recalls are registered at cpsc.gov and the manufacturer's own recall page. Return postage, if provided, is arranged directly through the manufacturer's recall programme — not through a separate USPS portal triggered by an unsolicited text.
How this scam works on the USPS brand
A text reads: 'USPS: A product recall refund of $42.50 is available for [product name]. Verify your identity and provide bank details to receive payment: [link].' The fake USPS site asks for full name, SSN, address, and bank account or card details.
Some campaigns reference a specific current recall — for example, a car-seat, appliance, or medication recall that has been covered in the news — to make the message feel especially relevant and timely.
Other variants claim the recipient must print a prepaid USPS label by logging in to a portal, where account credentials or personal details are harvested before the label is 'generated'.
Common red flags
- USPS message about a product recall refund via a link — USPS does not administer recall refunds
- Link does not go to usps.com or cpsc.gov
- Request for SSN and bank account details to process a recall refund
- Recall references a specific product that sounds plausible but the recall cannot be verified at cpsc.gov
- Email sender is not @usps.com
- Urgency: refund expires or recall closes within 48 hours
- Portal asks for a credit-card number to 'verify identity' before issuing a refund
How to protect yourself
- Verify any product recall at cpsc.gov or the manufacturer's official website before taking action
- Contact the manufacturer's recall helpline directly for return instructions
- Never provide SSN or bank details to claim a recall refund via an unsolicited link
- Report the phishing message to [email protected]
- Report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov
- Forward smishing texts to 7726
- If financial details were given, contact your bank immediately
How to report it
- Report to the USPIS at postalinspectors.uspis.gov
- Email [email protected] with a screenshot
- Report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov
- Forward smishing texts to 7726
- Report fake recall notices to the CPSC at saferproducts.gov
Frequently asked questions
Who actually administers product recall refunds in the US?
Product recalls are administered by the relevant federal agency (CPSC, NHTSA, FDA) and the manufacturer. Refunds or replacements are arranged directly by the manufacturer. USPS provides postal services but has no role in recall administration or refund disbursement.
How do I verify if a product recall is real?
Search for the product and recall at cpsc.gov/recalls for consumer products, nhtsa.gov/recalls for vehicles, or fda.gov/safety/recalls for food, drugs, and medical devices. Always verify before returning any product or claiming any refund.
I submitted my bank details on the fake recall site. What should I do?
Contact your bank immediately to freeze your account and dispute any unauthorised transactions. Report to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and file an identity theft report at identitytheft.gov if other personal details were given.