Fake USPS Loyalty or Reward Programme Phishing Scam
Scammers send letters, emails, or texts impersonating USPS and claiming the recipient has won a USPS customer reward, loyalty points redemption, or a prize in a postal survey — requiring a small processing fee or personal details to claim. USPS does not run consumer lottery or reward redemption programmes of this kind.
Part of: Fake Loyalty Points Redemption Scams
Last reviewed: 7 June 2026
USPS customer satisfaction surveys and occasional promotions are real, but they are conducted through legitimate channels and never require recipients to pay a fee to claim a reward. Criminals exploit the USPS brand to lend authority to fake prize and reward schemes, using familiar postal service imagery on letters, postcards, or emails.
The schemes typically claim the recipient was selected from USPS customer records for a reward, loyalty points balance, or prize draw win. To claim the reward, a small processing or handling fee must be paid, or personal and financial details must be confirmed.
This USPS-branded variant of the loyalty-redemption scam is particularly effective because receiving mail from a postal authority feels natural. Physical letters stamped with USPS-style imagery carry an added layer of apparent legitimacy that digital-only scams lack.
How this scam works on the USPS brand
A letter or email reads: 'USPS Customer Rewards Programme: Your account has accumulated 12,500 reward points. To redeem your $XXX cash equivalent, visit [link] and pay a $X.XX processing fee.' The site collects card details and personal information.
Some variants use physical postcards sent by standard mail, directing recipients to call a premium-rate number or visit a website to 'claim their USPS survey prize.' USPS does not operate a consumer loyalty-points scheme that works in this way.
Emails impersonating USPS survey departments claim the recipient completed a USPS satisfaction survey and qualifies for a reward. The email contains a link that harvests card details under the guise of a 'small shipping fee' for the prize delivery.
Common red flags
- USPS letter or email claiming you have reward points or a prize to claim
- Processing or handling fee required to receive the reward
- Link goes to a non-usps.com domain
- No record of entering a USPS survey or promotion
- USPS does not operate a consumer loyalty-points programme
- Physical postcard directs you to a premium-rate phone number
- Site requests full card details including CVV to cover a 'shipping fee'
How to protect yourself
- Know that USPS does not operate a consumer loyalty-points redemption programme
- Do not pay any processing fee to claim a postal prize
- Check usps.com for any legitimate USPS promotions — do not trust links in unsolicited communications
- Report suspicious USPS-branded letters to the USPIS
- Forward suspicious texts to 7726
How to report it
- Report to the USPIS at postalinspectors.uspis.gov or 1-877-876-2455
- File a complaint with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov
- Report to the FBI IC3 at ic3.gov
- Forward smishing texts to 7726
- If card details were entered, contact your bank immediately
Frequently asked questions
Does USPS have a customer loyalty or reward points programme?
USPS has conducted limited promotions for business customers through USPS Marketing Mail programmes, but it does not run a consumer reward-points system of the kind described in these scam letters.
How do I identify a fake USPS prize letter?
Legitimate USPS promotions are announced on usps.com and do not require recipients to pay a fee to claim a reward. Any unsolicited letter demanding a processing fee to release a postal prize is a scam.