Overview[]
The United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) is involved in inter-agency task forces investigating identity theft and is the lead federal investigative agency when identity thieves have used the postal system in conducting their fraudulent activities. It coordinates or co-coordinates 19 financial crime task forces and working groups that address cases involving identity theft. In FY2008, the USPIS participated in 25 identity theft task forces, and postal inspectors arrested 2,047 identity theft suspects — from both USPIS investigations and task force investigations in which the USPIS was involved.
In addition to investigating identity theft, the USPIS has been involved in delivering educational presentations to consumer groups to assist in preventing identity theft, and inspectors are involved in sponsoring outreach programs for victims of identity theft.
Sexual exploitation of children[]
The USPIS is responsible for investigating crimes involving the U.S. mail, including child pornography and child sexual exploitation offenses. Postal Inspectors, specially trained to conduct child exploitation investigations, are assigned to each of its 18 field divisions nationwide. The use of mail to traffic in child pornography, or to sexually exploit children, continues to be a significant societal problem. The exchange of child pornography by mail is now often preceded by use of the Internet to communicate with like-minded individuals or to locate sources of child pornography.
The objective of the child exploitation program is to reduce and deter the use of the postal system for the procurement or delivery of materials that promote the sexual exploitation of children and to uphold customer confidence. In carrying out its mission, USPIS works with DOJ, FBI, ICE, and other national and international law enforcement agencies.