Received call from USPS saying they are reporting to FBI

Made a small purchase for a LEGAL item at a PO box, but received a note requiring me to pick up (which required a signature and ID verification). Later that day, I was called by the postal inspector saying they have noticed suspicious activity being mailed to this box, and are referring this address to the FBI for further investigation. I have a package currently in the PO box [illegal], so I'm wondering if it would be best to pick it up and immediately write "return to sender" on the package, or just ditch the box for good and hope nothing comes of this? All the amounts were personal amounts, and most of the items shipped to this box were actually legal so I'm not sure how this happened.

Also, does a search warrant allow USPS to open ALL packages shipped to this PO box, or just ONE package? And what are the chances that the FBI will actually pursue this investigation if it was only 2 illegal packages for personal amounts?


Comments


[32 Points] None:

I've lurked in this sub for a long time, and this is the first time I've ever been compelled to comment on anything.

Delete this thread, and if you honestly suspect that there's a legitimate threat, talk to a lawyer. If you seriously think you're under investigation, why the fuck would you take it to a public forum? Common sense, man...


[23 Points] cannabisity:

if they were reporting you they wouldn't tell you.

and wouldn't it be the DEA?

<_<


[16 Points] dedsy:

That is REALLY weird. How many people know what you're doing? Sounds like someone you probably know is fucking with you. Possibly to scare you away from ordering more drugs. I've never heard of anyone getting a phone call like that from a postal inspector. Did he use the phone number attached to your PO box?

What day did you get the call on? And how long has your illegal package been sitting there? Do you have any more illegal packages on the way?


[12 Points] None:

If the FBI is involved you might want to delete this thread.


[8 Points] pinkprincess1:

I think somebody is messing with you. In fact im 99% sure. However to be on the safe side clear house and delete your reddit account if you ever posted without tor.


[7 Points] YellowXanaX:

This sounds really strange. If you've received all/most of your packages, how can USPS say that your mailbox has suspicious activity? If they found drugs in your box on multiple occasions, they would confiscate it or give it to LE. And them warning you would give you a chance to clean house.


[3 Points] aLcSiDd:

Do not listen to all of these people telling you someone is fucking with you. It is always better to play it 'better safe than sorry' when you are dealing with anything off the darknet, whether it be legal or not.

That being said, THIS IS WHY PO BOXES ARE ALWAYS A NO-NO FOR ANY ILLEGAL ACTIVITY. They raise enough eyebrows as it is...

Question: What have you used this PO box for besides darknet orders, AND how long have you had it open?

I'm just curious, but regardless the answer:

I WOULD NOT JUST DROP OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH AND NEVER GO BACK TO YOUR PO BOX. That makes you look guilty, and then you just leave your illegal package setting there for them to gather info on.

My solution: ACT AS IF YOU DID NOT ORDER THAT PACKAGE AND 'RETURN TO SENDER' just like you said.

That way, you seem to being using a PO box just as anyone else would - for mail. If you have been using it up to now, and then stop after a phone call, it's just too obvious.

They are suspicious for a reason, but running from it only adds. Just show up at the post office as if you have nothing to hide. Come in with a smile on your face, and when you get your illegal package, just act puzzled and do what any good Samaritan would do and send it back. If you are feeling frisky, go to a postman and tell them you did not order it, and ask what to do to send it back.

Obviously do not order anything else from the darknet, sign up for some junk mail online and have it sent to that PO box so the only thing you are getting ISN'T sketchy packages, which is why I am assuming you got red flagged.

But back to them fucking with you. If someone called and said they are the fedz, then it would obviously be someone fucking with you. Postmen are just like me and you, they don't know everything, just like how calling you and warning you they are calling LE would totally ruin any potential investigation.

I think you got lucky and got and incompetent postman who didn't realize calling you would help you, he wanted you to be scared and probably gave him some weird sense of power.... maybe he feels betrayed by you for trying to get one over on his place of employment. (which he has some control over, so he takes it personal.)

Let's say I am wrong, and it is someone fucking with you, which I don't think....I would still do exactly what I said and go to the package and return to sender.

TL;DR Better play it safe than sorry, RETURN TO SENDER, do not leave your PO box hanging because that is too obvious and then you also have an illegal package setting in your name as the LAST item sent before you stopped going.


[3 Points] Liliaceae08:

Perhaps, the vendor has a sick sense of humor a la the infamous Coachella420. If you have a social media presence and your name is an uncommon one and/or you live in a small city or rural town, said vendor could easily search for your name and relevant details, which could yield other pertinent information (like your phone number, for instance), which in turn could be used to blackmail you in the manner you’ve described.


[0 Points] None:

[deleted]


[1 Points] MrCrappy57:

Something similar happened to my associate. He received calls from a postal inspector both on cell and his unlisted home number. Was very fucking scary for my associate. This was after a package was seized with small amount of pills.


[1 Points] MrCrappy57:

If he writes RTS the package WILL be opened and though he won't be busted it doesn't look good. I don't have a good solution but you need to understand that RTS means that address is burned and you may get a REAL phone call from a PI.


[1 Points] None:

Ok this is probably an obvious question but since it was a phone call were you able to see what number the person called from? If it's private, it's probably someone fucking with you. If it's a cell phone, it's probably someone fucking with you.


[1 Points] GreenIsTheNewGold:

Absolutely do not open the box. If authorities have x-rayed the box for contents: The box will probably have already been opened, product in it will be a proxy by authorities and not the real thing. They put an electronic tracking device in the box along with a sensor that tells when you've opened it. Inside is a powder that shows under UV light proving you opened it and handled the contents when they bust in your door.

If you really wanted to play it risky you could cut open the box, do not handle anything inside and just set it aside to see if someone comes knocking. If they bust in tell them the truth that you don't know who sent the box and you don't know what is inside as you didn't even handle anything in it. They can only tell if you've opened the box, the powder is to confirm you had knowledge of contents. I would suggest anyone to do this when opening boxes from unknown sources, open but don't touch the contents. You don't want to get framed for something you didn't do. I know all of this from experience. And they do this with USPS, FedEx, UPS, etc.


[0 Points] Cixylsyd:

Real postal inspectors aren't so stupid as to call in that manner and give tip offs to an investigation. Despite the apparent understanding here of PIs as being power hungry cogs in a bureaucratic machine, they're actually very experienced authorities who work closely with LEO on this kind of thing literally all the time. No legitimate postal inspector is going to tip someone off on an investigation unless he's looking to lose his job or get transferred to some shitty rural office. If this were a genuine scenario you wouldn't get a call or tipoff. Most likely you'd get a "Sign for" slip like the one you did for your legal item, and once you went to the front and signed for the illegal package you'd be served an arrest warrant there or later upon opening the package. They like to have all their geese in a row so to speak and they can't generalize with evidence; they have to be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a specific illegal package was knowingly ordered and received by you. How can they do that if you haven't taken and kept possession of the package? They can't take it to court and say "well he signed for this package and his name is in fact Bob Bobberson, so this illegal package MUST be for him too." Even as much as common sense dictates it to be yours, the law is stringent and physical evidence is needed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt it was you who bought the illegal package.

My guess is one of your friends bought a spoofcard or used a similar service to spoof a USPS number and scare the shit out of you. I'll be very surprised if it turns out to be anything else. Either way best of luck and I'd recommend playing it safe as others have said. Keep low for now and write on the package "return to sender." Better to bite the cost of the package than to risk freedom on internet advice.