Inspection Service Seal United States
Postal Inspection Service

Some Laws Postal Inspectors Enforce

Blackmail & Threatening Communications

  • 18 U.S.C. 873 Blackmail
  • 18 U.S.C. 876 Mailing threatening communications
  • 18 U.S.C. 877 Mailing threatening communications from a foreign country

    • Child Pornography

  • 18 U.S.C. 2251 Sexual Exploitation of Children

    • Counterfeiting & Related Crimes

  • 18 U.S.C. 501 Postage stamps, postage meter stamps and postal cards
  • 18 U.S.C. 1720 Canceled stamps and envelopes
  • 18 U.S.C. 503 Postmarking stamps
  • 18 U.S.C. 500 Money orders

    • Destruction, Obstruction & Delay of Mail

  • 18 U.S.C. 1700 Desertion of mail
  • 18 U.S.C. 1701 Obstruction of mail generally
  • 18 U.S.C. 1702 Obstruction of correspondence
  • 18 U.S.C. 1703 Delay or destruction of mail or newspapers

    • Employee Theft & Embezzlement

  • 18 U.S.C. 1709 Theft of mail matter by officer or employee
  • 18 U.S.C. 1711 Misappropriation of postal funds

    • Lotteries

  • 18 U.S.C. 1301 Importing or transporting lottery tickets
  • 18 U.S.C. 1302 Mailing lottery tickets or related matter
  • 18 U.S.C. 1303 Postmaster or employee as lottery agent
  • 39 U.S.C. 3005 False representation; lotteries

    • Lottery Exceptions

  • 18 U.S.C. 1305 Fishing contests
  • 18 U.S.C. 1307 Other exceptions

    • Mailbox Destruction

  • 18 U.S.C. 1705 Destruction of letter boxes

    • Mail Fraud & Misrepresentation

  • 18 U.S.C. 1341 Frauds and swindles
  • 18 U.S.C. 1342 Fictitious name or address
  • 18 U.S.C. 1345 Injunctions against fraud
  • 39 U.S.C. 3005 False representation; lotteries

    • Nonmailables

  • 18 U.S.C. 1715 Firearms as nonmailable
  • 18 U.S.C. 1716 Injurious articles as nonmailable
  • 18 U.S.C. 1717 Letters and writings as nonmailable

    • Obscenity & Sexually Oriented Advertising

  • 18 U.S.C. 1461 Mailing obscene or crime-inciting matter
  • 18 U.S.C. 1463 Mailing indecent matter on wrappers or envelopes
  • 18 U.S.C. 1735 Sexually oriented advertising

    • Theft

  • 18 U.S.C. 1704 Keys or locks stolen or reproduced
  • 18 U.S.C. 1706 Injury to mail bags
  • 18 U.S.C. 1707 Theft of property used by Postal Service
  • 18 U.S.C. 1708 Theft or receipt of stolen mail matter generally

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