Think Before You Click: My Philly Daily Crime Beat Column On Fake U.S. Postal Service Emails During The Holiday Season

Philly Daily ran my Crime Beat column today on fake Postal Service emails. 

You can read the column via the link below or the text below:

Davis: Beware of fake U.S. Postal Service emails during the holiday season - Philly Daily  

Like a good many people I purchase a lot of items online and the items are then delivered to my home by either commercial shipping companies or the U.S. Postal Service. 

Online purchases being mailed greatly increase during the Holiday season, so many people are receiving emails stating that they are from the U.S. Postal Service. 

The Postal Service warns that these emails are fake.

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) note that they are well aware of the circulation of fake emails/email scams claiming to be from the Postal Service officials, including the Postmaster General. 

“Please know USPS officials would never reach out directly to consumers and ask for money or Personal Identifying Information (PII),” the USPS explained.

The Postal Service offers information and tips on how to avoid becoming a victim of fake emails and other kinds of consumer fraud. 

“If you ever receive an email about a package delivery or unpaid online postage charges, be careful,” the Postal Service advised. “Some postal customers are receiving bogus emails featuring the subject line, “Delivery Failure Notification.” These emails appear to be from the U.S. Postal Service and include language regarding an unsuccessful attempt to deliver a package. 

“The email will prompt you to confirm your personal delivery information by clicking a button or downloading an attachment, that, when opened, can activate a virus and steal information—such as your usernames, passwords, and financial account information. The Postal Inspection Service is working hard to stop these emails and protect your information.”

(Below is a sample of a fake Postal Service email):

If you receive an email about a package delivery failure, the Postal Service suggests you forward the email to spam@uspis.gov, and then delete the email. One should also report non-USPS spam emails to the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov.

The Postal Service also warns of identity fraud “phishing.” 

Did you receive a luring email from the Postal Service about a package delivery? Does it contain a link to click? Don't take the bait! It's a phishing attempt to steal your personal information.

Did you receive an urgent email that requires action? Think before you click! Don't put your personal information at risk. It's probably a phishing attempt. Did you receive an email from the Postal Service about an attempted or intercepted package delivery? Don’t click on the link! Bogus emails about delivery failures trick customers into clicking links that contain viruses. 

The Postal Service also warns that one should not give out personal information via email. The Postal Service states that they do not notify customers of package delivery attempts or request personal information via email.

Poor grammar indicates a fraudulent email, the Postal Service notes. Poor grammar and spelling errors are a good indication that the email is fake. Also be aware that if the email requests “immediate action,” it may be a scam. 

The Postal Service also warns of phone calls or voicemail messages from an unfamiliar number claiming to need to verify sensitive personal information. If you receive a call or voicemail, don’t respond. Delete the voicemail. This type of scam is called “vishing.”

“Vishing, short for voice phishing, is an identity fraud scam utilizing a phone call or voicemail,” the Postal Service explained. “Scammers will call or leave a voicemail and impersonate someone they are not, and attempt to elicit sensitive information, like login credentials, personal identifying information, credit card numbers or other banking details. These impostors may pretend to be Postal Inspectors, or other persons in USPS and USPIS positions of authority. They may attempt to coerce you with threats of arrest or some other punishment.”

If you ever receive a phone call or voicemail from an individual claiming to be a Postal Inspector or other law enforcement official- alleging there is an active warrant out for your arrest, the Postal Service warns you to be careful.

“These individuals impersonate law enforcement, or other positions of authority, and will manufacture a threatening situation and sense of urgency in an attempt to coerce you into sending them money and/or providing your personal information to steal your identity. They may claim you are the suspect of a criminal

investigation or currently have an outstanding warrant for your arrest. The impostor’s phone number may be blocked or spoofed/fake, displaying a number other than the actual number used by the impostor. “The imposter may even spoof/fake a legitimate number of the person or entity he/she is impersonating. Postal Inspectors will never demand money from you or threaten you with arrest for failing to provide personal information over the phone, text, or email. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is working hard to stop these impostors.”

The Postal Service and the Postal Inspection Service know that the recent occurrences of mail customers receiving calls from individuals impersonating Postal Service and Postal Inspections Service personnel, 

“Please know that Postal Service and Postal Inspection Service inspectors would never reach out directly to consumers and demand money or personal information.”

The Postal Service offers the information below to protect you from this imposter scam.

“If you receive a communication from someone impersonating a Postal Inspector, please send an email to the USPIS Cyber Crime Unit at ISCCU@usps.gov. Please include your name and contact information, the name and any contact information used by the imposter, and a summary of the phone call or copy of the actual communication with the imposter.”

For most of us the holiday season is a time for religious reflection, joy, the exchange of gifts, fellowship, and love of family and friends. The holiday season is also prime time for crooks, scammers, and con artists. So be on guard when receiving emails that look fake. 

Delete the emails. Never open the emails and never respond to the emails. Don’t respond by threatening to expose them to law enforcement or scold them for being awful human beings. If you do open the email, don’t call any phone numbers the email asks you to.  

Even Santa relies on the Postal Service (his sleigh can only hold so much), so as you receive your online purchases and gifts through the mail, be aware that there are Grinch crooks trying to scam via email. 

You can read my other Philly Daily Crime Beat columns via the link below:

Paul Davis On Crime: My Philly Daily Crime Beat Columns 

Afghan Citizen Federally Charged For Posting Threats To Build Bomb And Kill Americans

 The U.S. Justice Department released the below information:

Mohammad Dawood Alokozay, 30, a citizen of Afghanistan residing in Fort Worth, Texas, has been federally charged for threatening to build a bomb, conduct a suicide attack, and kill Americans and others, in a video shared on TikTok, X, and Facebook.

“This Afghan national came into America during the Biden administration and as alleged, explicitly stated that he came here in order to kill American citizens,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “The public safety threat created by the Biden administration’s vetting breakdown cannot be overstated – the Department of Justice will continue working with our federal and state partners to protect the American people from the prior administration’s dangerous incompetence.”

“We have zero tolerance for violence and threats of violence to kill American citizens and others like those allegedly made by this individual,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould for the Northern District of Texas.  “I applaud the rapid response of our federal and local law enforcement partners in identifying and apprehending him. Those individuals who jeopardize the public safety and security of North Texas residents will be swiftly brought to justice.”

“This arrest demonstrates that the FBI remains steadfast in our mission to defend the homeland and protect the American people. Thanks to public reports of a threatening online video, the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force apprehended this individual before he could commit an act of violence. We continue to ask that if you see something, say something,” said Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock of the FBI's Dallas Field Office.

“Our commitment to keep America safe is unwavering. Online threats made by those hiding behind a screen will not be dismissed or taken lightly,” said Special Agent in Charge Travis Pickard of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). “We will use every resource available to make sure these perpetrators are found, arrested, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Alokozay is charged with transmitting a threatening communication in interstate commerce related to threats he made on a Nov. 23 video call, which was recorded and posted to multiple social media accounts, including TikTok, X, and Facebook. According to the complaint, the video shows Alokozay angrily gesturing and speaking Dari, a language commonly spoken in Afghanistan, while interacting with at least two other males on a video call. A screenshot of a social media post that shared Alokozay’s Nov. 23 statements is below:

As alleged, Alokozay threatened to conduct a suicide attack on the other participants on the call, as well as “infidels” and Americans.  He claimed he would build a bomb in his vehicle and talked about a particular yellow cooking oil container favored by the Taliban in building improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in Afghanistan.  Alozokay stated the Taliban were dear to him and that he came to the United States to kill those on the call.  He also claimed he wanted to conduct a suicide attack on Americans.  According to the complaint, Alokozay stated he was not afraid of deportation or getting killed.

Alokozay is currently in custody pending an initial appearance before a U.S. magistrate judge and further court proceedings. If convicted, Alokozay faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI's Dallas Field Office through the Fort Worth Resident Agency and the Department of Homeland Security, with the assistance of the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Fort Worth Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Vincent Mazzurco for the Northern District of Texas is prosecuting the case.

A complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. 

Note; Above is one social media post containing Alokzay’s video from the criminal complaint.  

Comedian Rachel Fogletto To Appear At The Punch Line Philly Comedy Club

 Philly Daily, where my Crime Beat column appears each week, reports that on Thursday, December 4, 2025, comedian Rachel Fogletto will perform at the Punch Line Philly Comedy Club in Philadelphia.

 You can read the piece via the below link:

Comedian Rachel Fogletto To Appear at the Punch Line Philly Comedy Club - Philly Daily 

My Threatcon Column: Afghan National Sentenced To 15 Years in Prison For Plotting Election Day Terror

Counterterrorism magazine’s website posted my latest Threatcon column.

You can read the column below: 

Threatcon Column

Afghan National Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison

for Plotting Election Day Terror

By Paul Davis

A reader emailed me a while back and criticized me for “creating alarm about Islamic terrorism when in fact domestic terrorism by white, right-wing criminals was the true threat to America.”

I replied that yes, domestic terrorism by home-grown criminals is certainly a concern, and I’ve addressed that concern here and elsewhere. But I also stated that radical Islamic terrorism remains a serious threat to our country.

A case in point is Abdullah Haji Zada, 19, who on November 20^th was sentenced to serve the statutory maximum of 15 years in federal prison for knowingly receiving, attempting to receive, and conspiring to receive a firearm and ammunition to be used to commit a federal crime of terrorism.

According to court documents, Zada, a native and citizen of Afghanistan and U.S. lawful permanent resident, and a co-conspirator received two AK-47-style rifles and 500 rounds of ammunition, knowing that the firearms and ammunition would be used in connection with a terrorist attack on Election Day in November 2024, on behalf of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization. Zada was arrested with his co-conspirator, Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 28, also a citizen of Afghanistan, in October 2024.

"Zada was welcomed into the United States and provided with all the opportunities available to residents of our Nation, yet he chose to embrace terrorism and plot an ISIS-inspired attack on Election Day,” said John A. Eisenberg, Assistant Attorney General for National Security, announced the sentence.

 “Today’s sentence, and Zada’s eventual removal from the United States, reflect the seriousness of his betrayal and our commitment to using every tool at our disposal to detect and disrupt such plots.”

Donald Holstead, the Assistant Director of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division, added, “With today’s sentencing, Zada will pay the price for participating in a plot last year to conduct an ISIS-inspired Election Day terrorist attack,

 “Detecting and preventing acts of terrorism against the American people is an essential part of the FBI’s mission. We will continue working closely with our law enforcement partners to protect our communities.”

Doug Goodwater, the FBI Oklahoma City Special Agent in Charge, also weighed in, “By hatching a violent plot against the United States on behalf of ISIS, the defendant and his co-conspirator shamefully turned their backs on the country that provided them safety and refuge,

“I’m extremely proud of the swift and coordinated action taken by the Oklahoma City Joint Terrorism Task Force as soon as this disturbing plan was uncovered. The FBI and our law enforcement partners will never relent in our fight against terrorism, and in protecting the American people from those who wish them harm.”

According to the Justice Department, Zada, who was 17 at the time of his arrest, entered his guilty plea as an adult on April 17, 2025. As part of the plea agreement, Zada stipulated to the entry of a judicial order of removal from the United States to Afghanistan following his term of incarceration. Zada acknowledged that the order of removal would terminate his lawful permanent resident status. Zada also waived his right to appeal the conviction except in limited circumstances or seek any form of appeal or relief from his removal and deportation, including but not limited to, seeking asylum.

The Justice Department noted that Zada’s co-conspirator, Tawhedi, pleaded guilty on June 13, 2025, to two terrorism-related offenses: conspiring and attempting to provide material support and resources to ISIS, a designated terrorist organization, and receiving, attempting to receive, and conspiring to receive firearms and ammunition in furtherance of a federal crime of terrorism. At sentencing, Tawhedi faces a maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison for the material support charge and up to 15 years in prison for the firearms charge. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

Upon completion of any sentence, Zada and Tawhedi will be permanently removed from the United States and barred from reentry under stipulated judicial orders of removal to Afghanistan.

Foreign radical Islamic terrorists and domestic terrorists are both bad guys, and we need to be security-conscious about both groups.   

Paul Davis’ Threatcon column covers crime, espionage and terrorism. 

My Online On Crime Columns

From 2019 to 2025, I wrote the On Crime column for the Washington Times. 

The newspaper column covered true crime, crime fiction and thrillers, and offered interviews with the crime book authors. 

The Washington Times dropped my column and rarely covers books these days, so I’ve continued to cover crime books and interview authors here on my website. 

Below are links to my online On Crime columns: 

Paul Davis On Crime: My Online On Crime Column: My Q&A With Michael Cannell, The Author Of 'Blood And The Badge: The Mafia, Two Killer Cops, And A Scandal That Shocked The Nation

Paul Davis On Crime: My Online On Crime Column: My Q&A With Thomas Maier, The Author Of 'The Invisible Spy: Churchill’s Rockefeller Center Spy Ring And America’s First Secret Agent of WWII'

Paul Davis On Crime: Yesterday's Spy Writer: My Online On Crime Column On The New Batch Of Len Deighton's Reissued Paperback Spy Thrillers 

Mark Twain On Fools

The Walnut Street Theater For Kids Production Of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol

Philly Daily, where my Crime Beat column appears each week, reports that the Walnut Theater for Kids’ production of A Christmas Carol, based on the famous story by Charles Dickens and adapted by Bill Van Horn, will run from December 6 to December 21. 

You can read about the production via the link below: 

The Walnut Street Theater for Kids Production of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol - Philly Daily