Pakistan’s cybercrime agency has arrested Faheem Akram, 33, who is accused by US authorities of running a counterfeit postage operation tied to $126 million in losses at the US Postal Service, the BBC reported, citing US officials.
Arrest in Pakistan
The BBC said Pakistan’s cybercrime agency made the arrest of Akram, identified as being from Khanewal, Pakistan. The outlet reported that US authorities had sought him in connection with a large-scale counterfeit label scheme.
What prosecutors allege
According to the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida, as cited by the BBC, Akram operated a site called LabelsBank.com that allegedly sold counterfeit US postage at a flat price regardless of a package’s weight, size, or destination. Prosecutors say the fake labels typically sold for about $2 each, letting buyers ship well below legitimate rates and shifting costs to the Postal Service.
What investigators say they found
The US Attorney’s Office said a federal grand jury in Florida indicted Akram last month, alleging sales of more than five million counterfeit shipping labels to thousands of US customers over several years. Investigators cited by the BBC said more than 5,200 people bought more than 5.1 million labels. Authorities have shut down the website, according to the BBC.
Charges and potential penalties
Per the US Attorney’s Office account reported by the BBC, Akram is charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and to make and sell counterfeit postage stamps, five counts of making and selling counterfeit postage stamp labels, and four counts of wire fraud. If convicted, he faces maximum penalties of five years on the conspiracy and counterfeit postage counts and 20 years on each wire fraud count.
Reward offered
The BBC also reported that earlier this month the US Postal Inspection Service offered a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to Akram’s arrest.
