Suspicious Package

SUSPICIOUS PACKAGE OR OBJECT

If you receive or discover a suspicious package or foreign device, do not touch it, tamper with it, or move it. Call 911 immediately and report it.

Detecting Suspicious Packages or Letters

Suspicious packages are not limited to those delivered by a commercial or U.S. postal carrier. The following characteristics have been designated by the U.S. Post Office and the Department of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms as indicators of suspicious packages:
  1. Lumps, bulges, or protrusions on package
  2. A lopsided or heavy-sided package or excessive masking tape
  3. Handwritten addresses or labels from companies (check to see if the company exists and if they sent a package or letter)
  4. Packages wrapped in string
  5. Excess postage on smallpackages or letters
  6. No postage or un-canceled postage
  7. Handwritten notes, such as, "To Be Opened in the Privacy of," "Confidential," "Your Lucky Day Is Here," "Prize Enclosed"
  8. Restrictive markings such as "confidential" or "personal"
  9. Improper spelling of common names, places, or titles
  10. Generic or incorrect titles. Titles with no name attached
  11. Leaks, stains, or protruding wires, string, tape, etc.
  12. Hand delivered or "dropped off for a friend" packages or letters
  13. No return address or nonsensical return address
  14. Foreign mail, air mail, and special-delivery packages
  15. Any letter or packages arriving before or after a phone call from an unknown person asking if the item was received

If you have a suspicious letter or package, call 911. Move people away. Do not move or open the package. Do not investigate too closely. Do not cover or insulate the package.