Prohibition Against Postage Fraud
10/29/2025
Summary
What are the key policies TikTok Shop enforces regarding postage fraud for sellers and shipping providers?
- TikTok Shop strictly prohibits any postage fraud, including counterfeit postage, unpaid postage, fake tracking numbers, or tracking status, aligning with US federal law (Title 18 USC 501) which criminalizes such activities.
- Sellers and supported shipping providers engaging in postage fraud face removal from TikTok’s supported list and potential criminal/civil penalties under US law.
How must sellers use USPS for shipping on TikTok Shop, and what restrictions apply?
- Cross-border sellers must use official USPS shipping labels provided by TikTok Shipping; local sellers may choose USPS via TikTok Shipping or Seller Shipping options.
- USPS will refuse to process or deliver packages suspected of postage fraud, reinforcing the need to comply with TikTok’s shipping label requirements.
What actions does TikTok Shop take to prevent and respond to postage fraud?
- TikTok Shop collaborates closely with USPS to detect and combat postage fraud, removing any shipping providers suspected of fraudulent activity from its supported list and promptly notifying sellers.
- The platform is committed to maintaining a fair business environment and high-quality service by continuously cracking down on postage fraud to protect sellers and consumers.
What implications do these policies have for sellers using TikTok Shop?
- Sellers must ensure they use only official TikTok Shipping labels and trusted shipping providers to avoid shipment delays, package rejection, or legal consequences.
- Compliance safeguards sellers’ reputations and ensures a smooth consumer experience, reinforcing trust and platform integrity.
TikTok Shop has always adhered to compliance fulfillment, committed to continuously ensuring a good consumer experience and a fair business environment for sellers, and firmly opposing all types of postage fraud.
According to US federal law (Title 18 United States Code 501), it is unlawful for any person to use, sell, or deposit packages affixed with counterfeit postage or stamps in the U.S. mail. A person may be liable for criminal and/or civil penalties for engaging in this fraudulent criminal activity.
We hereby reiterate that sellers or supported shipping providers for Seller Shipping participating in any postage fraud activities (including without limitation use of counterfeit postage, unpaid postage, fake tracking numbers, or tracking status) are strictly prohibited.
Currently, if cross-border sellers wish to use USPS, they must ship using the official shipping label provided by TikTok Shipping. Local sellers can choose USPS via TikTok Shipping or Seller Shipping.
TikTok Shop is working closely with USPS to combat the above-mentioned postage fraud activities. If we or USPS detects any such fraud, in addition to the criminal and civil liabilities set out above, USPS will not process or deliver the packages.
In addition, if we have reasons to suspect that any of our supported shipping providers is engaged in such postage fraud, we will remove the provider from our list of supported shipping providers immediately and notify our sellers. We would like to thank sellers for their consistent understanding and support. TikTok Shop is always committed to providing continuous and high-quality service support to merchants, and resolutely cracking down on all types of postage fraud to safeguard the order of the platform.
According to US federal law (Title 18 United States Code 501), it is unlawful for any person to use, sell, or deposit packages affixed with counterfeit postage or stamps in the U.S. mail. A person may be liable for criminal and/or civil penalties for engaging in this fraudulent criminal activity.
We hereby reiterate that sellers or supported shipping providers for Seller Shipping participating in any postage fraud activities (including without limitation use of counterfeit postage, unpaid postage, fake tracking numbers, or tracking status) are strictly prohibited.
Currently, if cross-border sellers wish to use USPS, they must ship using the official shipping label provided by TikTok Shipping. Local sellers can choose USPS via TikTok Shipping or Seller Shipping.
TikTok Shop is working closely with USPS to combat the above-mentioned postage fraud activities. If we or USPS detects any such fraud, in addition to the criminal and civil liabilities set out above, USPS will not process or deliver the packages.
In addition, if we have reasons to suspect that any of our supported shipping providers is engaged in such postage fraud, we will remove the provider from our list of supported shipping providers immediately and notify our sellers. We would like to thank sellers for their consistent understanding and support. TikTok Shop is always committed to providing continuous and high-quality service support to merchants, and resolutely cracking down on all types of postage fraud to safeguard the order of the platform.