Pakistan’s cybercrime agency has arrested Faheem Akram over an alleged counterfeit postage operation that cost the US Postal Service more than $126 million.
Officers detained the 33-year-old Khanewal resident in Lahore on Tuesday, October 20. The alleged losses equal approximately £94 million.
The arrest followed a search involving raids across several parts of Pakistan, National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency official Atif Ameer said. A federal grand jury in Florida indicted Akram last month over his alleged operation of LabelsBank.com.
How the alleged postage scheme worked
US prosecutors say the website sold counterfeit shipping labels, typically for $2 each, regardless of a package’s weight, size or destination.
According to Pakistani investigators, Akram allegedly operated the website from August 2023 until September 2026. The platform lacked authorisation to sell USPS products or services.
Investigators found that more than 5,200 customers purchased over 5.1 million counterfeit shipping labels through the website. Prosecutors allege the labels allowed customers to send packages at prices substantially below legitimate postal charges.
They say USPS consequently lost revenue and incurred shipping costs. The $126 million figure represents alleged postal-service losses, rather than the website’s sales proceeds.
US authorities secured a court order to seize the domain and shut down the website alongside the indictment.
“Our reach goes beyond our borders,” said Bladismir Rojo, inspector in charge of the US Postal Inspection Service’s Miami Division.
Pakistani investigators trace bank accounts
Earlier this month, the US Postal Inspection Service announced a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to Akram’s arrest.
Pakistan’s investigation also examined accounts allegedly used to receive and move money linked to the operation.
Investigators identified 16 bank accounts, according to reporting by The News. Seven belonged to Akram, five to his brother and two to his wife. His sister and maternal aunt held one account each.
The report said eight teams investigated the case across Punjab, Islamabad and Sindh. Officers conducted 35 raids and questioned 47 people during the search.
They also examined call records, mobile-device tracking reports and footage from 120 cameras. Pakistani authorities registered a case and continued their investigation after the arrest.
Charges carry potential prison terms
The US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida announced the indictment on September 28.
Akram faces one conspiracy count covering defrauding the United States and making and selling counterfeit postage stamps. Prosecutors also brought five counts of making and selling counterfeit postage stamp labels and four wire fraud counts.
If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison on the conspiracy and counterfeit postage counts. Each wire fraud count carries a maximum 20-year prison term.
The USPIS Miami Division is investigating the US case. Akram remains presumed innocent unless prosecutors prove the allegations in court.
It remained unclear whether Pakistan would extradite him to the United States or prosecute him locally, according to Associated Press.
