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The U.S. Postal Service confirmed Wednesday that a virus-bearing email that masquerades as a Postal Service email has been circulating in Hawaii since around March 22.
Opening the email, which claims to offer information on the Postal Service’s "Click-N-Ship" program, or clicking on links within it could install a computer virus that can steal personal data, said Brian Shaughnessy, a U.S. Postal Service inspector in Honolulu.
Shaughnessy said the emails contain a fake confirmation for an order of online shipping labels. The Postal Inspection Service is working to shut down the malicious program, he said.
Genuine Click-N-Ship emails, he said, will be sent from an official U.S. Postal Service address rather than a named person. They are sent immediately after a customer prints a label, and contain the destination name and address.
The Postal Service has received numerous complaints from Hawaii residents regarding the emails, Shaughnessy said.
"We are urging customers not to click on any of the links and to simply delete the message," he said.
Customers who wish to report spam emails or have questions can contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at spam@uspis.gov.