Each year, hundreds of thousands of children write letters to Santa Claus, but did you know that sometimes Santa responds? Operation Santa, a program run by the Postal Service, allows children to mail a letter to a special Santa address. Then volunteers — including postal employees, customers,...
Read MoreWhat We Do
The OIG Hotline receives information from Postal Service employees, customers, and the general public. It is an important avenue for reporting fraud, waste, and misconduct. We review the information received to identify systemic and criminal issues and potential areas for postal-wide reviews. We are primarily responsible for receiving and evaluating concerns and complaints, and determining which OIG area would best conduct any appropriate inquiry or investigation.
To expedite your request, we want to make sure you reach the correct agency or department to help you. Often, requests and questions we receive do not fall within the jurisdiction of the Office of the Inspector General, so you may be directed to the U.S. Postal Service or the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, depending on which can best address your request. Find the right place to go by looking at our list of links that can point you in the right direction based on what you’re looking for.
Additional information can also be found on the Hotline Helpful Links page.
Please read the below carefully before filling out our Hotline form. We want to ensure you are reporting your concern or inquiry to the right office, so it is handled in a timely manner.
What to expect after you file a Hotline complaint:
- Unless you are contacted directly by one of our investigators, there will be no communication from our office, outside of the confirmation that the Hotline received your complaint, and which may advise you that your matter has been referred to another entity for appropriate action, where and if applicable.
- Federal regulations prohibit the disclosure of information contained in investigative and law enforcement records, even to the individual submitting the allegation(s).
- Our office will NOT provide anyone, including the source of the complaint, with the status of action(s) taken on any allegation. This includes details pertaining to the processing of your complaint. The information you provide will be handled according to our internal policies and guidelines, and appropriate action will be taken, as determined.
- Once a file is closed, typically 30 -- 60 days after filing, results may be requested under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).”
What the USPS OIG Hotline CANNOT assist you with
- Daily mail delivery and tracking problems: Please contact your local post office, your local Postal Service Consumer Affairs office or you may file a complaint online.
- Post Office customer service issues and concerns: Please contact your local post office, your local Postal Service Consumer Affairs office or you may file a complaint online.
- Day-to-day management decisions.
- EEO Complaints (for Postal Service employees only): For more information click here.
- Issues that are handled by the grievance process
- Issues handled by other government agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Department of Labor (DOL), Justice Department (DOJ), Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
- Employee benefits and compensation (for Postal Service employees only): For more information click here
For help on these or other issues, please click here.
What to Report to Us
The Hotline will take complaints regarding fraud, waste, and misconduct within the Postal Service. To report mail fraud schemes, vandalism and mail theft by a customer please contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
What the USPS OIG Hotline CAN assist you with
- Injury compensation fraud
- Embezzlements and financial crimes
- Contract Fraud
- Kickbacks
- Computer Crimes
- Narcotics
- Employee Misconduct
- Internal affairs and executive investigations
- Whistleblower reprisal
- Theft of items from the mail by Postal employees or contractors
- Destruction of mail by Postal employees or contractors
How to File a Complaint
The preferred method for filing a complaint with our office is to use our online complaint form.
You can also send us your complaint by mail to:
ATTN: HOTLINE
USPS OIG
1735 North Lynn Street
Arlington, VA 22209-2020