Mail Security Awareness

Yale Mail Service (Campus Mail) provides the Yale community with reliable and professional services for the receipt and processing of U.S. and inter-office mail. The employees of Campus Mail take this responsibility very seriously and are doing their best to move the University's mail safely and securely.

In light of the most recent news involving possible terrorist attacks using the biological agent Anthrax, we would like to bring a heightened awareness to all areas of the University community. Campus Mail customers who may have suspicions about any mail that they receive are urged to contact Campus Police immediately at 2-4400.

The United States Postal Service has heightened security measures at all of its locations. As a result, all mailpieces being sent from the University must bear a valid University department address for identification purposes. Mailpieces that do not have proper identification could be returned. Campus Mail Service will continue to pick-up outgoing mail that already has postage applied to the mailpiece such as letters and packages.

Campus Mail wants to take this time to remind everyone to take recent events seriously, but not to change the way you do things which could create further worry. We do suggest sharing the USPS and FBI guidelines for handling suspicious mail. Link to their web site:

http//www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/notices/not71.pdf

Nevertheless, you should be on the lookout for unusual mail. Insure that the mail area in your building/department is secure and its use is limited to authorized persons only.   Departments should check mail for the following, and take the precautions indicated:

If you should receive a package or envelope that seems questionable, please call Campus Police immediately. Also, if you open an envelope or package that contains an unexpected powder-like substances, leave it where you found it and ask someone to call campus police immediately.

Wash your hands with soap and water. If your department feels more comfortable handling mail with vinyl gloves, contact our mail service at george.page@yale.edu   or   lynne.beauchemin@yale.edu

Notify your immediate supervisor and Yale University police. Postal Inspectors and/or the FBI may be called by the Yale University Police to assist in the assessment of the threat situation.

Other suspicious mail:

1. Restrictive markings ("Personal")

2. Postmark city different from return address

3. Fictitious, unfamiliar or no return address

4. Excessive postage

5. Address to title only (Vice President)

6. Wrong title with name

7. Badly typed or written addresses

8. Misspelled words

9. Rigid or bulky

10. Protruding wires

11. Strange odor

12. Oily stains on wrapping or lopsided package

If you are suspicious of a mailing and are unable to verify the contents with the addressee or sender:

1. Do not open

2. Treat it as suspect

3.  Isolate it

4. Call the University Police

For more information about what to do if you suspect you have received a suspicious package through the mail, please visit:

http://www.usps.gov/news/2001/press/pr01_1010tips.htm