Be wary of suspicious packages and letters
They can contain explosives, chemical or biological agents. If you receive a package or letter that you suspect may be a terrorist threat.
- Do not handle or move the suspicious mail
- Avoid tracking any spilled materials
- Call 911
- UMaine Police Department officials will respond to assess the situation and determine what further action is required
- Do not pull the fire alarm
- Leave the room and close the door or section off the area to prevent others from entering
- Wash your hands with soap and water to prevent spreading any powder to your face
Some typical characteristics postal inspectors have detected over the years, which should trigger suspicion, include parcels that
- Are unexpected or from someone unfamiliar to you
- Are marked with restrictive endorsements such as “Personal,” “Confidential,” or “Do not X-ray”
- Show a city or state in the postmark that doesn’t match the return address
- Are marked with threatening language
- Have excessive postage or packaging material, such as masking tape and string
- Are addressed to someone no longer with your organization or are otherwise outdated
- Are not addressed to a specific person
- Have no return address or a return address that can’t be verified as legitimate
- Have protruding wires or aluminum foil, strange odors or stains
- Are of unusual weight given their size or are lopsided or oddly shaped
- Have inappropriate or unusual labeling
- Have misspellings of common words
- Have incorrect titles or titles without a name
- Have handwritten or poorly typed addresses
