Connecticut Attorney General's Office

Press Release

Attorney General Warns About Child Photos On Postage Stamps

January 26, 2009

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal today, prompted by parent concerns, issued a warning to consumers about placing their child's photo on U.S. postage stamps for use in daily mailing.

Blumenthal said a picture of a child on a postage stamp -- together with the return address on the envelope -- may serve as a road map for predators seeking to harm children or their families.

The U.S. Postal Service now offers to personalize stamps with a child's photo, or other personal photographs.

In a letter to Postmaster General John E. Potter, Blumenthal urged that he consult with criminal justice experts to examine whether photos of children on stamps -- and other personal photos -- increase the risk of crimes against children.

Blumenthal said, "The message to parents is: commons sense calls for caution. Some dangers may be unknown or unknowable. I applaud the postal service's creativity -- and its goal of raising revenue -- but it may be unwittingly raising risks to children as well.

"A child's picture on a postage stamp, coupled with the return address on the envelope, provides a tempting target and critical information to predators.

"Some personalized stamps could turn postage into predator roadmaps -- a vivid living color invitation -- particularly when used for everyday non-personal mailing such as bills and other routine business.

"At banks or offices where your mail arrives -- or even after it is discarded by recipients -- this photo and address may be easily accessible to someone capable of harm. Parents deserve warning of the risks possibly resulting from using stamps showing photos of their children."

More than 30 million PhotoStamps have reportedly been sold.