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What to do if…
you receive notice that goods, property, or a parcel have been seized or held for verification

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy USA guide

Short answer

Do not pay, provide sensitive information, or use links or contact details in the notice until you have independently verified the sender. Save the complete notice, identify any stated deadline, and contact the named agency or carrier through an official website or an account you already use.

Do not do these things

  • Do not click an unexpected link, scan a QR code, or open an attachment from the notice.
  • Do not send money, passwords, payment details, or identity documents through an unverified contact route.
  • Do not ignore a stated claim, petition, or response deadline while checking whether the notice is genuine.
  • Do not discard or alter the notice, envelope, tracking records, receipts, photographs, or related messages.
  • Do not sign an abandonment, waiver, petition, claim, or settlement form before you understand what it does.
  • Do not provide information you know is inaccurate or guess when you do not know an answer.
  • Do not assume that official-looking language, logos, caller ID, or a tracking number prove that the notice is genuine.

What to do now

  1. Save the complete notice. Keep its envelope if it arrived by mail, take screenshots of electronic messages, and record when and how you received it.

  2. Note the named sender, seizure or reference number, description of the goods or property, stated reason for the hold, current location, and every deadline shown. Treat these details as unverified until you confirm them independently.

  3. Find the sender’s contact information yourself. Use the agency’s official government website, the carrier’s official website or app, or contact details from an account or earlier document you already trust. Do not rely only on a link, QR code, phone number, or email address in the notice.

  4. Ask the verified office to confirm whether the notice and reference number are genuine, which goods or property are affected, what type of hold or seizure applies, and the exact response deadline. Ask how to obtain another copy of the notice if anything is missing or unclear.

  5. If the notice concerns a parcel, check its tracking number directly on the carrier’s official website or app. If U.S. Customs and Border Protection is named, use an official CBP contact route rather than contacting the message sender.

  6. Gather records showing your connection to the goods or property, such as receipts, order confirmations, tracking history, proof of payment, ownership documents, shipping declarations, and messages with the seller or sender. Keep the originals and provide copies only through a verified route.

  7. If the notice is genuine, identify whether it describes a verification hold, detention, administrative forfeiture, civil court case, or criminal forfeiture. These processes can have different response options and deadlines, so follow the instructions in the verified notice rather than using a form found elsewhere.

  8. Seek legal help promptly if the notice mentions forfeiture, a court case, prohibited or counterfeit goods, a criminal investigation, abandonment, or a deadline you may not be able to meet. Consider getting legal advice before signing forms or giving a detailed account that could affect your position.

  9. If the verified agency or carrier says the notice is fraudulent, stop communicating with the sender. Preserve the message and report it through an appropriate official scam-reporting service.

What can wait

You do not need to decide immediately whether to abandon the property, file a petition, make a claim, challenge the seizure, replace the goods, contact an insurer, or argue with the seller. First verify the notice, identify the process, preserve your records, and record the deadline.

Important reassurance

A notice that goods or property have been held or seized does not by itself establish criminal responsibility or mean that the property has already been permanently forfeited. Genuine notices may provide a way to submit documents, file a petition or claim, or otherwise respond. The immediate priorities are verifying the sender, protecting your information, and avoiding a missed deadline.

Scope note

This guide covers immediate first steps only. Choosing between a petition, claim, court response, abandonment, or another procedure may require help from a lawyer familiar with the issuing authority and the type of property involved.

Important note

This is general information, not legal advice. Procedures, rights, risks, and deadlines depend on the issuing authority, the applicable law, the notice, and the circumstances. A qualified attorney can advise you about your specific situation.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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