Method and system for detecting duplicate printing of indicia in a metering system

A mail processing system capable of detecting possible duplicate printing of postal indicia, comprising:

• a printer;
• a processor in electronic communication with said printer;
• and
• a memory, said memory storing one or more routines executable by said processor and stored pixel count data, said stored pixel count data including one or more stored pixel counts, each of said stored pixel counts representing a number of pixels that were printed in a defined zone of a prior postal indicium previously printed by said printer, said one or more routines including instructions for:
• receiving image data for printing a current postal indicium;
• determining from said image data a number of pixels that will be printed in the defined zone of said current postal indicium;
• obtaining from said memory said stored pixel count data;
• determining whether said number of pixels equals any one of said stored pixel counts;
• initiating one or more fraud prevention actions if it is determined that said number of pixels equals any one of said stored pixel counts;
• and
• causing said printer to print said current postal indicium based upon said image data if it is determined that said number of pixels does not equal any one of said stored pixel counts.