I am selling an item online and the buyer wants to send payment in the form of a cashier's check or money order. Wouldn't it be safer for me to only accept a certified check, so that I am not held responsible if it is fraudulent or nonpayable?
Regardless of the type of check you accept in payment, you will be responsible for it if the check proves to be fraudulent. Unless you have some third-party payment escrow service like PayPal, where you only receive payment in good funds, you should require the seller to wire transfer the funds to you, or you should agree to ship the item only after you've had an opportunity for the check to be paid, and a chance to verify the payment.
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Regardless of the type of check you accept in payment, you will be responsible for it if the check proves to be fraudulent. Unless you have some third-party payment escrow service like PayPal, where you only receive payment in good funds, you should require the seller to wire transfer the funds to you, or you should agree to ship the item only after you've had an opportunity for the check to be paid, and a chance to verify the payment.
