This a a repeat question: but is their a way to verify if a money order is good online ? (( Also I was scammed on ebay: I got an authentic money order for $700 I deposited it in my bank, three months later the USPS collections department sent me a letter saying I own $710 plus daily interest. The money order was replace before they sent it to me. The ebay user was shut down on ebay before I could do anything.. Plus I left him postive feedback after the m/o initally cleared my Bank account. I was really scammed, I lost the item worth $700 plus I had to pay the USPS $710 for the money order I deposited. Where is my protection from that scam ????
I called the 866 telephone number for the PMO check. It said no information on a $200 MO I got yesterday in the mail. Does that mean it's good or bad ? Or I find out when I deposit it. The USPS Really needs a better Customer friendly system to trace these MO's. Just type in a MO # online or something !!!!!!
As previously noted, take any money order directly to your local post office and they can assist you; as few minutes of time (and inconvenience) may be well worth it!
The local PO has no updated info they have to call the 866 telephome number, the CS reps angents if you can get one on the phone after the bad automated line always say cash it your ok unless it was replaed. They are lazy and do not want to do any additional info searches. (( AS the techno we have these days we shold be able to verify a m/o on line system to see if it is valid. (( You can only get a agent on the phone M-F 8am-5pm )) the automated line only says no ifmo on that money order which means it is most likely good I was told from an agent !!!!!
I have money orders made out to a bank that does not exist any more: They are from me in my name. My banks would cash becasue the are to a banks that does not exist and the m/'s are 15 y/o..... The local po does not carry that much money. I have 10 m/o's for $700 EACH. whats my best option ??????? Local po never has more than $200 or $300 max - and caqnnot cash. My bank wound cash because they are made out to an unknown bank !! What do I do ?????
I have thge same problem, I go in to the bank and they the usps have no funds to cash the $1000 m/o. I have to go bach numerous times to get the funds.
USPS Does need a easy latmens trens web site to check validity of m/o'S
IMO, Counterfeit USPS Money Orders are pretty easy to detect. We haven't lost money for some time now and our staff knows pretty well what to look for. If your bank cannot help you, your local Post Office or Postal Inspection Service office should be able to.
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"Droplets of Yes and No in an ocean of Maybe."--Faith No More
I have 5) USPS PMO that are in the amount of $700 each. Found them in my mother-in-laws estate. They are 14 years old, from 1990. The USPS said they were good. I fille dthem out and put my bank account #. My bank said no way, they don't take anything over 6 months old. MY local USPO never have $700 for each pmo one at a time,no cash their ever, I have been waiting weeks, and other branchs don't have that much cash at the PO.. What do I do with $3500 in MO's. I only want to cash one at a time.
John Burnett
Compliance is my life
Registered: 10/27/00
Posts: 12636
Tell your bank to look at the U.S. Postal Service's Domestic Mail manual, or contact the local post office to verify that postal money orders don't go stale. Here's a quote: 14.3.1 Validity and Value Domestic money orders are paid regardless of the time passed since their issue. Money orders are not interest-bearing instruments; they are paid only in the exact amount imprinted up to the authorized maximum amount. USPS records serve as the basis for adjudicating claims for payment of money orders. A link to the USPS Manual.
Great very site with lots of very important info here. A few Years ago I found 8 USPS M/O's in an envelope on the street. No amout was on the Potal MO's but they did have a serial number and were authentic. I tore them up and discarded them in the trash. My questions is would have the USPS give me a reward or what other actions should I have done ?
I would like to add a positive comment about the staff manning the phones at the Postal Inspectors office. We recently had a new customer present 12 money orders that we felt were questionable. I was unable to find the numbers on the list of issued MO on the website, so left a message for a live operator to call me back to discuss. I got a call back the next day from a very courteous and cooperative person who advised me that the MO's in question were fraudulent. We could have been out over $12k, but the very helpful (and not lazy) Postal Inspection Service staffperson on the phone saved the day.
I called the USPS 866 tel #, in regards to a Posatal MO. They said it was good never cashed. The MO was ripped, so I filed a trace, the USPS acct office mailed me back and said it was cashed, but since the MO was 3 y/o they had no record. They said the USPS destroys PMO's after 3 years? Does this sound right?
I received an email this morning in response to an online ad I have to sell my mom's accordion (craigslist.org). The sender had previously asked for additional info on this item, which I replied to in detail. He wants to purchase this and will arrange for the shipment. Now I am suspicious! Accordions take great care to pack and ship! He also stated "pay with online usps money order", so I really am suspicious now which led to my internet search and found this forum! Undoubtedly, I will NOT allow anyone to pick up the item, nor will I send any monies to him. I want to do everything possible to ensure this is legit. If it isn't, what can I do during this "play sale" to help report the man as thoroughly as possible to the authorties? By the way, it doesn't appear that the USPS even has ONLINE money orders, correct?
Quote: I received an email this morning in response to an online ad I have to sell my mom's accordion (craigslist.org). The sender had previously asked for additional info on this item, which I replied to in detail. He wants to purchase this and will arrange for the shipment. Now I am suspicious! Accordions take great care to pack and ship! He also stated "pay with online usps money order", so I really am suspicious now which led to my internet search and found this forum! Undoubtedly, I will NOT allow anyone to pick up the item, nor will I send any monies to him. I want to do everything possible to ensure this is legit. If it isn't, what can I do during this "play sale" to help report the man as thoroughly as possible to the authorties? By the way, it doesn't appear that the USPS even has ONLINE money orders, correct?
This is a very popular scam, don't go for it!
I used to get them very frequently in response to online advertising.. So much that I stopped advertising at that site. It usually came from someone claiming to be from out of the country, attached to a generic E-Mail such as yahoo. When I'd ask to what airport they wanted their purchase shipped, they'd respond that they'd handle shipping. How could they handle the shipping? They never even asked where I was located.
The form I got was that they'd send an inflated check drawn on a U.S. Bank (Say, $5,000 for a $3,100 purchase) and ask me to wire the balance to them.
The check they send may very well clear at first, but it is stolen or fraudulant, and by the time your bank figures that out it will be too late.
Not a lot that I know of that you can do to try to pinch them either.
Be careful! If it seems a little shady, it probably is!
Hi im retarded. I got 3g's worth of these counterfeit money orders. I deposited it and sent the cash to freakin africa. As I was depositing them the banker told me the money orders werent scanning so i asked to make sure "are they good?" and he said [censored] accept it and it would be clear that night. I figured that meant it was real but no. Im sure bankers should have an idea these scams have been going around. Is there anything i can do? Have you heard of anyone getting their money back somehow? i hate africa
If your bank hadn't already done so, take the money orders and any documentation (letter, email ect.) sent with them to your local law enforcement. You may not get your money back, but you have given law enforcement more evidence which may help slow down scams like this one.
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The posts I make are those of my opinion or research and not the opinion or advise of my employer.
Actually, skip local law enforcement and go straight to the post office. They can get them directly to the US Postal Inpection Service agents in the area and make the proper report. Local can't do anything about these scams and contacting them is a waste of everyone's time, including your own.
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"Droplets of Yes and No in an ocean of Maybe."--Faith No More
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