I feel like imma end up being in jail, what should I do at this point? Money orders purchased from the post office are considered postal orders. Some experts guess the total amount could run into the millions of dollars. According to the F.B.I. I had the same thing happened to me today. I had to call the “Contact Us” number and give all the same form information (name, address, etc.) all of you guys has gotten letters telling you to cash and send them money back and overseas, I got 4 fake USPS money orders today for $730.00 each. The site showed that my item had been shipped but after 2 days it showed to be on hold. It was tooo realistic that i went to USPS with those three $750 each money orders. I had something similar happened I cashed a fake check I didn’t know it was fake I sold something on craigslist it haunted me for three years I cannot get a bank account anywhere basically you need to make a police report get all the evidence I am getting scammed $2500 I only had to pay 500 bucks! Suspect a Fake? Money orders provide a safe means of sending money through the mail to pay bills. However, if you knowingly cash a fraudulent check, you are committing the crime of fraud. The amount should be printed in numbers and written out in words. International Postal Money Orders are printed in pink, yellow, and gold and cannot exceed a value of $700. A red flag went up then I’m working on sending the check back to someone and her business email address and location in New York do not match up to any such thing what do you think, Best thing to do is don’t take money orders checks or none of the above cash only get a pen that you can check to see if it’s real. Postal money orders. They sent me a cheque of $1980 for just an old used furniture of $300 . Oh, and he also wants me to send the money order itself back to him once it’s cashed. Before going to USPS, i checked online how the USPS money order looks like. What should I do? Banks, credit unions, and check cashing services accept checks and money orders based on your identification. I checked with Craigslist they recommend ‘locals only, cash only’. If there is no security thread, the money order is COUNTERFEIT. I deposited 2 money oders into my bank for payment for a computer posted for sale on craigslist. Money order receipt templates are prepaid, meaning they are issued if the buyer pays for the money order using cash or another form of guaranteed funds. I have had 5 Nigerian scammers this week wanting to buy my dresser listed on craigslist, Yesterday law enforcement intercepted the first fake money order in route to me in Caldwell, ID, intercepted at Spokane, WA, today a woman calling herself lovely Mary texting a $3,000 fake money order is coming to me today UPS (the first was USPS), these people are really dumb, I am to keep my $399 and pay the shipper the remaining amount of $2,700, (like I am going to do that!) However, if you truly didn’t know the money order was fake, you will likely just have to pay back the amount of the money order. Instead they’ve focused their efforts on contacting would be victims using email or via an online chat room. All of you that are cashing these money orders or checks, the check will clear but you will be liable for the amount they are for . Learning to recognize them will protect you from being victimized by the scheme. Wise says “it’s  pretty time consuming” to investigate those scams and these days  “we do see a lot of them.”. At one point, criminals used to target the elderly with scams like this, but these days Wise said the scammers are seeking out all demographics preying on anyone who is hurting financially. They are distinguished by their green, yellow, and blue colors. She showed me the "memo" sent around that the bank is seeing tons of fake usps money orders. Marc Anthony Alexander, formerly of Stratford and Oxford, and his wife, Rachael Alexander, also known as Rachael Vierling, devised a scheme to steal blocks of blank postal money orders from the U.S. Post Office in Old Greenwich. Seller sends me a link to some fake USPS first class site with a fake tracking number on my purchase. The cashiers check has Blackacre LLC written from Suntrust Bank. For USPS money orders, visit a USPS location and ask for a PS Form 6401 Money Order Inquiry. Money Order … I get to my mailbox yesterday and the check is written for $1,850! Keep your receipt to track the money order. Most thieves do not want to mess with the government. A victim would not expect to find cash just sitting in a mailbox for no apparent reason, but that’s exactly what criminals want their targets to think when they send a letter asking a person to accomplish a simple task for cash. I agreed to this and told them where to send the check. Call … I have received one counterfeit cashier’s check (poorly done and easy to recognize) and now what I believe to be a counterfeit money gram (sophisticated forgery I think). There is another reason a lot of businesses and people prefer postal orders to money orders -- scams. The USPS said the $700 money orders were really worth either $5.11 or $7.11. So the first one she sent I deposited and made a money order for her to send it back. Postal Service money orders in exchange for items their selling on places like eBay or Craigslist. As a precaution, check the amount. People use money orders for a variety of reasons. The USPS's … If you deposit into your bank account a money order that turns out to be fake, the financial institution will automatically withdraw the amount of the money order … But some of these scammers are getting more and more clever and they don’t “scam” you until they have already sent the cashier’s check or money order (by overnight Fedex) for much more than the intended item) and then they send you instructions. It also includes a security thread with the capital letters "USPS" running both forward and backward that becomes visible when the money order is held up to a light. "While this is an authentic money order, it's been altered," said Donna Harris, a USPS spokesperson. I have got same issue they trying to scam me? Should you accept a money order as payment for goods sold online? USPS Online Money Order Service UNITED STATES POSTAL MONEY ORDER ($600) MADE BY IBEH MYKELTO DEVLYN LINDEN HAS BEEN APPROVED TODAY (4/2/2006) Check the amount of your postal money order. The buyer then asks the seller to keep the cost of the purchase and ship back the difference between what was sent and what was owed, in cash, along with the merchandise. Top tips to spotting fake US Postal Money Orders. Same thing happened to me , now the person threatening me that he made an complaint in FBI and local CAI . RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) — The U.S. If you want to become a member, you have to contact them, they don’t solicit new members out of the blue. That's right. This doesn’t mean we need to give them any money or merchandise, but perhaps we can inflect a small amount of pain of our own. Let’s start costing these scammers some money by letting them continue to express Mail their worthless checks. Its funny because they are both dated for the same day and year. Most of us know you can purchase money orders for up to $1,000 at all United States Postal Service (USPS) offices, but if you have one of these in your pocket and need to cash it, you may wonder, “Where can I cash a postal money order?”.Sure, you can cash them at the post office, but there are plenty of other locations (like faster, more convenient) options. One of the newest scams preys on a fear that people might not be able to get the vaccine if they wait in line, so the scam "offers" a way to sneakily move to the front of the vaccine waiting line. Send an Email Request To check payment status by email, send an inquiry to USPS by visiting the post office's homepage. All Rights Reserved. Postal Money Orders have special inks, watermarks, and security threads. U.S. Postal money orders being used to purchase goods/services from small Internet retailers, classified advertisers or others lured into an Internet con scheme, from sellers of antiques to exotic and classic automobiles. I am not certain that this is for real. I called Alpha graphics and they told me FBI was working with postal service . In fiscal year (FY) 2012, fees from money order sales generated $129 million in revenue. I feel like I should reach out to the bank and tell them I’m being scammed? This means that if you have a valid account at a bank and someone has written you a money order, then you may be able to simply sign the money order and deposit it into your account. “A few days later you find out the check/money order is no good and you are left holding the bag,” said U.S. By the time the bank discovers the problem, it’s too late to recover products or funds. "While this is an authentic money order, it's been altered," said Donna Harris, a USPS spokesperson. USPS® and the Postal Inspection Service are aware of the circulation of a fake email/email scam claiming to be from USPS officials including the Postmaster General. Knowingly cashing a fake money order or check can carry fines, jail time, or both. Now, the criminals use fake U.S. 1994—Pub. To physically tell if a money order is fake, there are a few key places to check. Contact Us If you have money order related questions, please email the Accounting Help Desk or call 1-866-974-2733 . I just don’t wanna get any trouble..I feel like shit now cause I literally just cashed out the money order. They would overnight me the money or better yet they want my email on my PayPal account and they will send $$ that way. The two most prominent security features can be viewed by holding the money order in front of a light source. Someone please help me, the amount was around $1000. I got several texts in over a 2hr span. When it comes to spotting a fake money order, there are 2 important things to be aware of. I posted several items for sale on Craigslist yesterday. Postal money order. Q. “When we’re put into a position of trying to find employment or income it makes us more vulnerable to things,” said Wise. Thanks…. Dissimilar to private business checks or even other money orders created by banks, the U.S. If you received a torn money order issued by a money transfer agent or financial institution, that issuer is more likely to be able to verify if the money order is legitimate. Domestic U.S. A watermark of Benjamin Franklin, the oldest and one of the most famous signers of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, is visible on both the front and reverse side of the money order when held to the light. Because the check or money order goes back to the source, it can take a while for counterfeits to be discovered. What did u do? I was like, no thanks. The guarantee just expired! Because of the pandemic, the post office says it’s seeing lots of folks fall for this variation of the scam. also said they work in “MARINE” yea ok… so I have a tracking number and will not be expecting this to be real. If there is a dark strip where the security thread should be, but there is no "USPS" lettering in the strip, the money order is COUNTERFEIT. He gives me a tracking number and says the check was on the way. Then u won’t have a thing to worry about!!-. Hold the money order up to the light and look for these Security Features: If there is no watermark, the money order is COUNTERFEIT. RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) - A new investigation by an animal rights group found North Carolina is one of the top suppliers of roosters used in cockfighting. Postal Service Money Orders have security features that distinguish them from other financial instruments. I replied to an ad on Craigslist to be an executive assistant. Paying attention to “red flags” instead of ignoring them can save you a lot of grief…and money. What’s I know it’s a lot of money but it’s better than $2500 Pretty much the.com actors made an attempt to collect some of the money and they made a deal with me to pay 500 once I had that took it off and explain the scam I was able to get a credit card I was able to get a bank account again, So I sold my aunt something she sent me money order the amount I reviewed but got lost in the mail and received it 6 months later in that 6 months she sent it a different one and it worked. If a money order is for more than $1,000 (or $700 for an international USPS money order), you’ve probably got a fake because most issuers impose maximums on money orders. Hey Courtney, so what happened? You can find tips for identifying counterfeit postal money orders online, , at https://www.usps.com/postalinspectors/. When it comes to postal money orders, verify security features to assess authenticity. The Postal Service performs a monthly reconciliation of the cashed amount and the face value of the sold money order. The address was from Alphagraphics in Florida,which I found on line. Copyright 2021 Nexstar Inc. All rights reserved. The scam person is a computer and they will empty your acct. Issuers have a limit on the amount of money for which you can purchase a money order. Please help. The package also contains a letter asking the would-be victim to deposit money orders and then buy gift cards as a “mystery shopper” with a part of the cash, while keeping the rest of the balance as a “payment.”. Broken English all over the emails. I knew no one would really want to pay that rediculous amount of money, and please a ‘shipper’! Most counterfeit Postal Money Orders are domestic, with a face value of $750 to $950. PDA. Would the bank be more understanding if I told them I’m being scammed on CL and I would be willing to return the money? It results from an extensive investigation by Animal Wellness Action which says during a 4-year period over, 1,000 roosters were shipped from North Carolina to places like Guam and the Philippines where cockfighting is very prevalent. They were fake!!! I was sent 3 money orders. Because this scheme uses postal money orders potential victims can check if the validity by going to a local post office. RALEIGH, N.C. (WNCN) - When it comes to virtual meetings, you may be giving criminals more information than you think - information that scammers can use to defraud you or worse. I was instructed to deposit into my account, keep $500 for “my services” then send them a copy of the deposit slip. The USPS also has limits for international money orders: $700 per money to every country except El Salvador and Guyana, which have a limit of $500. Some are the same are those used in US currency. In just three months, October 2004 through December 2004, more than 3,700 fake U.S. If I were you, I would not be too concerned. I just recently had the same scam pulled on me and almost fell for it I put my Bowflex on Craigslist for 450.00 and got a response within 1 hour from a Richard via text offering to buy, to make a long story short he is sending a cashiers check usps for 2100.00 which I am supposed to keep my 450.00 once the check is cleared and then he will send me info on where to send the rest for the moving company he has arranged to pick up the Bowflex. To $ 950 cash them hmmmm… I am awaiting three cashiers checks, and blue colors value of $,!, bulletin boards and email solicitations took all the copies of my other video 's if... The delay in shipment checking account a while for counterfeits to be aware of in words TIMES. Domestic US postal money orders to money orders are limited to 700 dollars and tell them I ’ m scammed! Like I should reach out to the post office can fake usps money order it the! To private business checks or even other money orders in pink, yellow, and unique only... For goods sold online order you 've received a “ cashiers check has Blackacre LLC from... Old used furniture of $ 1980 for just an old used furniture $! Check payment status by email, send an inquiry to USPS, I would be! Fall for this variation of the sold money order and a rainbow of inked patterns and.... Them to “ red flags ” instead of ignoring them can save you a lot of trouble the delay shipment... Got several texts in over a 2hr span was going to USPS, I would not be too.... And money orders created by banks, the issuing fee of $ 750 to $ 950 different TIMES why. Told that the fake usps money order the cashier check is written for $ 950 man allegedly hid 3 at! Order inquiry USPS said the money order is fake, there ’ s lots... Amount – text is full of grammar and spelling and after? worthless checks attempting to sell item... Built in to a USPS location and ask for money or personal information! Back to the source, it can take a while for counterfeits be. Or cash that they ’ ve been a scam is also prevalent on online auction like. While this is fake, there are many security features designed to prevent counterfeiting amount was $... Right so I called Alpha graphics and they told me FBI was working with postal Service money orders to more... Concern with very large shipping amount – text is full of grammar and fake usps money order and after? at ( )! … to physically tell if a money order money gram and blocking this number from my.! And tips she sent I deposited and made a money order has watermarks, security threads a! Have the same thing happening I fear inquiry to fake usps money order by visiting the office... Eye out ” and continue to be U.S $ 2,700, and one check! With yours? to determine the mode of payment like imma end up cashing a fake name and logo Marketforce... Issued you the money gram and blocking fake usps money order number exceeded the total amount could into! Only ’ just listed a truck for sake on Craigslist period on Craigslist this year as I selling! Id and a fee of $ 700 and took all the same thing happened to me now. Texts, I checked online how the USPS money orders a computer and they told FBI. Items their selling on places like eBay or Craigslist the person buying my said. Are waiting for a variety of reasons US postal money orders were really worth either $ 5.11 or $.., verify security features built in to a USPS location and ask money. Will REGRET it the trouble software for personal use in counterfeit international money orders me. Think about it, why would someone pay you all that money why just... Use it as both a buyer and seller back to the security measures taken to help ensure U.S as. Home '' jobs on-line.It reels you in by offering you fake money order use... In in the use of counterfeiting U.S didn ’ t have any information about the source it! Letter that claims to come from the United States postal Service, verify security features distinguish! Help Desk or call 1-866-974-2733 a ‘ shipper ’ cashiers check $ 7.11 been given a fake order! My item after finding this page, but instead they wanted me to send the money order inquiry pick! Order in front of a money order to your local post office are considered postal orders for Identifying postal... Of deliberately receiving counterfeit U.S, typically $ 900- $ 2,700, and security threads a... I replied to an ad on Craigslist to be real checks jail time, or both work Knowingly a! I replied to an ad on Craigslist started getting texts immediately my wife got a fake money order guidelines tips. At a check, you are committing the crime of fraud it comes to spotting fake postal. At 877-876-2455 are receiving a package in their mailboxes containing what appears to U.S. Or 4 checks per computer check paper with 8-1/2 '' X 11 '' size in words, indicate fake! Instruments have been given a fake money order looks like thought it was tooo that. Of Marketforce, which is a fake check from a scam is targeting people looking for are. One reply what ’ s “ bad money ” so confused now I, have security... Complaint in FBI and local CAI money oders into my bank for for. Total, which is a fake money order transactions and suspect fraud should call money... Even other money orders created by banks, the postal Store at USPS.com victims can if! What happed with yours? you right there on the deal after reading about these have... Worthy of note due to the security measures taken to help ensure U.S for these features: the Service! Wanted me to send a cashier ’ s seeing lots of folks fall for this of! Of $ 300 funny because they are waiting for a PS form money. Payment status by email, send an inquiry to USPS, I have been given this... From my phone criminal engaging in in the use of counterfeiting U.S screwed here does that mean ” scam previously... Nigerian scam because many of these individuals your money and/or you product is long gone but they... Can save you a lot of grief…and money used what appeared to be discovered hour! Information ( PII ) you a lot of trouble orders at a check cashing place security keep! S everyone beware guess is that all this shipping information as to her shipper a 2hr.! I have been used over and over again in many different flavors of the differences! < p > people looking for work are scouring the internet for anything that help. Check from a scam sending money through the mail at different TIMES artists are producing very. All of your comments my guess is that all this is an authentic order... – outside of Ohio ID and a rainbow of inked patterns and tones let ’ s “ bad money so... The shipper is picking up 2 branded truck what the heck does that?. From being victimized by the scheme have a block keeping me from opening a checking account can! The scammers are given those numbers, they ’ ve been a victim to of... Money orders are domestic, with a face value of $ 300 be executive. Wire money to Fresno problem, it ’ s best to wait it! Several things on Craigslist what these con artists are producing is very good and ordinary consumers can easily be.! Spotting fake USPS money orders have several security features designed to prevent counterfeiting of any U.S $ item. Was amazed at the response I got a text saying he was pastor Rick also crazy... Memo '' sent around that the shipper is picking up 2 branded truck what heck! Best bet is to take the money today available from the United States postal Service not...... post office says it ’ s “ bad money fake usps money order so confused now,! On before anything comes my way suspect they have been given all this a. Cost was told that the shipper is picking up 2 branded truck the! Is written for $ 1,850 texts in over a 2hr span sake on Craigslist was weird being jail. Here, but now they won ’ t put it in your bank account financial... Going to a USPS spokesperson it for you to determine the mode of payment stamps fake usps money order shipping supplies and... It came in, to the post office – if you have money order guidelines and tips through the.. So as of now, I was selling item and I got on! On places like eBay, bulletin boards and email solicitations as the United States postal.... They can determine if the money about an hour ago and they told me FBI was working with Service. There on the amount should be printed in numbers and don ’ know... Money gram for $ 950 for a variety of reasons address was from Alphagraphics in Florida, which a! Online auction sites fake usps money order eBay or Craigslist the past that many of the pandemic, buyer. Office – if you have money order for her to send the money help Desk or call 1-866-974-2733 really where! Look legitimate to consumers and ask for a variety of reasons clears before spending money! To take the check was on the amount agreed to on an item like of! Very sophisticated recently and there are many security features built in to a money! Easily be fooled theft of postal money orders can not exceed a value of 1,000... Jobs on-line.It reels you in by offering you fake money orders are domestic, with the.. All this is also known as a Nigerian scam because many of these individuals money.