Fake Western Union Money Order

wayneherndon · January 23, 2007 11:42AM

I received a fake Western Union money order for an eBay coin transaction. The buyer has shut down that account and is probably operating under another account. The name used was Andrew Edwards in Phoenix, AZ. I'm sure that is a fake name but if they are still operating, there's a good chance it will still be in the greater Phoenix area. So, inspect your money order closely, especially if they are from AZ.

Thanks,

WH

AnkurJ · January 23, 2007 11:44AM

I got an email from ANA saying that many people in California have been sending people fake money orders. I would be careful or ask for a postal MO.....

Ankur

410a · January 23, 2007 11:48AM

With all the technology there is, there has to be a better way. Say, a company that clears this stuff electronically into your account. Then remains liable for the results, but doesn't cost too much. This seems to me could be reasonable, cost wise, to do.

Catch these guys........then leave the guy, take the canoli
Clemenza

Longacre · January 23, 2007 11:50AM

<< I got an email from ANA saying that many people in California have been sending people fake money orders. I would be careful or ask for a postal MO.....

Ankur >>

I got that, too. It's sad when you cannot even take these as payment without going over them with a fine toothed comb.

wayneherndon · January 23, 2007 12:36PM

Yes, I too received one of the ANA emails. I also received one of those money orders. That one seems to be targeting dealers with NN and CW ads. I wanted to post the one here that was targeting eBay sellers.

WH

BigE · January 23, 2007 1:17PM

------BigE

flaminio · January 23, 2007 1:19PM

Fake MOs, fake cashier's checks (other thread), fraudulent or rubber personal checks...

Tell me again folks why you don't like PayPal?

AnkurJ · January 23, 2007 1:43PM

And a better reason to have a credit card sellers account....frankly seems safer.

But....I do beleive that most people are good, and honest. The only other recourse is, if someone sends a check or even a MO, ask for a drivers license number on it.

Ankur

fishcooker · January 23, 2007 1:45PM

Where would I run a DL number to confirm it?

CarlWohlforth · January 23, 2007 1:50PM

Thanks for the heads up.

PrivateCoinCollector · January 23, 2007 2:04PM

<< I received a fake Western Union money order for an eBay coin transaction. The buyer has shut down that account and is probably operating under another account. The name used was Andrew Edwards in Phoenix, AZ. I'm sure that is a fake name but if they are still operating, there's a good chance it will still be in the greater Phoenix area. So, inspect your money order closely, especially if they are from AZ.

Thanks,

WH >>

Did you catch it before you shipped? I hope.

arlea1957 · January 23, 2007 2:08PM

<< I received a fake Western Union money order for an eBay coin transaction. The buyer has shut down that account and is probably operating under another account. The name used was Andrew Edwards in Phoenix, AZ. I'm sure that is a fake name but if they are still operating, there's a good chance it will still be in the greater Phoenix area. So, inspect your money order closely, especially if they are from AZ.

Thanks,

WH >>

Take it to the open forum

storm888 · January 23, 2007 2:11PM

"Tell me again folks why you don't like PayPal? "

////////////////////////////////////

boston · January 23, 2007 4:03PM

I just prefer using Pay Pal as the first choice.

I will have to sell some coins in the near future. The options will be PayPal or U.S. Postal money order, only.
My buying has always been that way, even with sellers that would accept a personal check. I figure that if
a buyer doesn't use PayPal, a postal money order is a safe way of payment, even if lost.

Buying money orders from a "Hole in the Wall", just isn't safe for either party. A USPS money order only cost $1.50,
and is trackable from the source to the casher. There is no reason a buyer can't send payment in the form of a USPS money order!

Bob

Outhaul · January 23, 2007 8:13PM

"Leave the gun, take the cannoli."

BAJJERFAN · January 23, 2007 9:42PM

Fake MOs, fake cashier's checks (other thread), fraudulent or rubber personal checks...

Tell me again folks why you don't like PayPal?

/////////////

Chargebacks. Excessive fees IMO for the amount of effort involved esp from an existing balance. The extra services that you HAVE to buy from the USPS to cover your own a$$. Before anyone gets on my case I'm just answering your question about what I don't like about PayPal. It doen't mean that I don't use it.

RBinTex · January 23, 2007 11:16PM

Sad, but the prudent thing might now to be to actually treat them like personal checks & call the company to verifiy that they have cleared.

flaminio · January 24, 2007 2:26AM

<< 

<< Fake MOs, fake cashier's checks (other thread), fraudulent or rubber personal checks...

Tell me again folks why you don't like PayPal? >>

Chargebacks. Excessive fees IMO for the amount of effort involved esp from an existing balance. The extra services that you HAVE to buy from the USPS to cover your own a$$. Before anyone gets on my case I'm just answering your question about what I don't like about PreyPal. It doen't mean that I don't use it. >>

Excellent. You sound like you understand very well.

My point is that once one makes the decision to go into business, one is exposed to all sorts of hazards when trying to collect payment. To single out one payment mechanism over another is shortsighted, IMHO.

GoldenEyeNumismatics · January 24, 2007 2:48AM

scary stuff. I wouldn't want to get burned. Thanks for the info

Russ · January 24, 2007 3:09AM

<< The options will be PayPal or U.S. Postal money order, only. >>

You do realize that there are thousands and thousands of stolen postal money order blanks floating around, right?

Russ, NCNE

PerryHall · January 24, 2007 3:14AM

<< 

<< The options will be PayPal or U.S. Postal money order, only. >>

You do realize that there are thousands and thousands of stolen postal money order blanks floating around, right?

Russ, NCNE >>

Can't you just cash it at the Post Office when you go to mail the buyer his coin? They check their computer to verify that it's legitimate.

tyler267 · January 24, 2007 3:18AM

I know on cashiers checks I have recieved there is a phone number you can call to verify that they are genuine, do money orders also have a way to verify they are genuine?

Russ · January 24, 2007 3:27AM

<< << The options will be PayPal or U.S. Postal money order, only. >>

You do realize that there are thousands and thousands of stolen postal money order blanks floating around, right?

Russ, NCNE >>

Can't you just cash it at the Post Office when you go to mail the buyer his coin? They check their computer to verify that it's legitimate. >>

You could, sort of. I ship first thing every morning and, since they have very little cash on-hand when I get there, that approach wouldn't work for me. So, I just check the list they publish on their web site before I deposit them.

Russ, NCNE

BAJJERFAN · January 24, 2007 5:18AM

PayPal's only saving grace is that they don't have any serious competition.

flaminio · January 24, 2007 5:43AM

<< PayPal's only saving grace is that they don't have any serious competition. >>

Google Checkout is looking better and better. It'd be seriously competitive to PayPal, if only one could use it on eBay. Obviously, this will never happen, but I am starting to see more and more private merchants take Google Checkout.

BobGreene · January 24, 2007 6:05AM

<< I got an email from ANA saying that many people in California have been sending people fake money orders. I would be careful or ask for a postal MO.....
Ankur >>

Actually, that email from the ANA (which was the result of efforts by forum member BooBooBillQueen) was about one particular scam artist in California, not "many people."

VTCoins · January 24, 2007 6:13AM

<< I know on cashiers checks I have recieved there is a phone number you can call to verify that they are genuine >>

Checks do have phone numbers ... but how do you know the phone number is real?

We had a fake cashier's check that had an 800 number on it. When we called the number, the woman said "Oh Mr. XXX is one of our best customers. These funds are good." It ended up that the phone number rang to his wife and the check was forged.

WillieBoyd2 · January 24, 2007 6:27AM

segoja · January 24, 2007 6:56AM

How many Paypal chargebacks have you really had???

I've done will over 1000 transactions with 0 (Zero) cahrgebacks.

Yes they charge 2.1%, but that's not the end of the world. In any case, you get your money damn fast.

Not sure there is a credit card service that charges less...if there is, let me know.

One bad MO or check and you pay about the same as paying paypal.

Frankcoins · January 24, 2007 6:52PM

You can print your own checks, with correct paper stock, using any account number or bank info you choose

http://www.checkprintingsoftware.com/

tyler267 · January 24, 2007 9:56PM

<< You can print your own checks, with correct paper stock, using any account number or bank info you choose

http://www.checkprintingsoftware.com/ >>

Your absolutely right, It's so simple. I've seen the software as cheap as 20 bucks, the blank check stock is all over the internet. I'm in the payroll service business, It happens frequently that our clients will have checks presented against their accounts that made in this manner. A problem I only think is going to get worse.

Edit: Sorry Frank I just looked at your link and saw the software is free. This is going to get to be a really big problem. Thanks for the link.

BAJJERFAN · January 24, 2007 10:12PM

<< PayPal's only saving grace is that they don't have any serious competition. >>

Google Checkout is looking better and better. It'd be seriously competitive to PayPal, if only one could use it on eBay. Obviously, this will never happen, but I am starting to see more and more private merchants take Google Checkout.

................

Actually I meant to say that it was a sving grace for them and not necessarily for me. Why not email your buyers to see if they will use it instead of PayPal. In fact you might consider offering them a discount to use it or if Google gives you a referral bonus give it to your buyer.

flaminio · January 25, 2007 3:18AM

<< Actually I meant to say that it was a sving grace for them and not necessarily for me. Why not email your buyers to see if they will use it instead of PayPal. In fact you might consider offering them a discount to use it or if Google gives you a referral bonus give it to your buyer.

>>

If a buyer asked me if they could use Google Checkout, I'd say sure go for it. But I'm not going to initiate that for an eBay purchase -- the possibility of a NARU is not worth the savings in fees.

But my stuff is pretty small beans. I wonder if the big sellers are doing this, given that Google Checkout is free for 2007?

Fake Western Union Money Order

Comments

Leave a Comment