OT: Is there a way to tell if a Money Order

jackstraw

is fake? We are trying to sell our house and somebody mailed us a MO for 28,000.
We never signed anything or entered into an agreement of any type. He has not seen the house or
sent anyone in to look at it . I am almost sure its a scam but .......

cwazzy

Money Orders are rarely made for more than $1,000 because of the risk they pose to the bank. Are you sure it's not a Cashier's Check? If you PM me a scan of the check I can check it out when I get to work (I'm a banker) and tell you if the routing number matches the bank. I can also try to get you a number for the bank so you can call and try to verify it with them.

Edited to say that it's more than likely a scam so don't go spending the money.

jeffcbay

It is a scam. I knew someone who received what appeared to be a cashier's check. He took it to the bank, and they told him it was legit. So he created a separate savings account and deposited it in there. Almost two months later the FBI contacted him! Not the bank, but the FBI! Luckily he never spent the money, and kept all of the bank records. Between the FBI and the bank it was worked out, and the money was taken back.

If you have any doubts, talk to your bank about it.

CarsonPalmer

Definetly a scam. I work at a store that sells money orders and the limit is 500 so anything over 500 is broken into multiple money orders. Nobody has a limit that high.

jackstraw

I am sorry its a cashiers check. Thanks I will take it to my bank and see. I was hoping
that there was a quick way to find out.

Garabaldi

If it is a cachiers check, I would call the bank in which it is drawn on and ask them. They will be able to verify the check number and the amount.

stevek

Never heard of this scam from somebody trying to sell a house, but obviously it is a scam...when the money order bounces I guess he gets access to your bank info in some way and he takes the scam from there...identity theft or whatever.

SidePocket

Where was it mailed from?

diamondman

deposit the check wait for the money , withdraw it in cash and run and since he hasn't signed anything send him an 8 X 10 photo and tell him this is what he gets for 28,000. It's not like he can carry the house off in his pocket.