BEWARE - Bogus Postal Money Orders >>>UPDATE: BUSTED!<<<
K6AZ
Posts: 9,295 ✭
I was just down at the post office. One tip I was given years ago is to cash the postal money orders fist, then ship the item. Well, this tip finally paid off today. I had a web purchase that totalled $720. The clerk informed me that this MO was on their hot list, in other words it was one that was stolen blank. This scammer did a good job of imprinting it, sure looked real to me. The scammer's shipping address was a private mail box in Jersey City NJ.
I didn't think there was such a problem with stolen postal money orders, but the postmaster gave me this URL, and it is surprising how many MOs are on the hot list. Don't assume a MO is as good as cash, bookmark this URL and always check it out, and be sure to refresh it. The postmaster told me that this list can be updated as many as 20 times a week.
Stolen Money Order List
I didn't think there was such a problem with stolen postal money orders, but the postmaster gave me this URL, and it is surprising how many MOs are on the hot list. Don't assume a MO is as good as cash, bookmark this URL and always check it out, and be sure to refresh it. The postmaster told me that this list can be updated as many as 20 times a week.
Stolen Money Order List
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Bob
PS: I didn't know you cashed them in at the post office? I never thought of doing that, as I usually just deposit them in my bank. Great idea!
Vietnam Vet 1968-1969
<< <i>Good info, K6AZ! It's bookmarked on my PC for future reference. Thanks for posting.
Bob
PS: I didn't know you cashed them in at the post office? I never thought of doing that, as I usually just deposit them in my bank. Great idea! >>
Not only can you cash US postal MOs at the post office, but also any of the Candian postal money orders.
Great tip! I knew the PO kept a list, as I have seen the clerks check it. i didn't know it was on-line!
Herb
Stuart
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Dave
was put on hold for a hole week.it suck bad.first for 5 days than for two more days.thay said there been a lot of bad post office money order.
littlejohn
Keep up the good work!
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Tyler
<< <i>Eric - So have you responded to the seller that sent you the stolen MO? You should send him a 20 cent worn buffalo nickel and thank him for his purchase. Act like the money he sent you was for the nickel and see if he gets indignant. If he does, let him know a worn buffalo nickel is worth more than the stolen MO that he sent you.
Tyler >>
They told me not to contact this guy in any way. From the sounds of it, I think they were planning on paying him a visit at his mail box location.
Did the Postal Circus mention that they have no intention of investigating the stolen MO unless it excedes X amount and that under no circumstances will they reimburse you if you lose in the transaction?
<< <i>Just curious, was it from an eBay buyer? >>
No, this was through a web site order. Since this was one out of a block of 400 stolen blanks, it wouldn't surprise me if he has been using them on eBay as well.
Knowledge is the enemy of fear
<< <i>Thanx for the site link, Eric.
Did the Postal Circus mention that they have no intention of investigating the stolen MO unless it excedes X amount and that under no circumstances will they reimburse you if you lose in the transaction? >>
That didn't apply in this case. I always check the MOs first, so the coins came back with me.
Thats it - from now on I'm only accepting cash
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RJ
Fantastic info!! Thanks!
The lesson is, call the issuer of the instrument to verify its good. BTW you can do the same thing with a personal check, you can call and ask the bank if the check will clear. Of course it might not clear by the time it goes through the system, but if its a local check you can beat it down their and have them cash it or issue you a cashiers check if its made out to your business name.
K S
I wouldn't think a bank would give THAT much cash back from a check unless the check was one of those "good funds" kind or you had at least that much in your balance.
So one bank ended up with the good check while several others did not. One bank called to verify its validity and were told their check was good, it so happened they had the good check. However at about the same time his crew was hitting their branches with bogus checks and the tellers were more than willing to deposit half the check and give them 3 grand in return.
I don't understand. So, please tell me if this is correct: The first check deposited was the valid check. Then others in the crew deposited the bad checks at branches belonging to the same bank that the first check was deposited. Then there must have been something in the computer that said that the first check deposited was verified and deemed valid. Since the tellers at the other branches saw in the computer system that a check issued from the same bank was verified to be valid, that they just assumed the others were valid. Right?
Most banks will not give cash back on a deposit unless you have a matching amount in your account. Also, I can't believe that a bank allowed a split deposit on a business deposit. Crazy.
I also assume that they went through the drive thru to avoid the cameras.........
Scum-buckets!
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K6AZ, is there any way that you can follow this case to learn of the outcome? I think that they have no option other than to stake out the private mail box and wait for the crook to appear. My guess is that the crook will call each day to see if he/she has any mail. If so, he will run in to get the package and then split. The USPS should send him a bogus parcel so that he will need to go in to the private mail box to retrieve the package and then..........WHAM! 10-15 in a federal penitentiary. I hope that they catch the responsible party.
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Did they ask you to confirm that the Item was sent so the guy will go to the mailbox and check it?
That would be sweet justice to see the look on his face when/if they slap the cuffs on him when he reaches in the box.
<< <i>So one bank ended up with the good check while several others did not. One bank called to verify its validity and were told their check was good, it so happened they had the good check. However at about the same time his crew was hitting their branches with bogus checks and the tellers were more than willing to deposit half the check and give them 3 grand in return.
I don't understand. So, please tell me if this is correct: The first check deposited was the valid check. Then others in the crew deposited the bad checks at branches belonging to the same bank that the first check was deposited. Then there must have been something in the computer that said that the first check deposited was verified and deemed valid. Since the tellers at the other branches saw in the computer system that a check issued from the same bank was verified to be valid, that they just assumed the others were valid. Right?
Most banks will not give cash back on a deposit unless you have a matching amount in your account. Also, I can't believe that a bank allowed a split deposit on a business deposit. Crazy.
I also assume that they went through the drive thru to avoid the cameras.........
Scum-buckets! >>
That is correct, a good check was deposited at Bank A and the rest of the crew did split deposists at 3 of their branches with doctored forgeries. Back in the 80's deposits and withdrawals did not show up on a bank computer screen and many banks worked off paper, i.e. computer print outs. Not only did they pull this off at this bank but every other bank in our area took the same hits. They had set up a half dozen business accounts in the previous us month and transacted legitimate business with these bank accounts. I don't think many if any banks even do certified checks any more. They issue official bank checks aka as cashiers checks. After this incident we quit issuing them.
He will probly have someone else look for him cuz if he called and they were waitin for him they would just say yes. Here the mailbox doors are blacked out so you can't see inside. Apparently folks were lookin thru the glass doors and if they saw anything that looked like it contained a check they smashed the glass door and pilfered the contents.
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