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According to lookstoogoodtobetrue.com, there’s any number of ways to get scammed by the proprietors of deception. Everyone has to beware of fraud and its many forms including pharmacy, identity, financial, auction, sweepstakes and lottery, and counterfeit payment.
The latest scam to hit American consumers involves counterfeit checks and money orders — including postal money orders — costing victims millions of dollars each month. The scam starts with what appears to be an innocent contact on an Internet chat room or by e-mail.
Con artists posing as students, tourists and overseas military personnel ask for help in cashing checks and money orders, or target people looking for love or companionship, in order to exploit their vulnerability. Online auctioneers are also at risk. Scammers buy goods or services on the Web and offer payment by check or money order — often in excess of the actual value of the goods or services.
In most cases, con artists ship the check or money order and ask the victim to cash it, keep a portion as a "gift," and wire back the rest, usually to an overseas address.
Bank customers are responsible for the checks they deposit and have to repay the bank for bad checks and money orders. Just because you can withdraw the money doesn't mean the check is good. Banks often release funds from a cashier's check or money order before it clears.
New Postal Money Orders
To fight these unscrupulous thieves, the U.S. Postal Service has changed the look of its domestic and international money orders, and added new security features including a watermark and a new security thread.
When the money order is held up to a light, repeating images of former Postmaster General Benjamin Franklin can be seen, making it easier for banks and Post Offices to detect counterfeits. A new holographic, multi-colored security thread also weaves in and out of the paper to stop scam artists attempting to produce fake money orders.
Domestic money orders are available at all Post Offices in amounts up to $1,000, at a cost of a little more than a dollar. International money orders valued at up to $700 are available to 30 countries for $3.85. A complete list of participating countries can be found at usps.com.
Although the new, redesigned postal money orders
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