Counterfeit USPS Money Orders
A new counterfeit scam has surfaced at several credit unions and banks. The member is being contacted by the scammer via the Internet. Members are being asked to help negotiate United States Postal Service (USPS) money orders. The scammer says that he cannot get to the United States to negotiate them. The member (victim) is told that if they help cash the money orders for this unfortunate person, they can keep a percentage of the item or a flat fee. The remaining funds are to be wire transferred to the scammer outside of the United States. Frequently there are five or six items to be cashed, with each item being $1,000 or less. The counterfeit money orders are very good.
Details that distinguish a valid USPS money order:
- A Ben Franklin watermark on the left side.
- A silver thread running from top to bottom on the left side.
- The USPS shield on the right side.
- A value of no more than $1,000.
For more security features go to the USPS Website:
http://www.usps.com/missingmoneyorders/security.htm
If you have become a victim of this type of fraud, please forward all of the information including:
- Email correspondence
- How you were contacted
- The postal money orders, to your local office of the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS). You can find a listing of local USPIS office at: http://www.usps.com/ncsc/locators/find-is.html
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