POSTAL MONEY ORDER SCAM
Postal Inspectors are warning about a new Internet scam. Overseas con artists posing as
military personnel or aid workers are contacting unsuspecting victims in internet chat
rooms or onlinr auction sites and asking them to help cash counterfeit postal money orders in exchange
for some of the money. Some unsuspecting victims have wired money overseas from their own accounts before trying
to cash the money orders, only to learn they are fraudulent.
Other variations of the scheme involve online romance and dating services as a ploy to perpetrate fraud schemes. Residents of the U.S. correspond with someone online whom they believe to be a romantic interest. The scam artist is usually out of the country, often in Nigeria. At some point in the relationship, the perpetrator asks the victim to cash or deposit money orders or cashiers checks, which are counterfeit. The scam artist may falsely claim that an overseas associate has customers in the U.S. and, because of the cost of international mailings, requests the victim in the U.S. to mail envelopes for him.
Once the money orders or checks are deposited into the victim's bank account and funds wired out, the victim is responsible for amounts of the funds wired. Some residents in the U.S. have lost thousands of dollars to international scam artists and may not realize they are in violation of federal criminal statutes, including mail fraud, wire fraud, counterfeit securities, conspiracy, and bank fraud.
Postal Service employees recommend taking the following steps:
Other variations of the scheme involve online romance and dating services as a ploy to perpetrate fraud schemes. Residents of the U.S. correspond with someone online whom they believe to be a romantic interest. The scam artist is usually out of the country, often in Nigeria. At some point in the relationship, the perpetrator asks the victim to cash or deposit money orders or cashiers checks, which are counterfeit. The scam artist may falsely claim that an overseas associate has customers in the U.S. and, because of the cost of international mailings, requests the victim in the U.S. to mail envelopes for him.
Once the money orders or checks are deposited into the victim's bank account and funds wired out, the victim is responsible for amounts of the funds wired. Some residents in the U.S. have lost thousands of dollars to international scam artists and may not realize they are in violation of federal criminal statutes, including mail fraud, wire fraud, counterfeit securities, conspiracy, and bank fraud.
Postal Service employees recommend taking the following steps:
- Closely examine Postal Money Orders received, especially those for high dollar amounts. Look for the following
security features:
- A WATERMARK of Benjamin Franklin is visible when held to the light.
- A "USPS" security THREAD is embedded in the paper.
- WARNING INSTRUCTIONS are listed on the reverse side.
- A crisp, textured paper stock
- RED INK on the serial numbers BLEEDS through to the back side of the paper.
- DENOMINATIONS are indicated on two locations on the Postal Money Order
- DISCOLORATION around the denomination amounts if they have been erased.
- DENOMINATIONS no larger than $1,000.00.
- Banks and other financial institutions should ask customer the circumstances surrounding receipt of the money order.
- If banks and financial institutions determine the money order to be counterfeit, they will submit it to the Postal Inspection
Service.
Click HERE for a complete list of scams and other fraudulent activity.
www.RoanokeFinancialCrimes.com
The Roanoke Valley Financial Crimes Task Force is a cooperative effort
of federal, state, county and local law enforcement agencies working together to address
the growing problem of financial crimes. The task force is run under the direction of the
United States Postal Inspection Service.