How to tell the difference between genuine USPS postal money orders and fake ones

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ThePowersThatBe

Registered: 23.02.11

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Posts: 105
Posted: 07.11.2011, 16:30

In the event that a scammer sends you a United States Postal Money Order:

Why Postal Money Orders?
Americans trust the U.S. Postal Service and the security provided by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Consumers often believe, incorrectly, that postal money orders and cashier's checks are "good" if they're cashed by a bank and are not subject to recourse. This is not true.

Where the Counterfeits Come From
Most counterfeits originate overseas. They're produced by an off-set printing process, which creates a document with an authentic appearance. However, fraudsters can't replicate the security features of genuine postal money orders.

Security features of a genuine postal money order
Similar to U.S. currency, postal money orders are designed with colored inks, watermarks, and security threads. The two most prominent security features can be viewed by holding the money order in front of a light source.

A watermark of Benjamin Franklin, the oldest and one of the most famous signers of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, is visible on both the front and reverse side of the money order when held to the light. Fake money order do not have this mark or just a crude outline.

A dark security thread running (top to bottom) to the right of the Franklin watermark, with the tiny letters "USPS" facing backward and forward. Fake ones just may have a printed bar.

Other Warning Signs
Color: green, yellow, and blue colors feature on domestic postal money orders while international postal money orders have pink, yellow, and gold colors on them.

Smudges and Alterations: If it looks like the numbers have been changed on the postal money order’s unique number or on the dollar amount, the money order may be counterfeit.

Amount: The amount of the money order can also help identify a counterfeit money order. Domestic U.S. postal money orders are limited to 1,000 dollars per money order while international money orders are limited to 700 dollars per money order. Any amounts over these have no cash value.

Warning instructions are printed on the reverse of postal money orders.

Counterfiet Cashier Checks
Look for: Very small letters (less than 0.010 of an inch tall) that can be easily read through a magnifying glass, by which appear to the unaided eye to be dashed or solid lines. It can be found on the signature line on the check appears as a solid line. When magnified, it reads "Authentic Document", or the line that makes up the warning box border and the payee endorsement line on the back of the check.

If the check is copied or scanned, the line becomes jagged and the letters appear blurred or just a dotted line.

High Resolution Border
Fine linework is too intricate to reproduce by copier or scanner. When copied, detailed lines blend together and spaces fill.

You can also call the bank on which the draft was drawn. Do not call the phone number on the check, google the bank's phone number.

Report counterfeit check to: alert@fdic.gov

edited by: ThePowersThatBe, datetimebrief