Why Is It Necessary To Verify A Money Order?
When you check the money order, you ensure that the funds in the money order are genuine. Is this, however, absolutely necessary? Money orders, after all, are similar to prepaid paper checks in that the buyer must pay the money order issuer in advance with cash or another guaranteed means of payment, plus a small fee.
Money order receivers, on the other hand, are often the victims of money order scams. They might think to themselves, “where can I buy a money order near me safely?” In several of these scams, a fraudster sends the victim a bogus money order—often a counterfeit or tampered with a money order.
Money order verification will help you stop money order scams and the harm they cause. There are many methods for ensuring the authenticity of a money order and avoiding money order fraud. The question you should be asking yourself is not, “Where can I buy a money order near me safely?”, it should be, “What should I be on the lookout for while buying to avoid getting scammed?”
Keep An Eye Out For Behaviors That Might Indicate A Money Order Scam.
There’s probably a legitimate reason why you’re concerned about getting a money order. Trust your instincts and think twice before sending money (especially by wire transfer or using a Western Union transfer).
Think about why you got the money order and how the conversation went. You might think to yourself, “Where can I buy a money order near me without having to keep an eye out for fraud?” To locate suspicious senders and stop a money order scam, look for the following signs:
Serious Buyer
Does this buyer seem to be a serious buyer who is well-informed about what they’re buying if you’re selling something? The sender of a money order scam may appear eager to give you money.
Accepting No Other Mode Of Payment
Have you asked for various forms of payment and been given a (flimsy) list of reasons why a money order is the only option? You should be aware that fraudsters may also defraud you using common electronic payment methods.
Overpayment
Did anyone give you more money than you requested (and they expect you to return the difference via wire or Western Union)? It’s most likely a money order scam.
Urgency
It’s not uncommon for anyone to want their merchandise as soon as possible. However, if you feel compelled to submit anything even if you’re not sure the payment is legitimate, it may be a money order scam.
How To Protect Yourself?
There are, fortunately, ways to avoid being duped by all of these tricks.
Buyers Who Aren’t Identified
Accepting payments from people you know and trust is the best choice. However, if you want to work with new clients or sell online, you can have to take a chance. Red flags and behavioral cues, which are mentioned above, will help you control the risk.
Always Verify Your Funds Before Taking Action
Before depositing a money order, verify its validity by calling the phone number or visiting the website mentioned on the paper. This isn’t an ideal solution, but it will eliminate the majority of fake money orders.
Keep An Eye Out For Apparent Forgery Signs.
The United States Postal Service maintains a website highlighting the anti-counterfeiting capabilities of its money orders. Watermarks and heat-sensitive inlays are used by Western Union and MoneyGram to protect their money orders, but you won’t find examples online. Take a money order to a store that sells money orders and ask an employee to check it if you’re wary of (or just unfamiliar with) the design features.
Look For Signs Of Tampering.
Since crooks often tamper with legal money orders, changing the sum they’re made out for (so a $10 order becomes a $1,000 order, for example), you should also check the “amount” line for signs of tampering. Do not make a deposit if you think something is wrong.
Do Not Send The Money If The Buyer Acts Needlessly Urgent
As mentioned in behaviors for scams above, money order thieves are always in a rush, so if someone is pressuring you to deposit and pass money order funds, something is wrong.
When You Get A Money Order, Sit Tight.
Wait until the entire balance of a money order deposit has cleared before spending any of it. Never write checks on a deposit, and never issue refunds until the deposit has been checked.
Keep Track Of All Money Orders.
Keep a copy of any money orders you deposit and any money order receipts you deliver. Sharing this knowledge with law enforcement if you’ve been a victim of a money order scam can be extremely beneficial.
Final Words
Thus, before sending money, or wondering, “Where can I buy a money order near me?” speak with someone you know and trust about the situation. Getting feedback or a different point of view will help you assess the risk. You’ll have a better idea of what you’re getting into if you plan to proceed with the payment because you want to help.
