Mar 29, 2020 How to Verify a MoneyGram Money Order MoneyGram money orders include a watermark that is visible when the money order is held at an angle or held up to the light. Its watermark looks like a repeated “X” shape, similar to a chain-link fence, and crosses the entire surface of the money order. Take your USPS money order receipt to a post office and file an inquiry. There is a $5.95 fee for this service. If the money order has been cashed, you will be provided with a copy of the back of the money order showing who endorsed/cashed it.

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Jun 30, 2020 USPS introduces online money order status tool. Postal Service customers can check the status of their money orders through a new interface on usps.com. The feature allows customers to see a near-real-time status of money orders they purchase at Post Offices, including if an order has been cashed. A genuine postal money order contains a repeating watermark of Benjamin Franklin that passes through an open oval area located on the left-hand side of the order. It also includes a security thread with the capital letters 'USPS' running both forward and backward that becomes visible when the money order is held up to a light. If you paid a scammer with a money order, contact the company that issued the money order right away to see if you can stop payment. Also, try to stop delivery of the money order: if you sent it by U.S. Mail, contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 877-876-2455. Otherwise, contact whatever delivery service you used as soon as possible.

Note of 20100125 :
We could do a Note a Day, with all the frauds and scams we receive in our emails.
Here is one from today :

How many English errors can you count in that email above ?
Or this one, below.

Note of 20100122 : rita_spencer72@sify.com has all the markings of a scam email.
Look carefully at this letter ...
You will see it has many English errors easily seen in emails from ill-learned non-English users.

The Heading :
From: rita_spencer@mcKenna.com : this might be a real and valid email address being misused by the scammer. From addresses can be faked to look real.
Subject: Hello
Date: January 22, 2010 9:05:19 AM PST
To: undisclosed-recipients:;
Reply-To: rita_spencer72@sify.com
Hello
I am Rita Spencer esq., a solicitor at law.
the personal attorney /sole executor to the WILL of my late client ?
I have a message for you please return my mail for details.
Your Respond should be sent to my Private email:rita_spencer72@sify.com
GodBless You and Your Family.
Rita Spencer
rita_spencer72@sify.com

NOTE : If an attorney or other legal entity wants to contact you, they will mail you.
NOTE : If a barrister, lawyer, soliciter, etc., wants to contact you,
they will do so through the post, the legal mails, requiring proof of delivery.
NOTE : Do NOT FALL for these types of scams .. even if the From address looks real.
The FROM ADDRESS can be faked to look like it is from us, or anyone.

Note of 20091017
We have been informed by another reader of our site that they just received fake money orders.
Here are the details so you can know not to fall for this scam from a fellow name of Faisal Gill
He is also using the name of John Collins in Lumberton, North Carolina.
First, the letter from Nicole, a person who is currently unemployed, and yet the money orders were from her 'employer.'
Here, read her letter to us :

Dear Good Works On Earth,
I just want to take a moment and thank you for all of the information you provide about fraudulent money scams and your unfortunate involvement. I recently received by mail three postal money orders that look very legitimate apart from the fact that there is no ben franklin watermark visible from both sides, also I have called the post office and checked the serial numbers in their system and they show no record. I find this to be a very cruel scam. I lost my job on September first and am struggling to pay my bills and find work. I have thirty dollars to my name and will soon be on the street. Then I get this envelope in the mail with three money orders for $975.00 each. I didn't know what to think or do. Things like this never happen to me!! I thought it must be too good to be true, and so far, it seems that is the case indeed.
The only other thing in the envelope was the following note:

'GOOD DAY TO YOU,
I HAVE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO SEND YOU THIS PAYMENT AS I WAS TOLD YOU WORK AS THEIR COMPANIES REPRESENTATIVE, PLEASE CONFIRM TO ME VIA EMAIL UPON RECEIPT OF THIS PAYMENT AND DO COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR EMPLOYER THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED FOR FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS TO BE GIVEN TO YOU,
PLEASE COMMUNICATE WITH ME VIA EMAIL AT fiasalgill@yahoo.com .
Regards,
Faisal Gill'

I have provided this to you exactly as it reads, case sensitive.
Not only is the note quite odd to me, as I am not employed that I am aware of,
but the name of the signer on the money orders is different.

John Collins
3591 Lackey Street
Lumberton NC 28360

I am not sure what to think, but I am naturally suspicious.
I have looked up information on both names but did not find much, certainly not by way of incrimination at any rate. I have emailed the contact referenced in the note to say that he did not specify the company he was instructed to do this by and to please provide that information ASAP. This all took place yesterday morning and I have not heard back from him yet. I plan on speaking to a live person at the post office momentarily as they are now open.
I just wanted to thank you because your correspondence has given me things to look for to hopefully help identify the scammer.
Thank you again, and if you can offer any assistance by way of additional information it is greatly appreciated.
God Bless,
Nicole H

We have heard from Nicole and she has proven the money orders are fake. Had she deposited them, she would have been asked to send part of the money to Mr. Collins.
Do not fall for these scams.
TAKE YOUR MONEY ORDERS TO THE POST OFFICE.
They know if the money orders are real or not.
And the fake money orders look very real.

Active Scam Email received at Good Works On Earth on 20070713 :
This information is for you from Campbell Law Firm and I implore you to give it priority attention!
I wish to seek your cooperation and guidance for a possible investment representative following
an opportunity in my law firm that will be of immense benefit to you. I represent my sick client who
is presently indisposed and not able to handle some businesses due to his health problem as he
is currently here in London on a sick bed suffering from leukemia. Contact me in person with your
resume information and to discuss the modalities of this brief. Thanking you for your kind attention
in anticipation of your response ASAP. Respectfully submitted, Alexander Marshall QC,
Campbell Law Firm, 320 Bethnal Green Road Bethnal Green, London E2 0AH.
Tel: +44 (0) 701 112 8147. URL: http://www.campbell-law.co.uk
From : alexmarshall@campbell-law.co.uk
Reply to : alexomarshall1@hotmail.com
The above email is a scam. We post this so you can see what one criminal scam looks like from the very beginning.
The below information will show you a US Money Order Postal Scam in great detail, so you can see what it looks like.

Good Works On Earth has been hit with a Postal Money Order Fraud and Scam as of April 15th, 2005.
The United States Postal Service issued a Money Order Scam alert on March 31, 2005, and we have been hit by the scammers.
If someone sends you money orders that you don't know ... be aware : Postal Money Orders are being counterfited.

: HERE IS THE ANSWER TO PROTECTING YOURSELF :
'Before going to your bank to deposit the money order, first go to the post office counter
and verify the money order is legitimate

How To Verify A Postal Money Order Is Real