Safety of USPS Money Orders?

[sjvlad]

So I posted an item for sale on Craigslist.com and had a person respond that they would like to buy it from me, using a postal money order as payment..... I've heard a lot of stories of people getting scammed, and wanted to know if this was a safe form of payment if I took it to a post office and cashed upon arrival.

Thanks for your time and help

 

[Yzzim]

USPS Money order is the ONLY type of money order I will accept.

All bank money orders are different, and by looking at one I have no idea if it's legit or not. With USPS money orders I know what they look like and they are harder to duplicate.

 

[bmacd]

I work with Western Union money orders everyday and they are a very safe method of payment. The offer tracking and check stoppage for a small fee.

-=bmacd=-

 

[acemcmac]

I like sending postal orders, that way if someone commits fraud, there will be a first rate asswhooping.

OTOH, I don't see how you can get scammed through one... if you go to cash it, they either take it or they don't. There are no bank accounts or anything. I'd go for it.

 

[DeadByDawn]

Take it to a post office and cash it, if they cash it, then mail out package.

 

[sjvlad]

Great, thank you all for the information. Just wrote him back saying to send the money order, and I'll cash it at a post office before shipping the item.

 

[MrBond]

Originally posted by: DeadByDawn
Take it to a post office and cash it, if they cash it, then mail out package.

Yeah, the post office will be able to tell if you have a legitimate one or not. I have heard stories of fake postal money orders before.

You're not shipping overseas, are you? Shipping overseas+money order = asking to be scammed.

 

[QurazyQuisp]

Yeah, there are fake postal money orders, my uncle got some for a car he was in the process of selling. Bring them to the post office, they'll tell you if they're legit.

 

[FrustratedUser]

MO is safe since they have to 'buy' it with cash.