419ers Discover Postal Money Orders
from the counterfeiting dept
The traditional Nigerian "advance fee" 419 scam has been adapting over the past few years as more people have become aware of the basic scam. In the last few years, a popular variation on the traditional 419 scam was to buy something on eBay, send a fake check for too much money and then get the seller to send back both the item and the excess cash. Since the check would "clear" within five days, the person would believe it was valid. It was only a few weeks later when the checks were officially declared counterfeit that the scammed person realized what had happened. It appears that more people have figured out this scam as well, so the 419 scammers are now moving on to postal money orders -- which had been considered very difficult to counterfeit. However, it appears that a bunch of scammers have figured it out, because apparently postal money order scams are one of the fastest growing scams going around these days. Either way, it makes you wonder what anyone is doing sending any money to a stranger overseas.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
Overseas
That's a very un-Mike-like comment, Mike! Perhaps they're buying stuff?! And what's so special about "overseas"? Is there any greater a chance of improprietary for overseas interactions than there is for same-country or even same-city transactions?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Overseas
-Yes. Its a bit easier to pursue legal action against those with whom you share a legal system.
I know of a local business owner who have had to blacklist an entire nation (Indonesia, I think it was) of customers because he had no recourse against the large amounts of fraud he was suffering from there.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Overseas
true, most fraud comes from other countries. Not the US but
99% of victims are in the US.
Fraud comes from Viet Nam, Korea, Nigeria, Etc. Learn
your facts, that is a fact!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Overseas
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Overseas
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Avoiding this problem...
For overseas orders, I prefer PayPal, which, although it has some issues, insures that you really have the cash. Western Union is also possible and widely available. Finally, I've used 2checkout.com's merchant account services, which has lower fees that PayPal. Of course, as soon as they figure out how to counterfit credit/debit cards, those methods will also be risky.
In most cases it pays to "know your customer" and most of the international transactions I do are with people that are part of a wider community I participate in. Ebay is the hardest here. In general, I just don't send items overseas anymore. It's too much of a pain and the risks are too high. And scams are coming from everywhere, not just third world countries. I recently had someone contact me from the Netherlands and I thought it was a scam. Since I know quite a few people there, I offer to send someone to pickup cash. Never heard back from them....
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Some of it is just straightforward
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Scam
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Scam
We must continue to spead this kind on infomation to help stop these scams. Thanks
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Scam
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Scam
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Scam
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Scam
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Scam
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Scam
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Scam
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Scam
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Scam
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Scam
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Scam
dating sights by karen morris on Jun 24th, 2006 @ 8:13pm
single females beware! don't fall prey to prince charming-types on dating sites who reel you in so far that you think you're the luckiest girl in the world. they converse all the time with you for a week or 2, pretending to be visiting a foreign country, then find themselves in unfortunate circumstances in which they need to send you a money order that they cannot cash where they are. they need to do this so they can have the money wired back to them by you, so they can come back to the states to meet you, the woman of his dreams. they may claim to have no friends or relatives who can help or be trusted and that you are their only hope. please be careful and suspicious of everyone online, the pictures they send you can be of anyone, and their personal dating profile can be only imagined.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Re: Scam
dating sights by karen morris on Jun 24th, 2006 @ 8:13pm
single females beware! don't fall prey to prince charming-types on dating sites who reel you in so far that you think you're the luckiest girl in the world. they converse all the time with you for a week or 2, pretending to be visiting a foreign country, then find themselves in unfortunate circumstances in which they need to send you a money order that they cannot cash where they are. they need to do this so they can have the money wired back to them by you, so they can come back to the states to meet you, the woman of his dreams. they may claim to have no friends or relatives who can help or be trusted and that you are their only hope. please be careful and suspicious of everyone online, the pictures they send you can be of anyone, and their personal dating profile can be only imagined.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Scam BY JAMES F.
SO SHE SENT ME 4MONEY ORDERS FOR $850 EACH
NOT KNOWING I CASHED THEM AND SENT THE MONEY BACK WESTERN UNION.AND YESTERDAY
SHE SENT 10 MORE FOR $850 EACH THOSE I DID NOT CASH .SO NOW I HAVE TO PAY MY BANK BACK $3400 DOLLARS.WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH THE 10 MONEY ORDER. YOU CAN EMAIL ME AT
J1071DGN1@YAHOO.COM IM PUTTING HER NAME ON HERE TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW WHO SHE IS OR WHAT NAME SHE/HE IS USEING
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Scam BY JAMES F. ON 11/10/2006
SO SHE SENT ME 4MONEY ORDERS FOR $850 EACH
NOT KNOWING I CASHED THEM AND SENT THE MONEY BACK WESTERN UNION.AND YESTERDAY
SHE SENT 10 MORE FOR $850 EACH THOSE I DID NOT CASH .SO NOW I HAVE TO PAY MY BANK BACK $3400 DOLLARS.WHAT SHOULD I DO WITH THE 10 MONEY ORDER. YOU CAN EMAIL ME AT
J1071DGN1@YAHOO.COM IM PUTTING HER NAME ON HERE TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW WHO SHE IS OR WHAT NAME SHE/HE IS USEING
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Scam
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Scam
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Scam
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Scam
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Scam
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Scam
I told this scam jerk he was scamming me that I was not e-mailing anymore.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Scam
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Scam
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Scam
i was to send take $500 and send the rest of the money to a man in ill heath needing surgery. once i told the sender i recieved the check he wanted me to go that day to transfer the money to the sick man needing surgery. once i recieved these money orders the man began gettin "worse and worse"
im sure now that the checks are faulty. lucky for me i dont have enough money to cover the $2300 balance in my account so i couldnt use money of my own out to send off.
this is one case where it pays off to be broke because i was worried about this sick man. i went threw my own sickness not too long ago and required surgery. i havent talked to the bank investigator yet. luckily i didnt get the money and spend it so wont have to pay anything back! like i said: good thing i was too broke to get the check cashed on the spot. im really grateful for this site. lets keep it up!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Scam
\
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
We need to educate others so we can defend against
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Fake money orders
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Fake money orders
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Fake money orders
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Fake money orders
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Fake money orders
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
hi
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
weird stuff
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
2 $950 walmart cashiers checks
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
dating sights
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
I got scammed!!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: I got scammed!!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: I got scammed!!
Is there any advice for victims of these types of scams. I can't afford to pay the bank back! $3800. Should the bank be partly to blame if they cash it on the spot?]"
I've been there too, I'm still paying my bank off after almost a year. I haven't found any legal recourse yet, but maybe you can help me help you. Maybe we all can create a single international counterfeit money order group and get some justice somewhere. Knowledge is power! Learn from other's mistakes so they can learn from yours. Let the world know how big of a problem this is. Track these cons down and put em behind bars. If you want to share your experiences or ANYONE here for that matter,
I can be contacted at "justinluttrell2003@yahoo.com". I'd love to hear your stories and learn what you did in response.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
scamms all most
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: scamms all most
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: scamms all most
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: scamms all most
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
i need to know if i will get trouble for cash them
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
More Wal-mart money orders
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Yes, I was ALMOST scammed
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Scammed by money orders does any know if it can be
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
By the way, the way I found out was even more strange. I was sent a first edition book of Cold Mountain by someone in PA who I don't know via UPS. I called the number on the box and he told me that *I* sent him a MO for $850 for this book. The MO was signed by me, and the SAME LETTER I got from the friend who owed money, was apparently written by me to this guy who sent me a book!!
Thats when I knew this was all bogus and found this site.
Please send me an email or something telling me who I should contact. I don't want my bank to think I'm trying to steal money, but I also don't want to be out $850.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
what now???
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
concernin moneyorders from someone in nigeria
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
chicks and money
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
More info reguarding OCt 15 Statment!!!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: More info reguarding OCt 15 Statment!!!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
fraud
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Money order Scam
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
MoneyGram Scam
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: MoneyGram Scam
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
fake shipping agent?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
more info
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: more info
getting to this site is most helpful but one does not think to look for a site etc. in the beginning people need a heads up and get this stuff stopped the ones i had unknowing dealt with were said to be in Canada no recourse there either thanks for sharing
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: more info
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
indenty theft
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Money Order Scams
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Money Order Scams
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Money Order Scams
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Received 5 postal money orders for $850.00 each
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Received 5 postal money orders for $850.00 each
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
ONLINE MONEY ORDER SCAMS
Since then I have "applied" to several of these online job scams and received money orders now totalling about 10000 dollars. They are mostly Western Union money orders, and I have found out that since they were delivered via DHL and UPS, that there is not much that can be done to find the people that have sent these. I have asked about followingup on te names andaddress in Nigeria and South Africa that were given to me to send the money to, but I have not heard back about this idea. It seems that neither country feels that they have an obligation to stop this fraud, so they dont seem to want to have someone available to meet the person picking up the "money" and arresting them.
I do email the senders back stating that I have "discovered" that the money orders are fakes and reprimand them and of course I never hear from them again, but I was wishing for something more to do.
At least the money orders in my possession and they cannot be used again, though I guess that they can always make more. Isnt there someting more that can be done to put a stop to this? I hve heard too may stories of people actually sending the money to these people. I guess as long as there is one person willing to send the money, then the scams will remain in place.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
I got these too
but i called up the money order company nad found these numbers were already encashed.
Here is the info on money gram if some one else needs,
http://www.moneygram.com/MGICorp/ConsumerProducts/MoneyOrders/MGICORP_27APR2007115657#MO8
Be aware never again encash
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
It AMAZES me that this scam is still working!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Amex phoney check
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Amex check scam...
Called my bank to see how to verify the Amex check could be verified as legit, when I mentioned Nigeria the bank representative gave out a loud gasp.....she said it's the biggest money scam on the NET. So I'm very dubious it is the real deal.
Joe
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Collecting them all
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
I Suspect I Am About To Be a Victim
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: I Suspect I Am About To Be a Victim
Have them create a new account. On your computer block e-mails from her in your e-mail box.That what I did with this jerk. I was warn about this being a scam but this person was telling me that he is not scaming me. I was so comfuse to what to beleive. The person who scam me or the person who was warning me. The money order check are fake.Have your bank check this out. You will have to pay the bank back. Becuse the bank pay this woman. I know. I have not spend any of mind from this jerk.He sent the internalnail money order in the mail from where is staying in Lodon. Any one can order checks on the internet and make up this vogus check to fool any one who is the bank teller or a person. Well I have a feeling the check is a fake. Since I have not use any of it It will be takeing out of the account. If it real and it bounce then I have to pay my credit union.I am sorry you are being scam The international money order check might be fake. So get your account change and report to your law authority and stop e-mailing this person and block her e-mails. Drop her. So far 77 suspect has been arrested on check fraulds
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: I Suspect I Am About To Be a Victim
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
money gram
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
can any one help please!!!!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Dating sites
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
I just dont get it
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Money order
please reply me ASAP
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Money order
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Cashier's Check Scam Beware!!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
international money orders
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Money Order Scam
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
kareen morris
[ link to this | view in chronology ]