this afternoon I took some checks and MO to the bank
normally they clear in 1 day.
the clerk told me it may take up to a week for the MO funds to be available.
when I asked why she said that they have been having problems with the Moneygram and a few others that are sold at supermarkets and chain stores.
They have had several "fakes"
So just thoungt I would give you all a heads up!

This is a very sad thing-it happens with Cashier Checks too! So everyone be on the lookout because they do look very real. Thanks for the reminder.
Hugs
April

It is a terrible problem now because of all the scammers out there! I can't tell you how many requests I get on behalf of the Prince of Nigeria or what have you when I have posted things for sale on a local Craigslist. I have stopped advertising any machines I am selling on CL for that reason and am only sticking to legit. lists. I recently had put a Pfaff on CL-it was my M-i-L's, Bless her heart, and I got this terribly written, spelled, and organized email about how they would "send a representative" to pick it up after I received a cashier's check... what a story. That is when the delete button comes in handy!

LOL, the Prince of Nigeria always wants my help too!!!!!!!! Plus, Ive won the British Lotto, alot, and I am still living on beans, lol!!!!!!

It is scary out there! I keep recieving emails about the various Lotteries I have won in foreign places. LOL I have never bought a Lottery ticket in my life! LOL Geesh, wonder how many get sucked into these scams? The Delete button is almost my best friend.LOL

That's why when I sell on Ebay I accept Paypal only

With the new computer printers people are able to duplicate checks, MO, and paper currency pretty accurately. We had a guy pay his co-pay with a fake $20.00 bill-even the bank was "impressed" with his work.

If I had won all the lotteries I get notices for and bought all the male enhancement products I get ads for, I'd be the richest person with the largest male member!! Don't you love some of the phrases they use in these scams????

Thats why I usually just get Postal MO's if they send a MO but nine times out of ten I deal with people here so I just tell them to write a check. I do not want to think there are crooks in our forums.....

Billy

I got a call this morning from my credit card company. It seems someone has been trying to charge large amounts on my card. Fortunately they declined the charges as they suspected fraud. There were almost $2000.00 in fraudulant charges. So they cancelled the card and are sending me a new one. Since I seldom use the card, I wonder how someone got the numbers!
The scammers are trying, thank goodness my card company is on top of things!!

You too? He must be getting desperate! It is hard to imagine people falling for that!!

Did you use it on your computer? you could have spyware and tracking cookies that got the information through there.

Never use IE and never trust windows firewall to protect you. Comodo is the best there is in the firewall department and Spyware Terminator is the best at the malware when you use Spyware Blaster with it. Then you can get CCleaner and wipe your cache out every night or morning which ever you choose.

I have all of these on my comp and never had the first problem, all of the programs are free at CNET.com and also another good program to have is one that encrypts your keystrokes.

You have to be proactive in this day and age with hackers and identity theft.

Billy

My local bank told me about fake money orders.
How many lotteries can you win from other countries, viragra pills, and Canadian pharmacy that can save me lots of money.
Oh yes, I can get money for college and buy more insurance.
Report Span and Delete buttons get used many times.
Scams are everywhere. We do have to be careful of everything.



Report Spam and Delete button gets used many times.

You know the old saying "If it sounds to good to be true, it probibly is"
Have seen several instances, when a person won the lotto, someone sent them a check to cover taxes, (you deposit in your bank) then send the cash to X person and location. In a few days the funds don't clear and you've just lost X amount of cash. Tell them to remove taxes then send, you put in a separate account and wait. chances is it won't be there long!!
Another was folks were recieving calls from friend of long lost nephews best friend, he/she had been in an accident needed funds. They know names and places.
Yep can have creapies lurking everywhere !!

Might want to use prepaid credit cards for online purchasing, that way can't get more than whats in the account. How many times have we heard of someone loosing a laptop, w/private info in. :)

Our bank told us this too. I was asked if I knew the person who gave us the M.O. I asked why., she said there were counterfeits being passed about.

Another good piece of info: If you have a security system installed in your home, DO NOT post a sign on a door or window saying "This property is protected by (name of co)". Computer savvy crooks have learned the programs some of these protection companies use and know how to override them or break them.

here's my security sign.....no computer hacking possible!
http://www.signs-up.com/product.asp?cl=11&ct=229
I agree things are bad out there...didn't know about the money orders.
We're on linux systems here except for dd and I spend about an hour a week cleaning her computer from stuff she picks up.

Hey, wait a minute! I am the friend of the banker in Nigeria. So sad about that customer getting hit by a car and leaving a million dollars in the bank with no heirs, though! Bet the banker is related to the Prince of Nigeria.

The funny part is that I was getting these emails at my work email address, and I worked for a global bank at the time!

Thanks for the info. The money order thing is one I hadn't heard of.
Poor Prince of Nigeria- they've been trying to help him a long time :D

Funny but I have heard of the Prince of nigeria scam
but I have never gotten one of these emails!
But watch and see I will now get three today!

I am sorry to report I got hurt by Paypal sometime ago and my bank asked me not to use it. That's why I couldn't buy from some of you. Don't dare.

I know some have reported problems with paypal,
but I have been selling online for over 7 years and have not had one problem.
but I get several fake paypal emails a week, scams trying to get my info!
I always forward any email (that isn't a receipt) to [email protected]
if it is real they will tell you but 100% of them have been fake

It's why I use PayPal or cash.....I don't have a credit card anymore and I don't want anyone accessing my Debit card.

Really???? My bank said to USE PayPal.....sheesh! Nothing is safe anymore!!!

ginnie6 love your alarm system :thumbup: LOL

The money order scams have been going on longer then the Nigerian scam :roll: And i am best friends with so many princes and royalty U should never have to work again :wink: LOL

I have been told to NEVER use a debit card for online or phone purchases. They can wipe your bank account in a heartbeat, at least with a credit card you do have some recourse and can report fradaulent charges.

My security system is a sign that says: BEWARE OF DOG- then another sign with a picture of a 38 saying: FORGET THE DOG, BEWARE OF OWNER!

Another heads up from the contractor who installed our automatic gate opener: ALWAYS change the pre-set codes on automatic gate openers and/or automatic garage door openers. They are pre-set at the factory and if you don't change them, there are crooks out there who could clean you out, especially if your garage door goes directly into the house and is not locked. You might consider changing codes frequently as well.

Here's a great resource for having possible scams checked out, or doing research on all kinds of internet and non-internet scams, worldwide.

http://www.fraudwatchers.org/

I spent some time doing volunteer work for this organization and can tell you it's run by caring individuals who want to help eliminate all kinds of scams. Scammers and scams are a very large problem, and unfortunately they target seniors more than any other group.

I was at the store the other day, and the cashier said there are fake coupons being circulated now.

Just went to 7-11 here to get one for my purchase with you and they said they stopped selling them because of problems with who ever supplies theirs. sent you a pm about payment.

[quote=ginnie6]here's my security sign.....no computer hacking possible!
-----------------------------------
Lots of my family are cops, so say things like that in a sign could mean a lawsuit! Strange..

BUT they say a picture, for instance, of one of our Doberman Pinchers snarling, with the words "LARGE DOG ON PREMISES"
would be just a statement. It got the attention of the power company's meter readers, who had always wanted us present when coming into our un-locked fence (we kept it locked otherwise) and wanted us to always make sure the dogs were
safely contained..and it would be nice if we were always there.
They sent us another card telling what day in what month they would come to our house. Real careful people they are.

I recently received a letter from a Soldier in Iraq,
who had found a small outbuilding layered in American
cash instead of insulation. He desperately needed to get
this to America, his mother was in failing health and he
wanted to get her to another country for medical help
she can't get here. All he needed was my bank account
number so he could send it to me, then if I would be so
good as to give him 60 percent of it when he got back
next month, his dear mother would thank me.

It was such a sad case!!

Nowhere was the information on how he was going to get
that money into a bank to send electronically, nor how he
was able to find and contain it all to himself. My own SIL
and grandson were there two times each, said such things
HAD been found, and they said that anyone on search went with others, plus a cameraman who recorded everything
they did. And found.

I have one unbreakable rule...if anyone wants anything
at all, then the answer is NO.

If I give anything to anyone or group, then I, and I alone
will do the work to give it.

I don't talk finances with anyone, and I tell the honest truth
to only 3 people...my doctor, my lawyer, and the Income
Tax man. With all others I will shade the answer depending
on what mood I'm in at the moment. Sometimes I might
actually tell the truth, but if anyone asks a question I feel
they don't have the right to get an answer, then the sky's
the limit. Numbers, I don't do numbers, and it's astonishing
how bad my memory gets sometimes when I don't want to
tell anyone anything.

It's a good rule of thumb that if you are buying or selling and dealing with Money Orders...ALWAYS...get them from the Post Office. Do not accept payment if not from Post Office.

Speaking of credit cards..... when you go out to eat do not give your debit or credit card to the waiter to take up front to pay. Bring it up there yourself or pay cash. The new way they steal your info is to take a photo, front and back, with their cell phone of your card. They have all they need to start charging things to your account online.

My daughter had her wedding dress (she's divorced now ) up on Craigs list for sale and made a deal with someone who sent her two money orders for $900.00 each and gave her instructions to send the dress to a p.o. box. She took the M.O.'s to her bank and found that they were fake. Then sent an e-mail to the "provider" telling them that the M.O.'s had been turned over to the police. ( she didn't send the dress )

Yikes! What way will they think of next so they can steal, cheat, and rip off honest folks? What happened to old-fashioned honesty? It all just makes me sad.

Well I purchased some fabric from a woman and purchased one of these MO. Well it must be lost in the mail, she has never recieved it.
So I went to get a refund or an exchange at the convience store where I purchased it. Can't!
bought it before I knew of the problem with them as in my original post!
this was for over $100
had to make copies of everything and the store has to mail it somewhere and then I have to wait 30 days for my refund
Never again will I purchase a MO that isnt from the PO!!

Thanks this is very important info as I am going to teach myself how to set up an account, take and upload pictures to ebay and craigs list to sell some things.

I usually use my check/debit card at the grocery & gas station. Was told a fews years ago to always use my card as credit, never use debit and your pin number. People can be sitting in their cars in the parking lot with their laptops hacking the system and getting your pin.