Counterfeit MoneyGram Money Orders seem to be surfacing all over the place, again! Here is what I wrote about them the last time I posted on them:
Recently, MoneyGram removed the Travelers Express name from their money order product. The new version is branded simply as MoneyGram, printed in Spanish (Espanol) in addition to English.
The old version with the Travelers Express name have been counterfeited and circulated via Internet scams for a couple of years. A lot of them had Walmart’s logo printed on them. We’ve seen similar counterfeit American Express Gift Cheques and Postal Money Orders in recent years, also. Some of these items are still in circulation, including the older Travelers Express version.
For a long time, the counterfeiters seemed to prefer using a Walmart logo. Some of them even came with a letter from Walmart Financial Services.
The newer version, I saw on Friday bear a CVS Pharmacy logo and they are being distributed in lower dollar amounts. Presumably, the high dollar amounts $700.00 and over were being looked at too closely by financial institutions.
Not sure, but they could be starting to use a variety of logos to make them look legitimate. If anyone reading this has seen different, please add a comment to let everyone know.
The newer items seem to be in denominations of $500.00 or less.
These items normally are obtained when a person gets involved in a too good to be true financial scheme, or is solicited by a beautiful woman (or man) needing to be rescued from a foreign locale. This normally occurs on the Internet.
Here are some examples of the lures used to pass these items, along with links to old posts:
Some of these lures include, but aren’t limited to (new lures surface frequently), secret shopper, romance, lottery, work-at-home and auction scams.
Sadly enough, the lowering of the dollar amount seems to have had limited success because I am getting reports that some of these items have been cashed at financial institutions.
The saddest part of all of this is (from an earlier post):
A common denominator in most of the scams is that there will be a request to send the proceeds, minus your paltry cut (normally via wire transfer) back to the person sending you the instruments. That is (unless) they are buying goods from you. In this case, your property is what they want you to send to them.
In other words, if the item is cashed at a financial instiution, when it comes back as a counterfeit — they will hold you and YOU ALONE liable.
Even sadder, people are also getting arrested for passing them. When counterfeit instruments started getting passed in Internet scams, the financial institutions were a lot more forgiving. This isn’t necessarily the case anymore with the amount of losses being taken out there.
More and more often, criminals pretend to be victims and pass the items. I call these people, “reverse scammers” because they have no intention of wiring any money back to the original scammer.
If you are a true victim, I recommend taking to the good folks at FraudAid, who advocate for the people that are really victims. The key is being able to show all the correspondence, along with proof that money was actually wired. If you kept the money from the transaction, it is going to be hard claiming “victim status.”
The best way to avoid getting scammed is to call and verify the item at MoneyGram, itself. This can be done by calling 1-800-542-3590. In almost (although not always in theory) all cases, this call will reveal the item as a counterfeit.
MoneyGram money orders aren’t the only instruments being counterfeited. Counterfeit cashier’s checks, money orders, gift and travelers cheques are also being counterfeited and used in these types of scams.
If you want to learn more about these scams, I recommend going to fakechecks.org, who has some great videos illustrating the scams used to pass these items.
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24 users commented in " Fraudsters Mutate Counterfeit MoneyGram Money Order Scam To Fool Victims/Financial Institutions "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackI think I have 6 counterfeit Safeway Moneygram money orders. What should I do with them?
I have just received 4 questionable moneygrams but before I cashed them spoke with my bank mgr. She advised of the fraudulant nature of such schemes. I will call the 1-800 number you supplied to verify this. I suggest that anyone who is approached with such a deal do the same. Talk to your bank before cashing anything.
Today I received 2 fraudulent MoneyGram money orders for the amount of $850.00 each. They were sent from Gastonia, NC. via UPS. Its plain to see that they are counterfeit as they have no watermarks and don’t even have a phone number to call for verification. I received them as part of a supposed online job working for Terrific Stores/Promarts as their representative here in Canada. If anyone has had a similar run in with these people, be very careful and report anything you may think is criminal to your local authorities. These money orders also have Albertsons stamp on them. Good Day.
11/24/08
Today I received 2 Albertson MoneyGrams each for the amount of 980.38. They arrived by Fed Ex Priority Overnight and came from:
Joanne Weston
2156 Kings Garden Way
Falls Church, VA 22043
I was contacted by e-mail for a job opportunity to be a secret shopper. The job included going to various Wal Mart stores to the Western Union stores and filling out a survey on the service,store conditions,employee courtesy, and the overall store. The man that contacted me was called Frank James. His e-mail addresses were frank.mysteryshopper4444gmail.com or support@mysteryshopper.org. Please be advised that if you see these addresses to delete them and have nothing to do with these people. They are bad news. I know these money orders are no good. They are not embossed and the paper is plain. The numbers are 5799572971 and 5799572972. The routing # is 091900533. I have a detective coming to make a report when he is not busy a little later, but I live in a small town and it might not do any good. I have a relative that works for the FBI so I will call him and see what can be done from that end. Good Luck to all and be careful with your e-mail.
I received the same Frank James email, and supplied my name, address and phone, and closest Wal-Mart and Western Union store adddress. I knew that I would check them out before risking any money or property. I just wished I had done so befor giving them any info., but at least I did not give them my money. Thanks for helping us to help ourselves.
on november 4 2008 i receive two money orders for $850.00 each .it was from a cindy fish.i was surpose to send the payment to a mic james.iwas working for terrifc stories. though the kiji add .where i found this part time bussiness. i when i bought these money orders to my bank they notice something very wrong they rub the cirlce to see if it would come back. it did not the client told me they will be holding on to them for 15 bussiness days. i had no clue they where fake they look real to me., the person told me to send the payment to dubai . he even told me he was going report me to the fbi if i did not send them the money.
I received 2 Albertson MoneyGrams each for the amount of 980.38. They arrived by Fed Ex Priority Overnight and came from:
Joanne Weston
2156 Kings Garden Way
Falls Church, VA 2204
I knew something was fishy so I took them too the grocery store. Albertson’s converted back to Lucky’s so it was obvious something was wrong. I called Money Gram and was told that the serial number on the check was an original number from a money order that was cashed back in May for not even half the amount. I called the number that was on the fed ex envelope and was told there was no one at the company by that name and they had received several calls pertaining to the same situation.
I recived 4- SAFEWAY and Money tree Money orders for 950.00 each and called 1-800 # to find out FAKE, FAKE,FAKE FAKE. For security or secr. shopper job (layed off from my job) this is bad now they have my name, its sad that just looking for work in this bad time can lead you to jail for just trying to feed youself. We need to stand aginst this so today everyone that this has happend to tell five people by email or phone also face to face with family & friends THANKS EVERYONE
I received by US mail, 3 moneygrams from Safeway MoneyGram Money Orders. Each one was for 915.00.
Seemingly it was too good to be true. When I called Safeway, the person I spoke with told me that the numbers on the money orders were not in her system. She suggested that I take them to my local Police Department. When I did this, the police acted like it was no big deal but did tell me to go online to http://www.icp.gov.
I suppose everyone is trying to think of ways to make money in these trying times. How sad that others only want to take advantage of someone else. I am not certain but I think these people found me through job services I was browsing on line, while searching for employment. I think it was a well taught lesson, next time I am at a business and they request that I go on line to fill out applications and send resume’, I think I will say no….I’d rather just do this in person.
If I were to cash these moneygrams at my bank, I would have been held accountable for this money. My local police told me that no crime as been committed, so I suppose that printing up fake moneyorders, moneygrams, with the Safeway logo on it, isn’t a crime, just cashing them is. What a world, what world. Be safe out there, it’s not going to get any easier.
I JUST RECIEVED TWO SAFEWAY MONEYGRAMS i APPLYED ONLINE FOR A HOUSECLEANING JOB i have not recieved an address or anything but two moneygrams with instructions to keep 400.00 fpr myself and western uinion 1100.00 to the caretaker to come down with the house keys.
I think it’s high time banks started taking more responsibility in these transactions instead of automatically approving these phony money orders and later blaming unsuspecting consumers.
I to have received 2 money orders in the amount of 920.00. They were moneygram money orders with the Albertson’s log on them. The job was for a mystery shopper at a western union and me not knowing about any of this, I cashed one of the money orders and a week later the place I cashed it at called me and told me it was fraudelent and it came back to the bank. So now I am confused. Do I have to be responsible for this money order or the person that cashed it? Please someone help me figure this out.
I work at a credit union. On Friday, I received 2 moneygram money orders from Albertsons for 950.15. They felt funny, so I called the 1-800 number, and the both had been cashed a month earlier for 140 and 106. Today, I received 4 $950 moneygram money orders all for the same person, again I called the number, and all 4 were cashed in January for nowhere near the amount on the money orders. On all 6 checks, the pink circle that you rub to authenticate the check, did not turn white like it is supposed to.
I have read a lot of blogs about the circumstances that all these people have endured with these on-line scammers. I think it’s about time, We (the victims) band together to catch these people. Because it’s quite simple; that if we are not getting the help from the authorities, and the head people at the banks and the ceo’s of these said banks.
It’s not like they dont know whats going on…
but they will hold you accountable for it.
So i think people need to take a stand for something. This is getting a bit out of hand.
If there is anyone out there, that wants to do something. ‘holler at me’ cliff21565@hotmail.com iwill work with govenment officials to do something, (not what we can-But something) Plaese people be safe out there. Because these people are good and they are coming at you. God Bless
It seems like something is missing, no?
I received two of the bad money orders with a Safeway Logo on them. I verified them through the phone number you have listed here and found they were duplicates. These are both for $1000.
I work for one of those check cashing places and received 2 fraudulent money orders back in April of 2006 from Wal-Mart. When I called the 800 number on the back, the money order was verified and I was told by the person on the other line it was ok to cash. So of course I cashed it, no questions asked. When I went to deposit them into my businesses bank account, they came back fraudulent obviously. They both look very real. So you all know, there was at some point in time someone verifying these counterfeit money orders. We have never been able to catch the person either that cashed them, but now that I look back I am pretty sure she ws aware they were bad.
I work for one of those check cashing places and received 2 fraudulent money orders back in April of 2006 from Wal-Mart that were for $950 each. When I called the 800 number on the back, the money order was verified and I was told by the person on the other line it was ok to cash. So of course I cashed it, no questions asked. When I went to deposit them into my businesses bank account, they came back fraudulent obviously. They both look very real. So you all know, there was at some point in time someone verifying these counterfeit money orders. We have never been able to catch the person either that cashed them, but now that I look back I am pretty sure she ws aware they were bad. She had cashed 3 more earlier that week for $950 each with another check cashing company in another town. This girl got away with $4750.00 minus fees to cash.
i receaved two money orders $1,000 each and they were no good i know it was a scam to begin with to good to be true this was april 29 2009 and they are still doing this scam be on the look out for name micheal morrison and here is the email
fromMichael Morrison
towindowsks.com@gmail.com
dateWed, Apr 29, 2009 at 12:54 AM
subjectHi, norman myers
mailed-byyahoo.com
signed-byyahoo.com
hide details Apr 29 (2 days ago) Reply
Hello norman,
First of all,i will like to apologise for the late delivery and i’m using this moment to inform you of the delivery of the first payment from my clients today 04-29-09 through Ups courier service; http://www.ups.com. Tracking number (1ZR02T740194649108). Once you received the payment(money orders) total $2000, deposit them in your bank account and make immediate withdrawal. Deduct 10% =$200 as your commission for the Job Offer.
Then you will proceed to the nearest western union office to send the balance of $1800 via western union money transfer to the information i provided below
( deduct the western union fees on the balance of $1800 ).Please write me immediately you received the payment ,for me to instruct my debtors and clients to proceed with other payment once you cash the first payment made in your favor.
Please make sure you get the money send very early in the morning after the payment delivered for me to instruct my clients to get the next payment to you .Make sure the transfer is successfully done .Here is the transfer details below :
Name: Yu-Lin Wang
City :Bakersfield
State :California
Send Money to be available in Minutes .
Make sure you send the below details once your return from Western Union .;
Sender’s Name :
Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN) 10 digits Number:
Total Amount Sent :
And any other useful information that might aid in picking up the money.
Regards,
Michael Morrison
I too have recieved three moneygrams,[international money order] just 2 days ago. May19th 2009. My hubby checked these out with the 800 # and these all were written about a month ago for a lot less then what these three are written for . $875.00 each. these came from Morgan Lee associated with Gayle Simpson, Secret Shopper organization from out of Tuscon Arizona.. Be aware these scams are everywhere!!!!!!!!!!!!!
please email the 800 number to safeway I also was scamed for 2300.00 and would like to talk with someone it seems as though no one will help i even deposited the money orders and waited for them to clear or i atleast thought they had ttwo days ago my bank notfied me they had bounced and want me to be responsible for them
i received a postal money order from this guy that offered me a mystery shopper position it was FedEx to my door overnight delivery for 890.17 this guy still keeps sending me emails to cash that money order and to do my assignment but my assignment was to cash the money order at Wal-mart and to only keep 250.00 of it and send it to another mystery shopper. but i took it to the post office and he told me it was counterfeit i think that its bullshit these people r getting away with this shit and getting innocent people in trouble i really want to catch this guy for what he did to me
I was leasing out my condo in Florida and got a reply back from Apartments.com of a potential renter. Of course, he (Fred Chambers) was out of the country (Fiji, of all places). He claimed to be a “trained civil engineer” which made me wonder if there are untrained civil engineers out there. His “client” Carl Williams from 106 Dingmans Plaza in Dingmans Ferry, PA sent four $840 Safeway Moneygram checks that do not authenticate. Indeed, one is printed off-center. And yes, it is an overpayment and could I send via Western Union the excess to Karen C. Welsh at 12510 White Bluff Road, Apt. 1002 in Savannah GA. Maybe I’ll email Fred and ask him to send cash for his deposit.
UPDATE ON MY POST ABOVE. Carl Williams is a legit businessman whose credit card and UPS account number were stolen. The scammers then sent out dozens of UPS Overnight packages at his expense. Karen C. Welch in Savannah has a phone listed, but it is disconnected. And Fred Chambers, well, there is a Fred Chambers & Associates listed in Nigeria.
I had thought that Fred would at least be out the cost of the overnight UPS delivery, but dang if he didn’t figure out a way to run the entire scam at no cost to himself!
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