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.
The newer version (MoneyGram) printed in both Spanish and English are now being counterfeited and being circulated via Internet scams. The one I saw was accompanied by a letter from Walmart Financial Services.
Like other counterfeit financial instruments, we’ll probably see these circulated via romance, auction, job, secret shopper and lottery scams. The common theme is that the scammer will always request that you send a portion of the money back to them (wire transfer is the preferred method).
In the case of auction scams, they may be used to buy expensive merchandise.
Cashing these items will leave you at a minimum, financially liable. I’ve also been told by readers that people are sometimes getting arrested for passing them!
The new version (recently seen) have receipts attached to them. Money Order companies often attach receipts to their products as a security feature. These receipts are used to obtain refunds, if a money order is lost, or stolen.
The counterfeiters have probably added this feature to instill a false sense of security.
Like their predecessors, these counterfeit Money Orders are (normally) easy identified by calling in and verifying their authenticity.
MoneyGram has an automated system to do this, which can be accessed by calling 1-800-542-3590. Live customer service help is available during normal business hours.
MoneyGram also has a page with a lot of relevant information on how to SAFELY negotiate these items, here.
Since this is something new, if anyone would like to help get the word out, please leave a comment on this post, or drop me a line at EdwardDickson@SBCGlobal.net.
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81 users commented in " Counterfeit MoneyGram Money Orders being passed via Internet Scams "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackWe received a MoneyGram from our son and the banks will not honor it. This must be a real problem. Apparently the bank cannot tell a good money order from a bad one.
Today I received 2 MoneyGram money orders via UPS, with Albertsons logo on them in the amounts of $850.00 each. They originated from Gastonia,NC. and were purchased by Cindy Fish. I was to cash them at by personal bank and forward the funds minus my 10% to a man named Mic James,504 Rigga Rd.,Derria, Dubai. This is all in relation to a part-time job working for TerrificDeals/Promart stores as their representative here in Canada, a position I found on Kijiji classified. I have been in phone contact with a female named Jamie Marks but from a blocked number also email contact with reverend James Cole. As I don’t believe these are their actual names I’ve decided to post them here anyway. I followed the advice I found here and called to verify the money orders and found they had already been cashed back in June of this year. Not to mention they did not have any watermarks or security features of any kind. If anyone comes into contact with these people be very careful and report anything you think is criminal to your local authorities. Good Day.
hi this is connie lenneau also recive the same money order from cindy fish the address was the same from the article from november 14 to a mic james . he told me he was going to call the fbi if i did not send him the payments.ialso was dealing with terrfic stories. a guy name marc cage. i took the money orders to my bank they notice something wrong . on the money orders. where you rub. the cirle .see if it would reapeer it did not thats why they are holding them for 15 bussiness days. the money orders where for $850.00 each i recive two of these on nov 4 2008 they came to me by ups
I would like to know how to tell if a money
gram/money order is fraudiucent or not. Is
there a web site that you can go into to see
if it was printed out on a printer or if it
is real and boughten at an Albertsons’ and
a Luckys.
Thanks
How/where/to whom does one report these scams?
I too, have received 2 money orders bearing the Albertson’s logo via UPS overnight delivery and numberous of emails telling me that instructions on how to distribute funds will follow. One is for 850.00 and other is for 950.20 and both were from Kraft and Kolour Tom Crane. They put my name as payee and my address under the payor’s address and left payor blank and I was to fill that in with my name. I contacted MoneyGram International and they said it had no value. Please Beware and these people are learning how to prosper at the expense of everyone else and their grief. Bless you all.
Same as Bradford64 above. I’ve been in contact with this person for a few days now, just playing along to see what happens. I’ll forward everything to the police, but from what I’ve heard, they don’t really care about this kind of stuff.
Do you know if there is a Jim Snow passing fake mo from Albertsons? Coming from San Diego Ca.Please reply asap.
Northern_Ontario, please reply to this board, I really need your help. I fell victim to Mr. Crane and he scammed me out of $1,700. I was stupid enough to think that this was legit, and this is international fraud. I have already contacted the FBI on this, but I need any and all information that you might have to help me. If you can, please contact the Jackson MS FBI field office and tell them the Thomas Crane fraud case, and give them all the information that you have, it will help me greatly.
I have been offered a work from home position with Genen. I am to do data entry. They sent me 2 Money orders for 870.00 each. I am suppose to cash them and then pick up 2 computer programs. Take 150.00 for a sign on bonus and then send them the rest in a western union wire transfer. The name on the MO is Christine Calzavara. Has anyone heard from these people?
Yeah I just received 2 money orders today baring the Albertsons and Money Gram Logos. They look very real however I called Money Gram and found that they are very fake. The MO’s I received came from a “Mick Strong”. They were shipped to me via UPS and I also received an E-mail this morning instructing me to cash them take 10% and wire the rest to London. How annoying. Also had many E-mail contacts with a supposed Anthony Wallace from Zagat Surveys LLC. Nasty scam glad I checked them out before I did anything with them.
I ALSO RECIEVED 2 MONEY GRAMS IN THE AMOUT OF 850.00 DOLLARS FOR A PUPPY I WAS SELLING HE TOLD ME TO DO THE SAM THING AND I BROUGHT THE CHECKS TO WAMU BANKING AND THEY SAID THE MONEYGRAMS WAS GOOD THE NAMES HE USE WAS
WILLAMS
JEFFRY MILLER
DONT GET SCAM LIKE I DID 3100 HUNDRED DOOLARS HURTS WHEN U LOST IT TO A SCAM
I recieved an email from a woman wanting a puppy I had for sale.She said she would pay for the puppy and have a shipper pick up the puppy and I would pay the shipper with extra money she sent. I had been in reply with her about this for about two weeks. I tolder to call me about the puppy but had no responce until this morning whrn I got an another email that she sent a money order. I recieved a package with two money orders for $850.00 each from Albertsons Moneygram. I called Moneygram to verify that the money order was a fraud. I name on the package was different than on the emails. I did a phone number check of what was on the package and left a message for the person to call me. The have called me twice and left a massage to call them back.I have given this information to the police dept. I am working with them to try to put a stop to this.
CuteKittyVet
Sorry for the late reply. He just started emailing me again, but now with a slightly different email address (kraftandkolour@hotmail.com before he was using kraftkolourau@hotmail.co.uk). I played along and he told me to wait for instructions, but now I’ve just recieved his ‘welcome email’ (see below) so I assume he is trying to recruit a new victim. I did try to contact the company Kraft Kolour. I told them the person had contacted me, asked if he was a real employyee, and let them know he was using their name in this scam. The company never did respond to any of the questions, so I’m wondering if they are legit or maybe part of it. Email me at kbrooks5069@hotmail.com if you want me to forward the emails for your local FBI, I have saved everything he sent.
Good luck!
Congratulations,
We have just approved you as an executive trustee of our reputable Firm. The form you filled has been received and filed, the address you filled in will be sent to the Client as the forwarding address for the payments coming in.
I would like you to know that this business relationship is going to be built on trust and honesty as this is what would bring about success on both ends. I will play my part and keep you informed and would like you keep in touch with me.
Quick replies to my emails and smart responses would be appreciated. When a clients sends out payment and the Tracking number is made available to me I will inform you and send the tracking number to you.
I would also like you to know that the western union / Money Gram Charges should be removed from the 90% being sent.
Any other questions would be gladly entertained.
Employee, we need you to get back to us on these little questions.
1) Tell Us Your Experience with this same job if you have you done this for some other companies before, tell us the out come..? If this is your first time let us know.
2) Will you be able to process every payment on time when they get delivered to you..?
3) How devoted and faithful will you be to this Company..?
4) How Long Have You Been Banking With Your Bank And Have You For Once Had Issues With Your Bank or Account..? (Meaning do you have a cordial relationship with your Bank)
5) Can You Cash Up To $4000 - $7,000 In Your Bank..?
6) If You Are Working for Us All Other Offers Similar to This Should be refused to Avoid Payment Conflict as We Have Had Bad Experiences with People Accepting More Offers and Ended up Mixing up Payments.
Please These Questions Need Urgent Answers
Should you change your mind about working with us, do not hesitate to let us know so that I can stop payments coming to you. Thanks so much for the time and Congratulations to you once again.
Best Regards.
KraftKolours Fabrics Tm 2009
Just a follow up.
I did try to contact the Jackson MS FBI field office. The link to report fraud online is broken. I emailed the information ifcc.jk@fbi.gov (from the same website), but it was returned, not delivered.
Last night I recieved three ALbertsons Moneygrams for $915.25 each.
I got them through a Secret shopper scam. I found out it was a scam shortly after several email exhanges.I thought it was legitamite because I applied for it through a local classified. Well after I realised i was being scamed. I played along. I told them to send me the money orders anyway. Now they want me to send it to another secret shopper through Western union. I am no waiting for there reply to give me the information on the reciever. The silly part was that the moneygrams came in a brown envelope with no return address and stamps from South Africa. The guy goes by the name Terry Bacan.
I have received an email from a lady named Nicole McDaniel (nicolemcdaniel18@live.com) to be a mystery shopper for a company named Bare International. I responded and received an Albertons MoneyGram Money Order in the amount of $2269 via FedEx overnight. Through an email I was then instructed to deduct $400 to be my pay and wire transfer the remaining amount to a man named Ivan Bilow in New York. The name of the purchaser of the money order is Cheryl Wilson from South Carolina. Has anyone heard from these people? Is it a spam? Thanks
Well I recieved my package today. 3 obvious counterfeit usps money orders. There are metalic printed bars, but they are all cut a little different, and slanted lol. There is a bloths that his printer keeps missing below the serial numbers.
He did send them UPS and even used an account?
UPS account #V34588
He wants me to wire the money Western Union right away to:
Receivers Name: Simon Hull
Address: 126 Saltley Road
City: Saltley, Birmingham
Postcode: B7 4TH
Country: United Kingdom
Amount: $2610 - Wire Charges = amount to be received in Pounds
Even gave me a phone number +447552449532 in case I had questions.
I tried to report this, but it dosn’t seem anyone cares. UPS said its ‘not their job’ as they only delivered the package. And the United States Postal Service’s online counterfeit money order verification system is down (not really needed anywa lol). I tried to see if I could report it to them, but the number dosn’t work from Canada.
If anyone else gets packages from this guy, make sure you get him to send you the package… at least your ’scaming’ him out of the money to send these overnight lol.
I have a question.
I received 3 money orders in the mail, each for 895.00 dollars. There was no instructions on what to do with them. Nothing like the normal scams you hear about.
I am scared to cash them for I fear they might be one of those scams. Yet there is nothing to make me think it is a scam since there were no instructions.
What do I do? I took them to my bank and they said to hold onto them. I really need this money if they are real. Any suggestions?
Don’t cash them. You can verify them using the serial number on the money order on the USPS site (if it’s working today), but they are most likely counterfeit. Just look closley at the things I noted above (printing, size, etc). The ones that were sent to me were also in a UPS envelope with no instructions. The instructions followed with an email the person sent out after seeing by the tracking number thhat I had recieved them.
Atlanta I received the same money order from the some lady heather Parker!!!!! It is a scam!!!
Confirmation of MoneyGram money orders can be obtained by calling 800-542-3590.
If you’ve been asked to wire money back, you’re being scammed. Period.
Thank goodness for this webside.I also applied through our local paper to become a mystery shopper. Received in the mail, posted from South Africa 3 moneygrams, valued each $980.
I thought this is to good to be true, so started looking around on the web and come to the conclusion this is a scam. The name on my moneygrams is Pearl Brown and the fellow who emails me is wayne.I can’t wait to hear the reply from Wayne what to do with the money, I be prepared. Thanks for all the reports on this webside.
This is the letter I received this morningAttn Shopper :
We are glad to inform you that the application submitted to out company in regards to you been one of our secret shoppers was approved.And i here by take this opportunity to inform you that we are very busy and you would enjoy your work with us as we are ready to create impact to the Public in training the youth.
This is also a notification to you that your job starts Today as all application has been approved , And we have an assignment for you for this week . The company has issued out payment for this week assignment packet to you meaning that you would be paid $250 weekly and that has been issued to you with some funds which you will use in executing this Assignment .Read below for you Packet Data.
ASSIGNMENT INFORMATION’S :
Read and make sure you understand all that is stated below to avoid any mistake occurrence . This is your assignment .
The Payment you received was issued to cover the project bills for the your weekly wages and Assignment :-
Once you receive the Money Orders first you take the payment in the parcel to your bank and cash the payment Immediately then Deduct your first week pay which is $250 then the remaining balance should be used for the assignment below .
Follow the instructions .. Your first assignment is to go to any money gram outlet to find out about their ways on their Trading/operation system.
As a secret shopper , You should pretend as if you were a client and want to send money and memorize all you see at the outlet . We want you to report back to us with the following information :
-Procedure of attendance :
-How many attendance in the outlet :
-Security system {If there is any tight security in the outlet} :
-How many minutes it took for them in attending to one client and processing transfer :
As a secret shopper your job is to detect any thing going on in the outlet.Make sure you memorize everything you see in there cause you would be asked some other questions when you return . Also you cant just walk out of the outlet without making any transactions or you would be suspected ,So that’s why we sent you the funds to make the transfer. So we authorize you to send the remaining balance of the funds with you after deducting your $250 weekly wages to the below information provided for our up coming exhibition :
MAKE MONEY GRAM TRANSFER TO :
Name: Nobesuthu Florence Dyasi
Address: 40 Main Road,Sea Point ,
Cape Town/South Africa.
Text Question: Color
Text Answer: Blue
Our Finance company established a new system which you might never heard of called Alert pay {Alertpay.com}, And this service is been Privately owned and established under our management since 2004 , With competitors we have a very low rating and few customers and we want to develop and upgrade our service to the best and fullest. So we only need the report you provide so we can work on our service.
Make sure you don’t go with a note , Cause if they see you writing anything down , They would definitely suspect you are a secret shopper, Just memorize all you see and report back when you get back home . Your next assignment for next week would be visiting one of our competitors Mall, We would provide you with the details and address and your payment for next week. Also to complete this Assignment you have to get back to me with the following information’s for the money you sent to our exhibition manager :
1. Senders Name and Address
2. 8 Digit Money Transfer Reference Numbers
3. The amount transferred after deducting Money Gram charges.
This project Shouldn’t take you more than Two days to execute the Assignment and the time limit matters to us , With that we can also determine your efficiency in Hardworking and commitment you show in working with us. Do get back to me with the Money transfer Information and the assignment result so that we can proceed with your second assignment for the week.
Waiting to read from you .
Regards .
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By the way the person who emails me uses these email addresses.
waycollins@gmail.com
genesisevaluation49@yahoo.com
Hope this will help future job appliers looking for jobs as mystery shoppers and be warned.
I GOT TAKEN FOR $1850.00 THAT I REALLY NEEDED. I AM UNEMPLOYED AND WAS TRYING TO GET A HEAD ON MY BILLS, ALL I GOT WAS FORTHER BEHIND. I DONT KNOW WHAT I AM GOING TO DO. THEY REALLY HURT ME. THIS MYSTERY SHOPPER THING IS A BIGG SCAM. THEY ARE DESTORYING PEOPLE LIFE AND SOME ONE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
Today I received 2 MoneyGram money orders via FedEx both money order for amount 975. I was told 2 wired 1500 dollars to someone in gloversville, new york to received computer equipment via western union and i believe its scam .. this for data entry position of company called csc group do anyone know of a company named CSC Group…I think didnt cash any the money orders or nothing but i feeling its money laundering scam, so please tell what me to do..because i know people get caught up in these scams these days.
I am so glad that you all have responed to this site, I also recieved 2 Abertson moneygram money orders for $925.00 each. I will call the 1800-542-3590 that I got off of this page. THANKS. The strange thing is that they didn’t ask me for anything, Ive had them now for 3 weeks and I haven’t recieved any instructions from anyone. But the first thing that I thought about when I got them was SCAM, I will write back after I check them out!
I received 2 Albertson Moneygram money orders too. I called the 800 number and was told there are no stops or holds on the first money, then I was disconnected on the second money order and told they could not respond to my request.
I don’t understand what this is supposed to mean.
I am so glad that I found your site. I had received 3 Albertston money gram money orders from in the amount of $850. It was supposed to be from someone that was looking to rent a room. Normally when I rent a room, I like to receive cash when the person arrives. This person was insistant that they send the money ahead of time to hold the room. So, I agreed, but I told them that I would not cash them until they arrived and then we can go cash them together. Well, the person kept asking me to cash it so that I would have the money, but I still refused. I held this room for about month now, but then I needed the money so I had been thinking about cashing one, but I still felt a little leary because I wanted to wait until the person arrived. Well, supposedly now they are in the hospital sick, and I asked what the number is to the hospital so that I can call, and I keep asking when do they plan to arrive because the actual date that they told me has passed and that I could no longer hold the room. I asked for an address where I can return the money orders, but all they tell me is to cash it and keep the amount for the room. I almost gave in but then I decided to look up info on this and I found this site. I called in the money orders to money gram only to find out that they had been cashed back in October.
Thanks again for confirming my suspicions.
folks this a scam we have following this 4 about 4 months now trace and track the serial numbers.
Last week I received a fraud alert from my credit card for suspicious activity on my account. Today I received a “return to sender” via UPS containing two Albertons MoneyGrams within. Apparently a person who is sending these out (from Atlanta, GA) has obtained my information and is using me as the originating mailing address in this scam (halfway across the country from the actual address origination no less)! Has this happened to anybody else out there?!? I’ve begun the credit freeze process as though my identity is in the process of being stolen. Just wondering if anybody else has dealt with or is currently dealing with this and can let me know what I might be up against!?! UPS hasn’t been too much of a help at this point.
hi i recieved 3 moneygrams each for 900.00 dollars a piece… the man is from united kingdom i want to cash them to… he sent me information to send the money back to him after i went to my bank and cash them… i’m unemployed and would love to keep the money to help my parents out… anyways i kinda hope it wasn’t a scam… thanks
hi i’m in denver colorado….
Hello I received 2 Money Grams each $840.00 and i know it was a scam because no one owe me and if they did i would like to receive a check not money order, unless money order is from the post office. i dont have time for thses Nasty People who alway try to corn other people out of their hard earn money, and for all of you who putting these money order or check into your Bank Acct, you need to watch the news about this, one day you will find nothing there please dont let these people nasty thought leave you Pennyless.
I happen to be renting a room in my house, and the party interested sent me 4 Moneygram money orders “purchased” from Safeway supermarkets. I ran a check on them and they turned out to be fake, even though they appeared to be very real. What I can’t figure out is what angle they are using, its not as if I would have just deposited them without checking, and its not like I will allow them to move in without payment confirmed. It is very confusing to me, because there isn’t any money they would have gained, and it isn’t like I wouldn’t know where to find them if I had let them move in….
I received to money orders for $950 and some change today with instructions to send money somewhere. I am not going along with it the money orders look real. I depostied one and called money gram on them the weird thing is money gram said both of them had been cashed for $300 what are the odds of both of them being $300 dollars. I will wait and see what happens with the first one because I am not sure I rembered the number right when I called money gram but I am just going to figure that money is not in my bank account and not send anyone anything. Makes me wonder if moneygram is in on the scam somehow. When I get the other one back from my bank because I am assuming it is not good I will check the number on it again but both 300.00 the say shaw’s star which is a legit gro chain oh well figured it would be too good to be true will be letting authorites know as soon as I find out the deal with the other one.
Secret Shopper scam -
Just got 2 in via UPS with the Albertsons Moneygram info on them. Both are for $775 - of course I’m supposed to keep $120 for myself and then go to a Western Union and wire $$$ to:
NAME——— MARIO PADILLA
CITY——- NEW YORK
STATE———- NEW YORK
ZIP CODE——– 11235
Country: USA
I’ve been e’mailing back and forth with a Reid Huish - but the money orders are filled out by a Dana Matthew of 320 East Blvd Charlotte NC 28203.
I’ve reported this to the Internet Crime Complaint Centre - and will be reporting wherever else I need to.
I had a sneaky suspicion that this was too good to be true (secret shopping)- and have asked “Reid” for contact information (the more I have to nail this person the better).
I’m sorry to read that some of you were taken in by this type of scam. It’s really unfair when people take advantage of others like that (and I don’t feel the slightest bit badly for this person being out the $30 or so that it cost them to UPS this to my door!). These money orders do look pretty real!
Wow this is crazy. I was on greenville sc craiglist looking for a job. This guy name Jimmy Kenneth (snowbuster12@gmail.com) was posting a job for a House Keeper for $300.00 a week. He said to send a resume for anyone interested. I did so he started emailing me, he told me his agent in the US was going to send me a check for $950.00 and I was to take out my $300.00 then wire the rest to
Lisa Quintero
2230 Mercury Blvd
Murfreesboro, TN 37130
I was laughing when I got this email because I knew it was a scam. I took the money order to my bank and showed them and told them to check it out becuase I knew it wasnt real. I reported it to the FBI but they dont care they said people are stupid everyday because they fall for these things and end up oweing the bank money for despositing the money in there account. I think the fbi should do something about this, they can catch thses people and lock them up and pay all those people back they fraud.
just got done reading and learning that the2-$1000 moneygrams i recieved r fake. , i received email offering modeling job, told 2 send $1000 to address in fla, and keep the rest, use my name to cash it’! yea right, will keep u posted, stay cool and don’t steal!
Sugerray50, hi, I just received the same as you, 3 Moneygram money orders from Albertsons, each for $775 and I´m also supposed to keep $120 for myself for my work done as a mistery shopper. I also have Dana Matthew and the320 east blvd Charlotte NC, 28203.
They guy who hired me is “John Carlton”, I had never done anything like this before and if I had received for a smaller amount, I wouldn´t have doubted, but now I googled this and found your comment. Thanks!
Hey Sugerray50,
The EXACT SAME THING is happening to me right now…Reid Huish and all. It’s soo weird and I just realized it was a scam. I’m so glad I did before I deposited the money.
I received 2 Albertsons moneygram money orders in the amount of $870.00 each. I called MoneyGram and the money orders are no good. I received the money orders from Ft Myers, Florida. I was to cash the money orders and send the money by money transfer to Jumeirah, State Dubai, United Arab Emirate (UAE). If I had done this I would have been out $1,740.00. BEWARE!!! the scams are everywhere.
I didn’t realize how widespread this problem is. I got my first taste of this scam when they sent my son 2 Walmart money orders. He took them to a check cashing place and they told him they were fake. About 2 months after that I received 2 Walmart moneyorders and were told that they were fake. About 2 months after that there we 2 Postal Money orders and I took them to the PO and turned all the emails and the UPS envelope over to the postal inspector. They said they had just come out with these new money orders to prevent fraud and somehow these scammers still managed to copy them. Now the last one I received today via UPS 2 money grams supposedly from my local grocer Safeway. They, like all the rest are for $975.25. This is strange because I tried to buy money orders from Safeway before and I thought they only went up to either $300 or $500. So this really peaked my interest. All these situations I have described are from someone who is supposed to be with the Secret/Mystery Shopper outfit. They all wanted me to cash them at MY Bank and of course send them some money back, but I decided to cash them where they were drawn from. People we may have been born in the day time, but it sure wasn’t yesterday. LIKE THEY SAY, IF IT SOUNDS TO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT PROBABLY ISN’T.
I JUST WANT ALL THESE SCAMMERS TO BE CAUGHT AND DO SOME HARD TIME.
(MAYBE ON THE CHAIN GANG OR SOMETHING) LOL
I just two Albertsons moneygrams for $1000 each sent by Fedex last night, but theres no signature on it at all.They dont even look centered and theres no watermark either. I will post the email when I get it.
and the contacts name is Mrs.Catherine Stern from Coherent inc.
I revieved 3 money grams from Csc group. I was supose to work at home to be a medical transcriber. It all seemed liget at first because they were not asking for anymoney nor were they doing the typical ill send you money and you cash it and wire it back scam. They told me I needed equipment and that they were going to pay for it and also give me a $150 sign on bonus. I was excited! They sent me an email telling me I had to do a test of honor…Thats where it got fishy. What I had to do was they were going to send me 3 money grams and I was going to deduct my $150 and send the rest back via….western union through a wire transfer. They would then take that money and send me equipment the following week to get me going. YEAH RIGHT!!! I emailed them notifing them that to protect myself i will not be putting the money orders in my acct or sending them the remaining money….this is the email i recieved back…
********Dear Leana,
We are very disappointed about your attitude. We see that you are not a responsible individual we are very sorry to say. But we need you to write to us immediately a letter of rejection to this department so that the board of directors can confirm this.
In no way is the Csc Group invovled in any illegal act. We also will need a return address to the Money Orders check sent out to you.
Yours Truly,
Michael Silver
The Csc group Inc
HR’s*********
Anyone who ask to 1 have a test done to prove your trustworthy by sending them over 2k in money orders and wire it back is not a real company thats not how companys work and you will be the one who pays for it while they enjoy the benifits of there scam. It all sounds good but like everyone says if it sounds to good to be true its not real…nuthing in life is easy.
Here’s something i got off the internet to tell if its fake.
****Postal Money Order Security Features*****
Similar to U.S. currency, postal money orders are designed with colored inks, watermarks, and security threads. Become familiar with the security features of genuine postal money orders:
Watermarks of Benjamin Franklin, visible when held to the light, run through the white oval on the left front side of the money order. Watermarks are also visible from the reverse side.
A dark security thread runs from top to bottom to the right of the Franklin watermarks. When held to the light, the thread reveals the microprinted letters “USPS” alternating right-side up and upside down throughout the thread. The letters are not visible if not held to the light.
Additional features you should be aware of:
Warning instructions are printed on the reverse of postal money orders.
Denominations are displayed in two locations, on the front, with no discoloration around the dollar amounts (discoloration may indicate alteration).
Maximum value of $1,000 on domestic/$700 on international postal money orders.
Yeah I received 2 USPS money orders via FedEx yesterday. For a work at home job. I knew as soon as I saw them they were fake. They did do a great job with making them. I still have them and I’m just going to throw them away. I have been emailing a Powell Smith and the money orders came from Devon Brown in Brooklyn. I was email by Powell to send them to a Ebony in Ohio then this morning I received another one telling me to send it out of the country. The money orders had the water makes and the strip down the middle. These ass holes are good but not too smart.
I have caught this guy on craigslist posting several items for sale which he would like to be paid “through ebay” by using moneygram. He says ebay holds the money for him and when I receive the item i notify ebay and they’ll release the money to him. I almost fell for it the first time, as he sends legitimate looking ebay emails asking for payment to an agent, and since the police will not do anything about this I’ve decided to spend my free time trying to annoy this guy. So what I need is someone who knows the format of how a moneygram confirmation number looks like. I know what western union uses but I never used moneygram. My intent is only to string this guy along as far as I can and actually make him go to a store and try to collect the fake money he was trying to scam me out of. I know this may seem childish, but it is the only way i have found to get this guy back. So if anyone knows the moneygram format for confirmation numbers I would appreciate a response.
I just got 3 postal money orders in the mail today for $925.120 each and this was for a job i saw posted on craigslist as personal assistant job. I knew this was too good to be true so i had to come and do some research first! This is the most recent email they sent me today after the USPS money orders came out
I am writing to inform you that the payment would be delivered to this afternoon or first thing tomorrow morning which the amount on each Money order is $925.17cent and you are receiving 3pieces VIA USPS AND After you receive and cash the payment at your bank ,deduct your monthly task salary (which is) $600.00 for the first month while you are to take the rest of the cash to WESTERN UNION and have it sent to my furniture company below is the name and address you would send the funds to :
NAME: NED KIBBE
Address: 149 Granger St Apt 4,
Rutland, VT, 05701
After the transfer get back to me with all the transfer details from Western Union,the details needed would be the Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN Usually 10 Digits) Including the total amount sent after deducting transfer charges,Note that the transfer charges should be deducted from the money you are sending and not from your money.The funds are needed urgently so get this done and get back to me as soon as possible.
N/B…. Here is the new email that you will be replying me to because i do have a little problem with my Gmail so thats why i set up a new email on yahoo to keep you inform
Thank you
Phillip Fung
…………………….
I’m soo greatful for the internet lol. I’m sad to hear of your horor stories and i learned something thanks!
I just received 2 money orders Albertsons’ MoneyGram for $870.00 each in the same ups envelope from a Frank George 8016 Kennedy Blvd, North Bergen,Nj, 07047. I immediately believed something was wrong. Why 2 M.O.’s and not one for $1740.00.
I called MoneyGram’s toll free #1-800-542-3590 and was informed that they we cashed for $50 & $100 back in June. I have not received any email or letter about sending money to anyone as yet.
received two moneyorders per Secret Shopper per Cliffordwebb42@gmail.com
Money order for $950.00 each
send moneygram Western Union
Uche Peters
address: Lagos Nigeria
Less $200 my portion.
i cashed against my bank account.
i am out of $950.X 2= $1900.00
it is a scram
I just recived four moneygram via UPS all for of them are in amount of $935.17 and they not from albertson instead they are from CVS/pharmacy. Guy that send them to me calling him self Chris Power [chrispower1@ymail.com] and i suppose to send it to Name Of Receiver:
MARY ADEOYE
City: Ikeja
State: Lagos
Zip Code: 23401
Country: NIGERIA
ya right im not that stupid i hope nobody falls for this scam its sad to see that people still do that.
Please be careful when responding to secret shopper jobs on craigsist topchicagojob@gmail.com I applied for an Admin Assistant position, or I thought I was applying for a job and in turn it was a scam. I never heard back regarding the actual job. But I received 3 Money Grams money orders in the amount of $925.17 via ups from a Chris Powers too. The addresses did not match the website, nor matched the money gram and ups package. I received an email with the tracking no. After contacting money gram they were invalid and bogus M/O that were in the amounts of $40.00 and were previously cashed in January 2009. I knew that it was fraudulent after receiving money order for work not performed. The person is a jack williams at jackwilliams21214@yahoo.com and the calls are from a 1-866-345-7120 translator service of some sort. Please be very careful! They will not stop calling me asking if I cashed the M/O. I have to block calls and emails. This is rather insulting to think that we all financially desperate that we will risk and jeopardize our bank accounts, so they will financially gain from this scam.
We live in Ohio and my sister-in-law received 3 money grams and a check. I called the FTC and they are taking complaints. He also said to take these to the post master of your local post office and write on the outside possible fraud. This is mail fraud and illegal.They will follow up on it. Good luck
ON AUG 26TH AT 11AM
I GOT 2 UPS PACKAGES AND BOTH PACKAGES HAD 2 MONEY ORDERS INSIDE ONE HAD 2 FOR 878.00 THE OTHER HAD 2 FOR 870.00 FOR A TOTAL OF $3496.00.
THE FIRST THING I DID WAS GO TO A CHECK CASHING STORE AND SEE IF THEY WOULD CASH ONE OF THEM,I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE FAKE AS SOON AS I SHOWED THE CLERK ONE OF THE MONEY ORDERS.SO I WENT BACK HOME AND EMAILED THE PERSON THAT MAILED THEM TO ME LETTING THEM KNOW THAT I TOOK THEM DOWN TO THE FBI OFFICE AND TURNED THEM OVER WITH ALL THE INFORM I HAD
WITH THE IP ADDRESS THAT THE EMAIL CAME FROM SO
THEY COULD LOCATE THEM AND END UP PUTTING THEM IN JAIL FOR THE FRAUD AND ILLEGAL ACTIONS THEY WERE DOING ACROSS STATE LINES. HOPE TO HEAR FROM THEM SOON…SO IF EVERYONE WILL REPORT THEM FOR BREAKING THE LAW THEY WILL END UP PUTTING THEM IN JAIL WERE THEY BELONG..GOD BLESS ALL TAKE CARE!!!!!!!
hi i got the same thing as everyboy else.theyve sent me 3 money gram money orders i applied as a mystery shopper….watch out. name-frank george.
I received this scam today too with two checks for $975 and Albertsons name on it. Everyone take notice….The red typed numbers on the check don’t even match the other end number above the money amount, the authentification rub circle doesn’t work, and the check has no perferated edges on it! I am doing my best to report this to someone who can do something!
Yeah well, today I receivied this email about a personal assistant job that I don’t remember applying for….but I had to google it!! Thank you everybody for saving me any dispair!! Too bad I already sent that asshole “Chris Powers” (chrispowers1@ymail.com) info minus the important shit!!
Damn you Chris Powers!! You will be judged by someone more important! I hope your conscience is clean dipshit!!
I also received a money gram from albertsons for 950.00(by fedex) its blank with no information on it. I also applied for a job at kijji. its a scam !! I called my bank and they told me its no good. I forwarded it to FBI but noone cares . Its sad. Hope noone believes these people…I also received a check for 3900.00 for mystery shopper position for walmart and its fake to.. I am glad I didnt try to cash these..
Oh and the name was Shirley Einhaus In Bartlett , TN 38133.. (Fedex ) Sender !!!!790-738-2909
I was contacted via email about a job I applied for on craigslist. The email address is willsandy287@aol.com (Sandy Willson). She sent me a $850.00 Albertsons money gram money order, she wanted to deduct my $500 salary and send the rest to another worker that was her employee. This sounds too suspicious for me to fall for>>>
Please beware!
well about a month ago i recieved a express package from ups around 8am it was from a man named frank george. from new jersey. i went to cash one of them but i couldn’t the cashier told me they were counter fit. so yes its a scam i dont even kno a frank george let along kno ANY one from new jersey.
I also recieved a notice that I had won a lottery for 850,000 and would receive my money thru Money Grams .. then Sonia Fish sent me a email saying the payment had been made and all I had to do was contact Frank Gwen Ref Number: 3021-**** all the criteria I have read here had applied so I figured to let you know different names are being used.. not too far off from the original names. I believe this to be a scam and advise all to please do not get scammed by these people from South Africa… if it sounds too good to be real… it probably is.
I was scammed by a Francesco Bassano 1800 dollars. He also called himself Vincent Cole, and he had a “guardian” named John Walker. Im just putting this out there so no one else has too deal with feeling like a complete fucking idiot for getting getting so royally fucked by this bastard. Though I have learned a very valuable lesson.
hey, just read the top where it says the amount box should have micro texture….(dots)…..or the rub circle…..we don’t need anyone to tell us,
Just had an incident similar to another poster. I had someone write me on craigslist (which is seems to be the first problem) and inquire about a room I had for rent. This person didn’t need to see pictures of the place and couldn’t come out because her “uncle was sick”. So she sent me four…yes FOUR moneygrams from Albertson’s for $1000 each telling me to cash them and send 3,350 to
Name : JAMES ABBOTT
Street: 46 Clay Rd Sw
City: CLARKDALE
State: GA
Zip Code: 30111
So that her things would be shipped to my place. Well, being the procrastinator that I am, took too long to cash everything and the address changed (No idea why it would change)
NAME::: KAREN JOHNSON
ADDRESS:: 25622 Northeast Central Avenue
STATE::: FLORIDA
CITY: ALTHA
ZIPCODE:: 32421
Anyway, the circle that you rub wouldn’t disappear and it all seemed really sketchy that she wouldn’t tell me when she planned to move in when I asked her in EVERY single e-mail. So I just called moneygram’s line and one of the checks was cashed last month for $20.
Very screwy.
Also this person was calling me through a service that deaf people to use to make phone calls to keep telling me to wire the money to the shipping company. It all seemed very rushed and sloppy.
I’ve been in contact with a man calling himself Jimmy Kenneth. his grammar sucks and i responded to a job ad on craigslist. this person was looking for a driver to hire to drive his wife around for 3 days as she was coming to town. he said hed pay me 400 a week for 3 weeks, tehn said hed send me a payment to secure my services. his email address is woodkraft12@ymail.com
i got 2 albertsons money orders for 850 each in the mail today. something didnt seem right so i immediately called the police and they were in fact fake. the police congratulated me and confiscated the money orders. then this dude wanted me to cash them at a check cashing place, take some of the money and wire the rest back western union to a lisa quintero, in murfreesboro, TN. he used the name of thomas stuntz signed on the 2 money orders. this person is a complete idiot as im an ex police officer and smelled bullcrap right off the bat. im now in the process of tracking down the proxy servers these emails have come from and pinpointing the source. even if those of you who claim the FBI does not care about your claims, i rest assure you they have people working on the matter even as we speak. justice will be served and all of you who fell victim will get proper rectification when we all appear in court to see this person or person come before the charges for the crimes they have committed.
i got two safeway money orders in mail sent ups for 750.20 from signed emma clark eenvelope said from hacket edmund springdale az had feeling was fraud what should i do
I received 3 Albertson money orders for $875 from fayetteville nc. I was to e-mail someone at faisalgill@yahoo.com when I received them. I googled the name faisal gill and was most horried to find this name has terrorist links. I am taking these to the local authrityies ASAP. This is a scam…
I recently was offered a job opportunity on housekeeping job on Craiglist. The person was MORE than delighted when I answered. I then got 3 moneygram orders for $950 each with CVS logos. I know something was very fishy about this request. They didn’t asked for any reference, and they just gave me the job without any questions asked. I was praying that it wasn’t a scam, due to hardships during this economic recession, but my hopes went down when I recieved this email, entrusting me to cash the moneygrams in, and sending portions of the money back. It really hurt because i am unemployed with children and no help, and sometimes people can get desperate. This is the following email that i recieved by the scammer. I found this article on Google, trying to find out how some people get their hands on blank moneygrams. After reading everyones comments, everything fit into place. After looking at a real moneygram, i realized the 3 i got were fake. My daughther found out the poor copying of the moneygrams was slanted onto the piece of paper.
the email address if the sender was
& the email:
HOUSE KEEPER FIRST TASK - INSTRUCTIONS / UPDATE
Hello again,
Thanks for confirming my message. Now that you have finally received the funds { Money-orders }, you are to go and cash them at your bank and make an immediate withdrawal. Also you are to deduct your salary $350 first week pay for the house - help service from the money.
Then you will proceed to the nearest Western Union office to send the balance money via western union money transfer to my furniture company information as provided below ( You are to deduct the western union fees $175 from the balance funds ).Get back to me as soon as you get this done , so i can contact my furniture company and instruct my debtors and clients to proceed with other payment once you cash the first payment made in your favor for my orders into the house.
Estimation / instructions :
Deduct your first week pay ……………..$350
Western Union Transaction to Furniture firm ………….$2,325
Western Union service charges……….$175
Please make sure you get the balance money sent to my furniture company soon as possible so i can instruct my clients to get the next payment to you .Make sure the transfer is successfully done .Here is the transfer details of the furniture firm below :
Receiver’s Name……………: EMMETT O’FLYNN
City ……………………………..: CHICAGO
Zipcode ………………………..: 60608
State ………………………………: ILLINOIS { IL }
Country ………………………….: USA
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 the furniture company in picking up the money to process my furniture orders. GET BACK TO ME AS SOON AS YOU GET THIS DONE TODAY…
CONFIRM THIS MESSAGE PLS !!!
Regards,
Dr Peter Ander
I received 2 CVS money orders today $925.00 each. Dont know how they got my address, But I have been through this before. I just have to call the toll free line and see if they are real or not. Pritty easy…
Hey Angel, I just got the same email…thanks for lettin me know it’s fake
Hey guys, I too have been contacted by someone over craigslist. I was told that I would be “protecting” this guys wife while she was in town for 3 weeks. After I got that email I really got suspicious-I was told I would be paid in excess and expected to give the cash back to this guys wife. I guarantee that the wife will “fall ill” and I’ll be told to cash the 300 that was my salary and send them the rest. :p
jerry collins (jcolls101@gmail.com)
is the contact. IP trace put him somewhere is Oakland.
You don’t really think these fraud guys are paying their UPS bills? They grab an account number that belongs to someone else and the charges end up on someone else’s account. They don’t pay for the shipping, the materials their mules purchase or anything.
I received two money orders issued by MoneyGram with the Alberstons logo and after some careful investigation and contacting the purported sender, I determined that these were fraud and was further confirmed by MoneyGram. The date of the money orders was August 25, 2009. Please be aware of this scam
I received a money order for $1950 from Brandon Murdo after listing a washing machine on Kijiji. The price of the item was $500 and I am instructed to cash the money order and send the balance by Western Union to an email address. I called Moneygram and there is no record of the numbers on the check. I will change my ad to read “for local pickup only” so I will not be contacted by these people again John Burns is the person emailing me. Who in London wants to buy a wash machine from Wisconsin?lol
well i found out today, i got a money gram ups.
Its an exact copy with a way higher amount then itts suppose. i called moneygram and they told me not to cash it the gram was purchased but for a really little amount. they asked me to send it back. it has different names on the money gram, mailing address, and email.
I was contacted on craigslist for a job I had put an out for and was told I was hired for this guy’s company. He was sending me a “money order” for my first weeks pay, and gave me a UPS tracking number. I tracked it and once it got to my city, it was given an exception and the package was forwarded to a “government agency”. The guys name was Jason Glenn and the package originated in Oakland, CA… Has anyone had THIS experience????
My situation apparently was similar but yet same. I too was scammed. I had recently moved up to Hollywood. I decided that since I was here, to get involved in modeling. I got professional headshots made and begin going after modeling jobs.
I saw an ad on Craiglist looking for male models. I sent a headshot and a couple of days later, I received a reply saying I was selected to do a male photoshoot for a client of his looking to update her catalog. The name of this person was KEVIN COOLEY. This is what was sent……..
Hello,
Thanks for your reply. I am here with a great pay fashion job (Assignment) worth $3,000 for you, A new client of ours wants to update her Catalogs with her new year release fashion outfits and I’m interested in you for the shooting, I’m a photographer by profession with 4 years experience. Find all details for the job below.
Job Details:
You have 12 different Fashion outfits to cover, which would be provided by our client on the day of the shooting, It’s a day job and wouldn’t take more than 3-5 hours .
Types of cloths: Jeans and Jackets, Some Clothing materials.
Name of client: Mrs Debra Gonzalez.
Job Location:
The shooting will hold at a rented photographers studio in your location, so you don’t have to worry about travelling, the name and address of the studio will be forwarded to you before the date of the shooting. All make up will be taken care of in the studio and you can come along with anybody of your choice on the day of the shooting, your mum , dad ,friend ,body-guard or anybody you wish to come with so that you could feel more comfortable and relaxed .
Job Percentage:
The total pay for the jobs is $3,000 and you get $1500 as your percentage.
Expectations:
You need to have good and attractive poses (start practicing). Basically this is all required of you, please get in touch with me if you will take the job and we can go from there. Please, no time wasted. This job I am offering you is private and confidential so I am handling it personally. Please, do not send messages to any other email other than this OK.
Regards
Kevin Cooley
Job email : model.employer@yahoo.com
So, eventually I asked for a phone number and he provided it without fail.
I let a couple of days go by and then decided to call and verify that it was legit. I called and he answered the phone ” Hello Kevin Cooley” I asked a few questions and he said he had been sick, but now feeling better. He said he was sending out a first payment to me and the rest I would be paid at the completion of the photo shoot. He said email him back once I had received it.
The mailperson rang my door buzzer and had a brown envelope for me to sign for. I signed it and opened the envelope, which contained a money order from Safeway supermarket in the amount of $860.00
The sad and terrible thing about my situation is that I worked for Safeway for a year and a half as a supervisor. I sold many of them money orders, and it looked 1000% legit.
So after about a week, the money order had cleared my bank and I emailed him telling him that I received the money order and let the photoshoot proceed.
Then I receive this following email…..
I have made the arrangements with my personal assistant. Remove $400 on this first payment you received while the $300 remaining would be sent to you before the shooting date OK. Send the remaining money that is left after you have deducted your $400 to my personal assistant through Western Union to enable her receive it and have the location of the shooting secured and reserved, Make ups and all the other necessary things needed .
This is the details of my P.A that you would transfer the money to below:
Receiver’s Name: DIANE RIVERA
Address: 3405 W 43rd St,
LOS ANGELES, CA 90008
As soon as you have made the transfer, I want you to email me with the Western union Transfer Information that is on the receipt / transfer slip.
You will email me:-
Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN) ?
Senders Name ?
Senders Address?
Amount Transferred?
On getting to any of the Western union outlet to make the transfer, they shall ask for a transfer charge, this you will deduct from the money you will be sending.
The location of the studio would be released to you which I believe would be nearest to you. Don’t forget, you can come along with any person of your choice to the shooting location. It would be my pleasure working with you on this project soon.I hope you understand all I said and hope to hear from you soon.
Regards,
Kevin Cooley..
I ONLY WISH I HAD SEEN THIS WEBSITE PRIOR TO DEPOSITING THAT MONEY ORDER INTO MY ACCOUNT. Now I am at a -$1009.00 with over draft fees in my account thanks to this scam.
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