Money orders are very dangerous considering the large number of scams that have been associated with them. Counterfeit postal money orders are increasing day by day, as they have become the source of easy money. Recognizing counterfeit is easy yet is often overlooked by bank officials and others.
There are many features that can help you determine whether or not a money order is fake. Following are a few:
- Watermarks: Watermarks of Benjamin Franklin are found on postal money orders, which can be seen on both the front and back of a real postal money order when held up to the light. If the watermark looks hampered in any way, you may have a fake postal money order in your hands.
- Security Threads: Security threads, commonly used on currency notes also feature in the paper of postal money orders. This security thread is dark and runs from the top of the money order to the bottom. It lies on the right of the watermark when looking at the money order’s front. While checking for the authenticity of the thread, look for the words USPS printed multiple times on the thread. Look at it against the light and if the security thread looks even a tiny bit different from what has been described above, you may have a fake MO in your hands.
- Amount: The amount of the money order can also help identify a counterfeit money order. Domestic U.S. postal money orders are limited to 1,000 dollars per money order while international money orders are limited to 700 dollars per money order. Any amounts over these have no cash value.
- Color: green, yellow, and blue colors feature on domestic postal money orders while international postal money orders have pink, yellow, and gold colors on them.
- Smudges and Alterations: If it looks like the numbers have been changed on the postal money order’s unique number or on the dollar amount, the money order may be counterfeit.