 TITLE: How to Fill Out a Money Order CONTENT: How to Protect Yourself From Money Order Scams\n----------------------------------------------\nJust like most other forms of payment, money orders are subject to scams. Money order scams come in many forms. For example, someone may send you a bogus money order as payment for an item. You receive the money order and deposit it, then ship the item, only to have your bank claw back the money when they realize the payment method was fraudulent.\nOr the scammer may send you a fake money order to pay for an item, then ask you to send some or all of the money back because they're experiencing a financial emergency.\nOn the other end of things, you may want to buy something online from a vendor that only accepts money orders. In this case, you may send the money order and never receive the item. By the time you realize what's happened, the money is long gone. You can cancel a money order and get a refund in some instances, but don't bank on that—especially if the money order has been cashed.\nBefore sending out a money order, verify that you're giving the money to a reputable vendor of goods and services. If a business only accepts money orders, that's a good cue to vet them a little more thoroughly before buying.\nWhen you're the one receiving a money order, call the issuer to ensure the money order is valid before attempting to cash or deposit it. If you deposit a money order you aren't sure is real, don't spend the money right away. It can take a bank several days or longer to determine whether a money order is fake, and if you've already spent the money, you could be charged overdraft fees if the amount hasn't yet been deposited into your account.\nFinally, if someone sends you a money order and then asks for some or all of the money back, that may be a clear sign that it's fraudulent. Don't send them any money, and work with your bank until the issue is resolved. END