Money Order cashed by a stranger....

[pixelrogue1]

PA

Let me know if there is a more appropriate forum for this post.

Situation
A $500.00 money order vanished...unsure if this was theft or 'remote' possibility that that money order was lost. We contacted Western Union that same day, multiple phone calls, emails, different instructions provided each time. We wanted a freeze, block or cancellation. Needless-to-say, all the calls were managed in Asia. Some of the reps insisted we write an email and provided documentation. Auto-responders acknowledging the message were all we ever received. It has been difficult communicating w/WU. The iOS app support, on the other hand, have been better at providing information.
The money order was black, virgin, untouched. The money order receipt stub was still attached, and there was no writing yet on the paper.

Stranger Cashed
Days later, we learn the money order has been cashed. We were upset in how there was no way to work w/WU to prevent this from having happened....we tried for days.
We are now in receipt of a photocopy of the money order. We presume that the information such as name and address would be checked when the business cashing the money order.

So, we think we know who cashed the money order, have their address, might even have a phone number....looking for an email address as a softer way to reach out.
We could pursue this a few different ways, and am here to ask if fraud would be a legitimate avenue to pursue? Is $500 worth it, that is a different topic for a different day.

Question
If someone in possession of a blank money order (both sides, nothing yet written anywhere,) presented the money order to cash, was fraud committed when they themselves did not purchase nor were given the money order? Is there a case here for fraud, or is this maybe in the 'finder's keepers' space in the event they just found it on the ground?

 

[quincy]

PA

Let me know if there is a more appropriate forum for this post.

Situation
A $500.00 money order vanished...unsure if this was theft or 'remote' possibility that that money order was lost. We contacted Western Union that same day, multiple phone calls, emails, different instructions provided each time. We wanted a freeze, block or cancellation. Needless-to-say, all the calls were managed in Asia. The emails that we wrote which were insisted by some of the reps we wrote and provided documentation. Auto-responders acknowledging the message were all we ever received. It has been difficult communicating w/WU. The iOS app support, on the other hand, have been better at providing information.
The money order was black, virgin, untouched. The money order receipt stub was still attached, and there was no writing yet on the paper.

Stranger Cashed
Days later, we learn the money order has been cashed. We were upset in how there was no way to work w/WU to prevent this from having happened....we tried for days.
We are now in receipt of a photocopy of the money order. We presume that the information such as name and address would be checked when the business cashing the money order.

So, we think we know who cashed the money order, have their address, might even have a phone number....looking for an email address as a softer way to reach out.
We could pursue this a few different ways, and am here to ask if fraud would be a legitimate avenue to pursue? Is $500 worth it, that is a different topic for a different day.

Question
If someone in possession of a blank money order (both sides, nothing yet written anywhere,) presented the money order to cash, was fraud committed when they themselves did not purchase nor were given the money order? Is there a case here for fraud, or is this maybe in the 'finder's keepers' space in the event they just found it on the ground?

Anything is possible, I suppose.

But the signature of the one getting the money order and the signature of the one receiving the money order are required for cashing.

 

[Taxing Matters]

Question
If someone in possession of a blank money order (both sides, nothing yet written anywhere,) presented the money order to cash, was fraud committed when they themselves did not purchase nor were given the money order? Is there a case here for fraud, or is this maybe in the 'finder's keepers' space in the event they just found it on the ground?

A WU money order doesn't have the buyer's name printed on it — you have to add your address and sign the money order yourself. You also need to detach and keep the receipt stub that is attached to the money order as proof to WU that you were the purchaser. It sounds like you did not bother to fill out any part of the money order, did not sign it, and did not detach the stub. You basically left it open for anyone to take and use, much like leaving cash around. The person who took the money order without authorization surely committed a theft offense. But the use of the money order is not a fraud on the institution who cashed it unless the person presenting the money order misrepresented something to the institution. If the money order was not filled in and signed the thief would not have to misrepresent anything to cash it.

In any event, you certainly could sue the thief, if you can find him/her for the loss.

 

[pixelrogue1]

We use money orders from time-to-time. We usually fill it out at home, shortly after purchasing... and that is when we discovered it missing.

 

[quincy]

To (potentially) identify the thief, ask the money order issuer for a photocopy of the cashed order, to see who endorsed it.

You can sue to recover the funds, you can file a theft report with the police, you can file a claim with your homeowner's insurance.

 

[xylene]

Don't spend to much time or money on this, I think you are SOL.

 

[adjusterjack]

We use money orders from time-to-time. We usually fill it out at home, shortly after purchasing... and that is when we discovered it missing.

Then the perpetrator is someone known to you. A friend, family member, boyfriend, girlfriend, someone with easy access to your home and personal belongings, who knows about your use of money orders, perhaps someone who is a drug addict.

Could explain why you haven't mentioned calling the police as an option.

 

[quincy]

... Could explain why you haven't mentioned calling the police as an option.

Pixelrogue said there is a "remote possibility" that the money order was lost.

 

[adjusterjack]

Pixelrogue said there is a "remote possibility" that the money order was lost.

"Remote" is right.

 

[quincy]

Seeing who endorsed the money order could clear up the mystery of who took it (if the endorser is known) or if it was lost (if the endorser is not known), if pixierogue really wants to know.

 

[pixelrogue1]

Then the perpetrator is someone known to you. A friend, family member, boyfriend, girlfriend, someone with easy access to your home and personal belongings, who knows about your use of money orders, perhaps someone who is a drug addict.

Could explain why you haven't mentioned calling the police as an option.

The money order never arrived home where we would have filled it out. It vanished that same day, within an estimated 2 hours (or less) from time of purchase. (no friend, family etc.). Just disappeared. It could have been lifted, or it could have been lost (fell)? We do not know.
What we do know is we are staring at the signature and info of the person who cashed it, a complete stranger.

 

[pixelrogue1]

Seeing who endorsed the money order could clear up the mystery of who took it (if the endorser is known) or if it was lost (if the endorser is not known), if pixierogue really wants to know.

We have the endorsement...a complete photocopy of the money order w/endorser's name, address etc. We have been able to gather a fair amount of info on the person...looking for an email address as a softer way to contact the person. Willing to negotiate w/the person so they still get something, a sort of compromise. That said if the person chooses to dismiss, ignore or otherwise tell us to <insert expletives here,> then we have a plan b and maybe plan c. And, there comes a point where $500 isn't worth it....hopefully we find a quick and easy compromise and make it a win-win for everyone....(yes, even the person who cashed it) as from a pragmatic perspective, if we turn this into a life lesson, or want to grind an axe against what happened - then we are looking at far beyond the original $500.

 

[quincy]

We have the endorsement...a complete photocopy of the money order w/endorser's name, address etc. We have been able to gather a fair amount of info on the person...looking for an email address as a softer way to contact the person. Willing to negotiate w/the person so they still get something, a sort of compromise. That said if the person chooses to dismiss, ignore or otherwise tell us to <insert expletives here,> then we have a plan b and maybe plan c. And, there comes a point where $500 isn't worth it....hopefully we find a quick and easy compromise and make it a win-win for everyone....(yes, even the person who cashed it) as from a pragmatic perspective, if we turn this into a life lesson, or want to grind an axe against what happened - then we are looking at far beyond the original $500.

Reporting to the police the money order that was stolen, with the information you have gathered on the endorser, may be your best course of action.

When someone finds money (in any form), the law says to turn it into authorities so the rightful owner can be found. There is no "finders-keepers" law.

Good luck.

 

[Zigner]

Do you know the person who cashed it? I understand you are now aware of who cashed it, but do you have a prior relationship (of any kind) with that person?

 

[PayrollHRGuy]

He did say "Stranger" in the Subject Line.