Nowadays, people are finding more ways to scam businesses and people out of their hard-earned money.

The most recent outbreak of scams is concerning customers passing counterfeit postal money orders at branches of the United States Postal Service (USPS).

Postmasters throughout Crenshaw County contacted the Journal needing help spread the word of this scam. Although there hasn't been many incidents in the county concerning this matter, the Luverne Post Office has received several of the counterfeit orders.

Below is a release from the USPS concerning this matter:

A fraud scheme speeding across the Internet may cost U.S. residents time, money and a not-so-pleasant chat with bank and law enforcement officials for passing counterfeit postal money orders.

According to U.S. Postal Inspectors, the scam begins when someone needing help to cash phony postal money orders contacts a victim by e-mail, through an Internet chat room or on-line auction site. Once the bogus money orders are cashed, the victim returns the funds via wire transfer, often unaware they have assisted in a federal crime.

Victims are told they can keep some of the money as a gift or payment for their help, officials said.

Unsuspecting victims provide their home mailing address to the scam artist - who U.S. Postal Inspectors call "fraudsters" - and are told they will receive a check or postal money order that they should deposit into their own bank account.

"Scams promising quick and easy money are cast by fraudsters," said Chief Postal Inspector Lee Heath.

"These scam artists can easily connect to a sea of strangers through the Internet and dangle promising treats, hoping someone will bite."

"Don't take the bait," Heath added.

Such scams can be coordinated from anywhere in the world, but recently many have been conducted from Nigeria.

"This is another example of our commitment to protecting the mail and our fellow Americans," said Heath. "Their security is our mission."

For more information about postal money order security features, visit the U.S. Postal Service Web site at http://www.usps.com/missingmoneyorders/security.htm

To report a fraud complaint, call the Fraud Complaint Hotline at 1-800-372-8347 or visit the U.S. Postal Inspection Service Web site at www.usps.com/postalinspectors.