One of the most prevalent fraud schemes involves people overseas contacting people selling generally higher-priced items or services with money orders. The perpetrators often prey on people trying to sell items on eBay and other web sites.

They will offer a higher price than what the seller is asking for as an incentive to do business. The perpetrators will ask the seller to send the difference between the selling price and what is sent in the form of money orders to a designated third party.

When the victim unwittingly deposits the money order into their bank account and withdraws a sum to send to the third party, the bank will eventually void the transaction after determining the money orders are fraudulent.

This just doesn't happen to people selling cars or computers. We have seen this happen to professionals offering services. One photographer I know was "hired" by a client in China who offered to pay by US. Post Office money order. He offered to pay a little more and asked the photographer to pay a third party the difference. The client provided an address for the photo shoot, which also happened to be false information. It was a frustrating experience for the photographer.

Here are the red flags to look for:

1. Approached by someone overseas
2. Offering to pay by money order or cashiers check
3. Offering to pay more than the asking price
4. Asking you to send money to a third party

Read about the experience others have had with this scam and get info from people in your local area in the SIGHTINGS & LOCATIONS section. If you have had any experiences with the International money order fraud, please share your experience with others, because only through the sharing of information can we help others.