When sending money by mail, use money orders as a safe alternative to cash and personal checks. U.S. Postal Service money orders are affordable, widely accepted, and never expire. Your money order receipt will help you track your payment and show proof of value in case the money order gets lost, stolen, or damaged. You can buy or cash postal money orders at any Post Office location.

When sending money by mail, use money orders as a safe alternative to cash and personal checks. U.S. Postal Service money orders are affordable, widely accepted, and never expire. Your money order receipt will help you track your payment and show proof of value in case the money order gets lost, stolen, or damaged. You can buy or cash postal money orders at any Post Office location. How to Send Domestic Money Orders: Decide on the money order amount. You can send up to $1,000 in a single order anywhere in the United States. Go to any Post Office location. Take cash or a debit card. You cannot pay with a credit card. Fill out the money order at the counter with a retail associate. Pay the dollar value of the money order plus the issuing fee. Keep your receipt to track the money order. Money Order Fees are based on the money order dollar amount: $0.01 to $500.00 costs $2.65; $500.01 to $1,000.00 costs $3.75. Postal Military Money Orders issued by military facilities cost $0.85. Receiving Postal Money Orders – How to Spot a Fake: Before you accept a money order, make sure it's real. Real postal money orders have specific marks and designs to prevent fraud. There are 4 valid designs. Key security features include watermarks of Pony Express riders, watermarks with United States Postal Service text in rectangular boxes, embedded security threads revealing USPS letters, and QR codes linking to verification tools. To suspect a fake: Check the dollar amount—domestic money orders cannot exceed $1,000. The words and numbers for the amount should match. Discoloration or paper fiber disturbance around dollar amounts may show amounts were changed. If watermarks are easily visible without holding to light, it may indicate fraud. If you think you've received a fake money order: Verify the money order online by scanning the QR code, visiting tools.usps.com/money-orders.htm, or calling the Money Order Verification System at 1-866-459-7822. If you suspect fraud, contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455 or www.uspis.gov/report. How to Cash Domestic Money Orders: Domestic money orders never expire and do not accrue interest. Money orders are cashed for the exact amount on the order. You can cash a USPS money order at a Post Office for free. You can also cash them at most banks and some stores. Rural carriers may cash money orders if they have enough money on hand. Cashing a Money Order at the Post Office: Do not sign the money order. Take a primary photo ID with the money order to any Post Office location. Sign the money order at the counter in front of a retail associate. Check the Status of a Money Order: You can check the status at any time by visiting the Money Orders Application. You must have the following information: Serial number, Post Office number, and Dollar amount. Replacing Lost, Stolen, or Damaged Money Orders: You cannot stop payment on postal money orders, but a lost or stolen money order can be replaced. Money order loss or theft may take up to 30 days to confirm. Investigating a money order's lost or stolen status may take up to 60 days. There is a $23.00 processing fee to replace a lost or stolen money order. To request a refund, take your money order receipt to any Post Office location and talk to a retail associate to start a Money Order Inquiry. When your money order is confirmed lost or stolen, USPS will issue a replacement. Damaged money orders will be replaced—take the damaged money order and receipt to your local Post Office location.