Journal tomhudson's Journal: Customer stuck with counterfeit money from the post office 19
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-lazarus-20100525,0,1425491.column
I guess they're taking lessons from the Federal Reserve
Wayne Williams, deputy special agent in charge of the Secret Service's L.A. office:
Lipin got his bogus cash from the U.S. Postal Service, redeeming a Postal Service money order. Shouldn't Uncle Sam bear some responsibility?
"Not really," Williams replied. "The post office operates as a business. It takes in money from customers. Postal workers don't really have special equipment or training to spot counterfeit bills. Unless they're in on it, this isn't their responsibility."
So Lipin is hosed?
"He's hosed."
Too bad you can't pay your taxes at the post office - apparently they accept anything
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http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-lazarus-20100525,0,1425491.column [latimes.com]
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he? his? Where have you been? :-)
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I don't take it personally, unless the other person means it to be personal. After all, I resisted dealing with it, so I can see how others could also be resistant to the idea.
Usually it's just a sign that they haven't really thought out the issues of identity.
For example, if in the future we're able to to brain transplants, and some guy was in a horrible accident and the only available donor body was female, he'd still be insisting that he was a guy - just a guy trapped in a woman's body. Who you ar
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I bought it from the post office ... it must be counterfeit !!!
That's what happens when you're trying to do 6 things at once before midnight!!!
Seriously - I think most of us are the most productive during vampire hours.
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The irony is they probably wouldn't accept the money if he turned around and tried to spend it to buy stamps.
Hmmm (Score:2)
I'm surprised by something in the part B quoted.
"Not really," Williams replied. "The post office operates as a business. It takes in money from customers. Postal workers don't really have special equipment or training to spot counterfeit bills. Unless they're in on it, this isn't their responsibility."
That's really weird. Here in Brazil, most retail employees are taught how to spot counterfeit bills and even given tools (special markers and/or devices) for detecting counterfeit bills. Does such technology really not exist in the USA?
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Does such technology really not exist in the USA?
Yes, of course.. It's just that, like everywhere else, we don't apply the same rules of engagement we live under to our respective governments, or corporate chiefs..
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You've got it. The postal employees don't give a ***. After all, it's not like the customers can go to another place to buy and cash in USPS money orders, and it's not like the employee is going to get fired if he/she p****es off a customer by giving them bogus bills.
Mind you, he may have another out. Money issued by the government is legal tender. Since this was "money issued by the post office", it's not "really" counterfeit. He might get back "real" money on that basis in small claims court - a judgm
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You can cash a USPS money order damned near anywhere.
Happened to my brother once.... (Score:1)
He got money out of an ATM. One of the bills was counterfeit, which he found out when he wanted to pay with it. He went to the police and they... confiscated it. Sure, it was only 1000LUF (~25EUR), but still that was quite some money back then.
So, whatever you do... if you get counterfeit money and it is refused in one shop, try to spend it in another shop to get rid of it. I know it's dishonest, but it's the only way in order not to "lose" your money.
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This governmental policy on counterfeit money is of the mentality and all the maturity of a children's game [wikipedia.org]. It's like it's dishonestly and unnecessarily being treated like buying stolen property.
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We could make a movie about that ... maybe call it "Pay It Forward 2" ...