North Palm Beach Retail Associates Help Stop Money Order Fraudster

By Karin Nolf, A/Customer Relations Coordinator, West Palm Beach

The U.S. Postal Inspection Service and South Florida Retail Office notified West Palm Beach, FL, Post Offices about a postal money order fraud.

North Palm Beach Retail Associates Mary Ann Jesteadt and Cathy Mitchell are being recognized for alerting police and helping to apprehend a person involved in the altering of postal money orders.

“Simply stated, it took communication and teamwork,” said Jesteadt. “Postal Inspectors and the South Florida Retail Manager sent daily updates on money order numbers being bought and cashed, and also included photos of some of the individuals involved.”

 

When the suspicious customer presented a money order to cash at Mitchell’s retail station, she immediately got Jesteadt also to review the money order.  It was determined to be suspicious, so Mitchell stayed at the retail station while Jesteadt pretended to check on available cash. 

“Because of the updates, it was easy to check the date and location to verify that indeed, the money order had been changed from $3.50 to $602.00,” said Mitchell.

Local police immediately were contacted, and by their quick response, they were able to apprehend the customer, who at that time, was headed to her car in the rear parking lot of the facility.