With the Holiday Season almost here, there are ALL SORTS of things you shouldn’t send through the mail, and MOST are PRETTY COMMON SENSE: fireworks, handguns, drugs – and so on.
Other things are less obvious – OR require special handling – such as live animals – old-fashioned thermometers, containing mercury – nail polish – and perfume.
And, bear in mind, there’s a very common thing the U.S. Postal Inspection Service recommends against sending via the mail – especially, during the holiday season: CASH. The warning on sending money through the mail is very straightforward – “Customers should never send cash in the mail.” It’s NOT illegal to send cash in the mail, of course; but if it’s stolen, or lost in transit, there’s nothing you can do. It’s far better to use a secure electronic transfer method such as a mobile payment app or wire transfer.
If mail is the only option, it’s recommended that you use a money order. A money order receipt will help you track your payment – and, also show proof of value in case the money order gets lost, stolen, or damaged.
What about mailing a check? That is an option – but it does present challenges as well. If you do mail a check, never make it out to cash OR leave it blank – and always wrap it in paper before placing it inside that envelope, to make it harder to see just what’s inside.
You should also use a “Gel Pen” to write out your check. Experts said the ink inside a gel pen makes it harder for thieves to “wash” that check, and change the payee names and dollar amounts. It’s also recommended to drop checks (or any financially sensitive mail) at the box inside the post office instead of leaving it in a mailbox with a flag up – that can very well send a signal for thieves to drop by as well.