Suspicious Activity Reports to the IRS when buying or depositing money orders.
#1307
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,727
this reminds me of a female blogger who operate somewhere in NorCal where she says she found a WM who allows her to buy $10K in MOs (5 transactions of $2K each with 4 swipes of her VGCs) PLUS another $10K in B/P. Seems like she found a unicorn WM. you can read her story here . While a lot of people in NorCal/bay area are having a hard time liquidating their VGCs, her WM now allows her to buy up to $10K in one trip with the AP personnel's blessing. I consider this as one of those TGTBT stories that probably works for her with the manager onboard with her activities.
#1308
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Colorado
Programs: Alaska, Shell VC, Wyndham VC, Starwood, RCI, II--I bought it on eBay!
Posts: 159
With the local Kroger being stinkier about MO's, though it is still working, we are thinking of trying WM for the future. We only plan to do $8K per month, however. And if it works at WM, I will write a letter to Kroger to let them know they lost my grocery business.
I went to WM for shopping with Bluebird working very well for a long time. Then BB was shut down for both of us in one fell swoop. We were doing $5K per month each.
Kroger sold us our MO's, so we were shopping there exclusively. They will lose our business, but doubtful that they care about one customer. I wish more people were letter writers.
I would like to just let Kroger know that our MS is not something villainous or sleazy, it's just a way to build miles. Now the buying of MO's with CASH is something else altogether here in Colorado. With pot being sold as a cash-only product, the entire chain of profits is all cash, so selling money orders with cash is more suspicious, by far, than buying them with gift cards. The gift cards are purchased with credit cards, therefore there is a money trail.
Also, cash in your pocket could mean you are working for cash, which means it's not trackable. So how is that okay?
#1309
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Denver CO
Posts: 3,682
Hey, a familiar name. I am rickandcind23 on TUG. Are you the same one I know from TUG?
With the local Kroger being stinkier about MO's, though it is still working, we are thinking of trying WM for the future. We only plan to do $8K per month, however. And if it works at WM, I will write a letter to Kroger to let them know they lost my grocery business.
I went to WM for shopping with Bluebird working very well for a long time. Then BB was shut down for both of us in one fell swoop. We were doing $5K per month each.
Kroger sold us our MO's, so we were shopping there exclusively. They will lose our business, but doubtful that they care about one customer. I wish more people were letter writers.
I would like to just let Kroger know that our MS is not something villainous or sleazy, it's just a way to build miles. Now the buying of MO's with CASH is something else altogether here in Colorado. With pot being sold as a cash-only product, the entire chain of profits is all cash, so selling money orders with cash is more suspicious, by far, than buying them with gift cards. The gift cards are purchased with credit cards, therefore there is a money trail.
Also, cash in your pocket could mean you are working for cash, which means it's not trackable. So how is that okay?
With the local Kroger being stinkier about MO's, though it is still working, we are thinking of trying WM for the future. We only plan to do $8K per month, however. And if it works at WM, I will write a letter to Kroger to let them know they lost my grocery business.
I went to WM for shopping with Bluebird working very well for a long time. Then BB was shut down for both of us in one fell swoop. We were doing $5K per month each.
Kroger sold us our MO's, so we were shopping there exclusively. They will lose our business, but doubtful that they care about one customer. I wish more people were letter writers.
I would like to just let Kroger know that our MS is not something villainous or sleazy, it's just a way to build miles. Now the buying of MO's with CASH is something else altogether here in Colorado. With pot being sold as a cash-only product, the entire chain of profits is all cash, so selling money orders with cash is more suspicious, by far, than buying them with gift cards. The gift cards are purchased with credit cards, therefore there is a money trail.
Also, cash in your pocket could mean you are working for cash, which means it's not trackable. So how is that okay?
Remember, this is just a convenience these stores provide to encourage you to shop, like renting crutches free (or at least cheap), and handling utility payments.
Last edited by Mountain Trader; Jan 3, 2017 at 10:18 am
#1310
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Colorado
Programs: Alaska, Shell VC, Wyndham VC, Starwood, RCI, II--I bought it on eBay!
Posts: 159
As a fellow Coloradan, I am as disappointed as anyone that the Kroger ride didn't last longer. However, I am not bitter as they still have more liberal rules on some of this activity than other supermarkets, and I imagine the weight of all the MS and other money transfer activity just got to be too much.
Remember, this is just a convenience these stores provide to encourage you to shop, like renting crutches free (or at least cheap), and handling utility payments.
Remember, this is just a convenience these stores provide to encourage you to shop, like renting crutches free (or at least cheap), and handling utility payments.
#1311
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,727
Hey, a familiar name. I am rickandcind23 on TUG. Are you the same one I know from TUG?
With the local Kroger being stinkier about MO's, though it is still working, we are thinking of trying WM for the future. We only plan to do $8K per month, however. And if it works at WM, I will write a letter to Kroger to let them know they lost my grocery business.
I went to WM for shopping with Bluebird working very well for a long time. Then BB was shut down for both of us in one fell swoop. We were doing $5K per month each.
Kroger sold us our MO's, so we were shopping there exclusively. They will lose our business, but doubtful that they care about one customer. I wish more people were letter writers.
I would like to just let Kroger know that our MS is not something villainous or sleazy, it's just a way to build miles. Now the buying of MO's with CASH is something else altogether here in Colorado. With pot being sold as a cash-only product, the entire chain of profits is all cash, so selling money orders with cash is more suspicious, by far, than buying them with gift cards. The gift cards are purchased with credit cards, therefore there is a money trail.
Also, cash in your pocket could mean you are working for cash, which means it's not trackable. So how is that okay?
With the local Kroger being stinkier about MO's, though it is still working, we are thinking of trying WM for the future. We only plan to do $8K per month, however. And if it works at WM, I will write a letter to Kroger to let them know they lost my grocery business.
I went to WM for shopping with Bluebird working very well for a long time. Then BB was shut down for both of us in one fell swoop. We were doing $5K per month each.
Kroger sold us our MO's, so we were shopping there exclusively. They will lose our business, but doubtful that they care about one customer. I wish more people were letter writers.
I would like to just let Kroger know that our MS is not something villainous or sleazy, it's just a way to build miles. Now the buying of MO's with CASH is something else altogether here in Colorado. With pot being sold as a cash-only product, the entire chain of profits is all cash, so selling money orders with cash is more suspicious, by far, than buying them with gift cards. The gift cards are purchased with credit cards, therefore there is a money trail.
Also, cash in your pocket could mean you are working for cash, which means it's not trackable. So how is that okay?
Pot money is illegal and no entity should help launder it. Maybe the Feds will start enforcing the laws again.
#1312
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 829
There is NO cash involved anywhere in the MS business yet there are thousands of posts on this subject, should give you some clue that it is upon you to make every effort to make sure it doesn't look like a SA whether Cash or no cash. The kind of volume we are talking about is not normal.
Last edited by Gitangali; Jan 4, 2017 at 5:05 am
#1313
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Colorado
Programs: Alaska, Shell VC, Wyndham VC, Starwood, RCI, II--I bought it on eBay!
Posts: 159
Cash for gift cards should definitely raise red flags in Colorado. So apparently Kroger/ King Soopers should just stop selling MO's, because what other means can one use to buy a MO? You cannot use a credit card, that would be way too easy for MS, and you cannot use a debit card, unless it's backed by a checking account. If I have a checking account, I don't need money orders. C'mon Kroger!
Still thinking of trying WalMart, just to see how it goes. Glad you are having some luck with it.
#1314
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,727
Quite a few misleading posts. Don't comment on serious subject which has serious repercussions in a scullion manner.
There is NO cash involved anywhere in the MS business yet there are thousands of posts on this subject, should give you some clue that it is upon you to make every effort to make sure it doesn't look like a SA whether Cash or no cash. The kind of volume we are talking about is not normal.
There is NO cash involved anywhere in the MS business yet there are thousands of posts on this subject, should give you some clue that it is upon you to make every effort to make sure it doesn't look like a SA whether Cash or no cash. The kind of volume we are talking about is not normal.
#1315
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: SF
Programs: Elite status at local McDonalds, Carwash, and Post Office
Posts: 51
I just started doing MS recently, and keeping records is probably the safest way to prove your innocence, should you come into a legal battle. I take pictures of the GC's themselves, receipts of GC purchase, MO, receipt of MO, and Deposit slip to bank. This shows the entire trail of the "money" from start to finish, nothing illegal there. I don't want to give anyone's attorney an excuse to mess with me. Maybe I'm paranoid, that's ok, it's a good habit to form.
Datapoint: I used a $500 Metabank VGC and a $500 US Bank MGC to buy a money order at Wally, I was thinking it might give me a little hiccup because they were different issuers, but they went through flawless, the master card you just have to hit cancel and choose debit since it defaults to credit. I plan on doing about $8k a month of MS and I have a well seasoned WF business account. Happy MSing.
Datapoint: I used a $500 Metabank VGC and a $500 US Bank MGC to buy a money order at Wally, I was thinking it might give me a little hiccup because they were different issuers, but they went through flawless, the master card you just have to hit cancel and choose debit since it defaults to credit. I plan on doing about $8k a month of MS and I have a well seasoned WF business account. Happy MSing.
#1316
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Colorado
Programs: Alaska, Shell VC, Wyndham VC, Starwood, RCI, II--I bought it on eBay!
Posts: 159
I plan on doing about $8k a month of MS and I have a well seasoned WF business account. Happy MSing.
I did get my BB shut down last year, about this time. I was incredibly agitated with Amex and closed my accounts with Amex as my own little protest. I am sure they don't care, but I felt better.
#1317
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 970
This is a pretty safe amount per month, in my experience. I have never been flagged by credit card companies or the IRS for this practice.
I did get my BB shut down last year, about this time. I was incredibly agitated with Amex and closed my accounts with Amex as my own little protest. I am sure they don't care, but I felt better.
I did get my BB shut down last year, about this time. I was incredibly agitated with Amex and closed my accounts with Amex as my own little protest. I am sure they don't care, but I felt better.
Talk about shooting yourself in the foot
#1318
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Colorado
Programs: Alaska, Shell VC, Wyndham VC, Starwood, RCI, II--I bought it on eBay!
Posts: 159
You need to explain why I "shot myself in the foot." Amex is losing business right and left, starting with Costco, when they continually hounded Costco to push the credit card to members.
I cancelled my Starwood Amex because it had no worth. When I do a close examination of my credit cards, it's the Amex cards that are the bottom of the barrel for benefits. All Chase cards have a benefit worthy of the annual fee; however, Starwood Amex gives me nothing to renew the card.
I cancelled my Starwood Amex because it had no worth. When I do a close examination of my credit cards, it's the Amex cards that are the bottom of the barrel for benefits. All Chase cards have a benefit worthy of the annual fee; however, Starwood Amex gives me nothing to renew the card.
#1319
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,688
To a lot of MSers, including me, amex accounts are very valuable for the sync offers that are potentially huge MMs. Depending on how many primary cards and AUs one has, not counting S/BB prepaids they have, they can rack up substantial rewards. For certain offers that can be used at certain merchants that sell VGCs, these can be very profitable. There are people I know who buy eGCs from participating merchants that they resell immediately.
It really depends on each one and how they use their cards to their advantage plus all the tricks being shared by certain groups.
It really depends on each one and how they use their cards to their advantage plus all the tricks being shared by certain groups.
#1320
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,727
I just started doing MS recently, and keeping records is probably the safest way to prove your innocence, should you come into a legal battle. I take pictures of the GC's themselves, receipts of GC purchase, MO, receipt of MO, and Deposit slip to bank. This shows the entire trail of the "money" from start to finish, nothing illegal there. I don't want to give anyone's attorney an excuse to mess with me. Maybe I'm paranoid, that's ok, it's a good habit to form.
Datapoint: I used a $500 Metabank VGC and a $500 US Bank MGC to buy a money order at Wally, I was thinking it might give me a little hiccup because they were different issuers, but they went through flawless, the master card you just have to hit cancel and choose debit since it defaults to credit. I plan on doing about $8k a month of MS and I have a well seasoned WF business account. Happy MSing.
Datapoint: I used a $500 Metabank VGC and a $500 US Bank MGC to buy a money order at Wally, I was thinking it might give me a little hiccup because they were different issuers, but they went through flawless, the master card you just have to hit cancel and choose debit since it defaults to credit. I plan on doing about $8k a month of MS and I have a well seasoned WF business account. Happy MSing.