internet scams how to avoid??
As Pateras said be cautious of the over payment scam and keep in mind that certified checks and cashiers checks can be phony too.
I had to get some trees removed from my lot one time. the tree guy came and I paid him part cash, and majority of the balance in a cashier's check from my bank.
He got half of the trees cut up, and said that his chain was dull and he would be back tomorrow to finish. He never showed up.
I called my banker and told her that he stiffed me. He hadn't cashed the check, so she put a stop payment on it so he couldn't.
Certified checks can also be pulled back/cancelled....
Postal money orders too....
If you loose a postal money order, you can go to the post office with the receipt and money order #, if it hasn't been cashed, they will cancel it and issue a new one. This has been done for me when the original was lost in the mail (with tracking no less....).