Changes to Canada Post Money Orders

On October 22, 2007, eleven Canadian post offices began piloting an enhanced Canada Post money order. National implementation will roll out in February 2008 in a phased approach. U.S. Post Offices^® and banks may begin receiving the new money orders before February.

The money order inventory that can be cashed in the U.S. consists of three Canada Post money orders, each having a nine-digit serial number and a check digit (for a total of ten digits).

A new pale green–colored Canada Post money order for issuance in United States (U.S.) currency is being intro­duced. The pale green money order can be cashed in U.S. Post Offices if it is made payable to a payee within the U.S. with a valid U.S. address, and the amount is imprinted in U.S. currency (not exceeding $999.99). These money orders have a serial number beginning with 000XXXXXX.

Exhibit 1

 

The money order includes a preprinted barcode/serial number, secure ink features, micro-printing, and water­marks. The sender and the recipient names will be printed on the document at the time of purchase.

The front of the money order (see Exhibit 1) still has a “verification box” above the ‘Pay to’ block. The pink color in the box reacts to heat and should disappear by either holding the box area between thumb and forefinger, by breathing directly on the box itself, or by rubbing it with your finger to create friction. The pink color will reappear within a few seconds. As with the previous money order, the new version also contains a watermark of a beaver that is visible when held to the light. If the pink color doesn’t reappear or the watermark is not visible, do not cash the money order.

The two old-style Canada Post money orders (bearing serial numbers 692 600 001 through 830 544 000) shown below (see Exhibits 2 and 3) are still valid for cashing. They must be made payable to a payee within the U.S. with a valid U.S. address, and the amount must be imprinted in U.S currency (not exceeding $999.99).

Exhibit 2

 

Exhibit 3

 

The following security features will assist in validating the Canada Post money order’s authenticity:

 

 

Security Feature	Authentication	Applicable to Serial Number Range Beginning With Serial Number:
Watermark (introduced in 1994) Applies to old-style and new money orders	Hold document to a light source to view a faint imprint of a beaver.	Old-style Canada Post money orders: 692 600 001 through 830 544 000 and New Canada Post money orders: U.S. – 000XXXXXX
Pink Verification Box (introduced in 2006) Applies to old-style and new money orders	Apply heat to the pink and white box by holding the area between thumb and forefinger. The pink color should disappear and reappear within a few seconds.
Security Code (new) Applies to new money orders only	A unique security code will be generated on the document and will be used to verify the validity of the document at the time of cashing.	New Canada Post money orders: U.S. – 000XXXXXXX

Cashing agents with questions about authenticity may call 1-800-563-0444 to verify Canada Post money orders. When calling to verify authenticity, be prepared to provide the following information:

• Date of issuance.
• Serial number.
• Money order amount.
• Security code appearing below the barcode.
• Issuing office number that appears near the center of the money order.

There is also a new peach-colored Canada Post money order (see Exhibit 4) that is issued in canadian (CDN) or United Kingdom (UK) currency. It cannot be cashed in U.S. Post Offices. It has a serial number range that begins with 100XXXXXX.

Exhibit 4

 

— Value Added and Special Services,
Product Development, 11-22-07