In a few weeks is my grand's sons birthday. I want to send him a birthday card with a brand new $100 bill inside. My concern is does the PO scan the mail looking for money being sent? Is that blue metallic strip on the $100 bill detectable? I don't want to send the card and money and then have the DEA, FBI and Postal Inspectors arrive at the door with my birthday card in hand. Am I over thinking this too much? I don't want to send a check because I think he will get bigger kick of getting a $100 bill.
Post Office Detection Capability
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Thats a lot of money to trust to the vagaries of the PO. I would think more on that nice gift.
If by chance you do send it do not use a normal card size envelope. Use a business sized envelope and make sure the money is well concealed by a folded piece of paper.
I don't believe it's against USPS rules to send cash through the system, but I'd be reluctant to send a c-note without some kind of tracking. A Priority Mail cardboard 'envelope' for $9.85 would provide a level of security and comfort, as well as $100 of insurance for the contents.
The cool kids send money by Venmo nowadays . . .
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Send a check - much safer. $100 is $100 no matter the paper color.
muddocktor
Member
I was thinking of along those lines, chief38. I was thinking a USPS money order.
Definitely send it registered or in some manner that requires a bit more oversight by USPS. The suggestions above regarding concealment of the contents are also worthy of consideration.
I experienced a purloined gift card (the card and envelope did arrive) from a relative last Christmas. The Postal Inspector with whom I spoke advised to not send anything of value in an easily concealable envelope that can be slipped into a pocket, taken into a restroom, or even removed from the mail facility and pilfered. While not necessarily the most practical advice in all instances, it may be food for thought.
I experienced a purloined gift card (the card and envelope did arrive) from a relative last Christmas. The Postal Inspector with whom I spoke advised to not send anything of value in an easily concealable envelope that can be slipped into a pocket, taken into a restroom, or even removed from the mail facility and pilfered. While not necessarily the most practical advice in all instances, it may be food for thought.
I was thinking of using one of those small Flat Rate Boxes as the shipping container, sealed with cellophane tape.
I'm closer to 90 than 80 and a 2000 mile drive is out of the question.
SweetMK
Member
Send it electronically,,
Ask your grandson for instructions on how to do it,,
Trust me, he will enjoy helping you,,
If you can send an email, you can send the $$$ electronically,,
I am your age,, and have 5 grandchildren,,
They ALL love helping Pop Pop,,
Pop Pop forks out $$ frequently to all of them,, so they KNOW!!
Ask your grandson for instructions on how to do it,,
Trust me, he will enjoy helping you,,
If you can send an email, you can send the $$$ electronically,,
I am your age,, and have 5 grandchildren,,
They ALL love helping Pop Pop,,
Pop Pop forks out $$ frequently to all of them,, so they KNOW!!
LoboGunLeather
US Veteran
I select a card, write my note and sign it, send it to my son with a check for $100 so he can add the $100 bill from his bank, deliver the card on the grandchild's birthday.
At Christmas we send each son a check to cash and split up for all the grandkids.
USPS has no equipment capable of detecting cash, but they have had plenty of employees handling the mail and collecting the cash, and the occasional mail carrier who dumps his load rather than deliver everything.
At Christmas we send each son a check to cash and split up for all the grandkids.
USPS has no equipment capable of detecting cash, but they have had plenty of employees handling the mail and collecting the cash, and the occasional mail carrier who dumps his load rather than deliver everything.
^^^^^^ this. Put it in an envelope then in a priority mail cardboard envelope that requires signature and has tracking. It'll be fine. We all hear horror stories about mail delivery. But when u consider the amount of mail moved on a daily basis it's a non issue to me.
Send it any way you want...you have a better chance of being struck by lightning then having your cash pilfered from a card.
My sister-in-law sends cash routinely in the regular mail. So far, so good.
I've sent cash regular mail to a guy who does some custom work for me a coupla times this year with no issues.
I've also sent personal checks by regular mail without incident for firearms purchases here on the forum, so I think regular mail getting lost or stolen is unusual.
My view is yes, there is a risk that you will lose the money, but that the risk is small. I think, just a guess, that the biggest risk is someone stealing it from the recipient's mail box. In some areas, that sort of theft is riskier than in others.
I'd take the risk. I'd put the $100 bill inside a birthday card and mail it regular mail. (I'd be bummed if it were stolen or lost — which again, I think very unlikely — but it would also not be that big a deal to me. No forgoing of groceries, etc.)
I've sent cash regular mail to a guy who does some custom work for me a coupla times this year with no issues.
I've also sent personal checks by regular mail without incident for firearms purchases here on the forum, so I think regular mail getting lost or stolen is unusual.
My view is yes, there is a risk that you will lose the money, but that the risk is small. I think, just a guess, that the biggest risk is someone stealing it from the recipient's mail box. In some areas, that sort of theft is riskier than in others.
I'd take the risk. I'd put the $100 bill inside a birthday card and mail it regular mail. (I'd be bummed if it were stolen or lost — which again, I think very unlikely — but it would also not be that big a deal to me. No forgoing of groceries, etc.)
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Why even bother leaving your house? Just send a check. If a USPS M/O gets lost it takes forever to cancel it and you will have to deal with the post office which is extremely frustrating these days. Simple is best - send a check and be done with it. When the recipient spends the money he or she won't give a hoot in what form it was!
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Personally I would not send more than 10 or 15 bucks in an envelope. I do not trust the USPS any longer. They have gone out of their way (numerous times) for me to have to say this.
Ivan the Butcher
Member
For added safety put in one of the envelopes that says: AIDS TEST RESULTS ENCLOSED!
Ivan
Ivan
When one of my nephews turned 21, I got him a standard birthday card that was big enough to conceal currency. I sent him 21 $2 bills because I figured nobody else in the family would think to do that. He got the card and $2 bills without any problem.
The next time I saw him I said to him, "Now you can buy your first legal drink or make your first bet on a horse."
For his graduation from college I sent him 2 pads of 25 $2 bills and it got to him with no problems.
The next time I saw him I said to him, "Now you can buy your first legal drink or make your first bet on a horse."
For his graduation from college I sent him 2 pads of 25 $2 bills and it got to him with no problems.
Mail thieves can spot a Hallmark birthday card
a mile away....and unfortunately some postal
workers.
Especially if the name of the kid is on the card.
They know it is likely to contain cash.
a mile away....and unfortunately some postal
workers.
Especially if the name of the kid is on the card.
They know it is likely to contain cash.
taz666
Member
Maybe a debit card?
THE PILGRIM
Member
The PO Employee who took my Libertad will gladly take your Benjamin.
eBay buy, after a fair amount of Jawing I was reimbursed.
Yes, I had tracking!
It tracked directly do not pass go to the Albuquerque Main Post Office!
eBay buy, after a fair amount of Jawing I was reimbursed.
Yes, I had tracking!
It tracked directly do not pass go to the Albuquerque Main Post Office!
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sigp220.45
US Veteran
A Postal Inspector I used to work with said to never send cash in one of the colored large envelopes that birthday and graduation cards come in. He was kept very busy with postal employees snagging them out of the mailstream for cash and gift cards.
I'd just put cash in the card and put the whole thing in a flat rate priority mail envelope. There is something about a nice crisp Benjamin that a check (do people still write checks?) or a money order doesn't provide.
I'd just put cash in the card and put the whole thing in a flat rate priority mail envelope. There is something about a nice crisp Benjamin that a check (do people still write checks?) or a money order doesn't provide.
Send cash all the time, especially if I'm buying something from a forum or even GB. $100 is my limit. Anything more, I just get a USPS MO.
I just put it in a sealed envelope with a card. Then I seal the back with packing tape. Done. I've never had a problem.
I just put it in a sealed envelope with a card. Then I seal the back with packing tape. Done. I've never had a problem.
I remember receiving a letter from my great grandmother in which she had taped 5 dimes.
Big money for a little lad in 1953.
Big money for a little lad in 1953.
Sistema1927
US Veteran
For many years my Dad would send a crisp new $50 bill to kids and grandkids for their birthdays. He would stick it in a card, put regular postage on it, and toss it in the mail.
Not once did any of them get lost. Your mileage may vary.
To close the loop, Dad died last year in June. I was the executor of the estate. Each of us except for one of my brothers had already received our birthday cash from him so I made sure that he wasn't forgotten and sent his money in the mail.
Not once did any of them get lost. Your mileage may vary.
To close the loop, Dad died last year in June. I was the executor of the estate. Each of us except for one of my brothers had already received our birthday cash from him so I made sure that he wasn't forgotten and sent his money in the mail.
Like Nike says, Just Do It. No need to over think it. The box is fine
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