It’s a scam that uses a tried and true method of payment, good old fashioned U.S. Postal Money Orders. But there’s a new deception that could steal hundreds, even thousands from you, unless you know what to look for.

“We’ve been on West 72nd Street since 1936,” said Terri Long, a business owner.

Long says her family’s been in the mattress business for four generations. The store was founded by her great grandfather. But Terri says her family’s never seen a scam like this.

“This is the first time we’ve had an altered money order,” Long said. They’ve had four of them to be exact. All four U.S. Postal Money Orders were presented by a shopper she says casually browsed for beds last week and then returned to the store.

“He was smart. He shopped around. He didn’t pick the most expensive. He didn’t pick the cheapest. He went right in the middle,” Long said.

He selected a king size mattress and box spring for $2,700. The customer gave the salesman the four postal money orders, made out for $700 each, and asked for $100 in change.

But the merchant made a smart move. Instead of cashing the money orders he called USPS. More