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Ever heard the phrase, “The check is in the mail?” Back in the day, people used to send money through the mail all the time. It’s how millions of people paid bills and received financial compensation for their work. Believe it or not, this is still a common practice, and perfectly legal to do. However, mailing money is not necessarily the best option anymore, and we have a multitude of other alternatives to get the job done.
USPS Allows You to Mail Money, Although it’s Not the Best Idea
For the most part, sending money in the mail is fairly secure. USPS is used to handling cash and checks, and they won’t impose any restrictions on you when it comes to sending it. However, you should keep in mind that there are thieves out there waiting for opportunities to grab cash. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for them to steal money from envelopes if they get the chance.
It’s not just envelopes with money inside that thieves look out for; USPS collection boxes are also susceptible. This is precisely why we don’t recommend dropping shipments inside those blue mail boxes in the first place. People known as “mail fishers” reach in and snatch items from these boxes all the time! In fact, mail fishing got so bad a couple of years ago that USPS installed all new mailboxes around New York City to prevent this crime from happening.
Some Alternatives to Sending Cash or Checks in the Mail
In today’s day and age, sending cash or checks through the mail isn’t the only option for getting money from Point A to Point B. There are tons of other options out there, such as electronic transfers, wire transfers, Zelle payments, and Venmo. So, if you need to send money to a recipient who isn’t within arm’s length, it might behoove you to consider some more secure options.
Simon
Presumably if you’re sending the cash primarily for numismatic purposes, even if it has a legal tender value, this is fine if at own risk if not insured (and insurance might not be worthwhile)?