Western Union money order bogus, police say

RUMFORD – A Rumford landlord discovered Monday that he was out $950 after depositing a counterfeit Western Union money order given him by a tenant for rent, police said.

Detective Sgt. Dan Garbarini said Wednesday afternoon that the fraud case may have federal implications depending on where the tenant acquired the bogus money order, which was stamped with a Rite Aid pharmacy stamp.

Without naming the people involved, Garbarini said the Maine Avenue tenant gave the landlord the money order to pay for $400 rent.

The landlord told Garbarini that he then gave the tenant $450 cash, but may have meant $550.

Garbarini, who is investigating the matter, said the tenant had yet to return his calls.