To track a money order, find the serial number on the receipt you got at purchase and look up the status through the company that issued it. The U.S. Postal Service, Western Union, and MoneyGram each offer a way to check whether a money order has been cashed, and each has its own process if you need a refund, a replacement, or a copy of one that has already been paid out.
What You Need Before You Start
The one thing you cannot easily replace is the serial number, sometimes called a reference number. It sits on the receipt stub you received when you bought the money order, and without it, issuers have a limited ability to pull up your transaction.
Alongside the serial number, keep the exact dollar amount and the place of purchase. USPS receipts show three data points you’ll be asked for: the serial number, the Post Office number, and the issued amount.1USPS. Money Orders – The Basics Western Union prints a barcode on the bottom portion of the money order that doubles as the purchaser’s receipt, so hold onto that detached stub. MoneyGram uses a reference number together with your last name to pull up status online.
Checking the Status With Each Issuer
USPS
USPS offers a free online tool at tools.usps.com/money-orders.htm. Enter the serial number, Post Office number, and issued amount, and it will tell you whether the money order has been cashed.2USPS. Check Money Order Status You can also call 1-866-974-2733 for a status update by phone.3USPS. PS Form 6401 – Money Order Inquiry
If you want a refund, a replacement, or a copy of a cashed money order, the online tool isn’t enough. You’ll need to go to any Post Office in person and fill out PS Form 6401, the Money Order Inquiry form. One form per money order, and a separate inquiry fee for each. A postal clerk verifies your information against your receipt and mails the form to the USPS Accounting Service Center for processing.1USPS. Money Orders – The Basics
Western Union
If you still have the original receipt stub from the bottom of the money order, Western Union lets you submit a refund request online without extra paperwork. If you’ve lost the receipt or don’t know the serial number, you have to complete a paper Money Order Research Request form and mail it in with a non-refundable administrative fee. The form asks for the approximate purchase date, amount, payee name, and location. Processing takes about six to eight weeks.4Western Union. Money Order Research Request
MoneyGram
MoneyGram has an online tracking tool where you enter your reference number and last name to see whether the money order has been cashed or is still outstanding.5MoneyGram. Track a Transfer If you need a photocopy of a cashed money order, MoneyGram charges an $18 non-refundable processing fee, payable online or at a MoneyGram location.6MoneyGram. How Do I Request a Photocopy of a Cashed Money Order
What the Result Means
You’ll usually see one of three outcomes. A “cashed” or “cleared” status means someone has already deposited or cashed the money order and the funds are out. A “pending” or “not cashed” status means it’s still outstanding: issued, but no one has presented it for payment. A “not found” result usually means the serial number or amount was entered wrong, or the issuer’s system hasn’t yet updated to reflect a recent purchase.
If the status shows the money order was cashed but the intended recipient says they never received it, that’s a signal that someone else may have cashed it. Request a photocopy of the cashed money order from the issuer; the endorsement on the back can help identify who deposited it.
Tracking Without a Receipt
Losing your receipt makes the process slower and more expensive, but not always impossible.
- USPS: You can still file PS Form 6401 at any Post Office, but the search takes longer without the serial number and may not turn up results. The inquiry fee applies either way.
- Western Union: You have to complete the paper Money Order Research Request form with as much detail as possible about the purchase date, amount, location, and payee. Western Union does not guarantee it can locate the serial number, and the non-refundable administrative fee applies even if the search fails.4Western Union. Money Order Research Request
- MoneyGram: The online tool requires the reference number. Without it, you’ll need to contact MoneyGram directly with your purchase details, which can take several weeks and may involve a fee.
The simplest protection is to snap a photo of the money order and receipt right after you buy it.
Requesting a Refund or Replacement
If a money order is confirmed uncashed and you want your money back, or if it was lost or damaged, you can file for a refund or replacement. Every issuer charges a non-refundable processing fee, and wait times vary.
- USPS: The inquiry fee is $21.00 per money order as of January 2026. After you file PS Form 6401, USPS will issue a refund 60 days or more from the original issue date, or provide a copy of the cashed money order if it has already been paid.7USPS. Notice 123 – Price List3USPS. PS Form 6401 – Money Order Inquiry
- Western Union: The non-refundable administrative fee for a research request is $15.00, payable by money order or check. Allow six to eight weeks. If the money order hasn’t been cashed, you may receive a refund; if it has, you’ll get a front-and-back photocopy instead.4Western Union. Money Order Research Request
- MoneyGram: Refund processing fees vary based on the face value of the money order, and you can start the request online. A photocopy of a cashed money order costs $18.8MoneyGram. Refund
Once the issuer processes a stop payment, the original money order is void and can no longer be cashed. The issuer then either mails a replacement or issues a refund after confirming the original never cleared.
If Someone Else Cashed Your Money Order
If tracking shows the money order was cashed but not by the intended recipient, request a photocopy from the issuer. The endorsement on the back shows who signed it, and the front may show which bank processed it. That’s your evidence for a fraud investigation.
For USPS money orders, the Postal Service provides a copy or scanned image of the cashed money order after you file PS Form 6401.3USPS. PS Form 6401 – Money Order Inquiry Because postal money orders are federal financial instruments, fraudulent cashing can be reported to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 1-800-372-8347. For money orders bought through private issuers, file a report with your local police department and contact the issuer’s fraud department.
A refund is not guaranteed. When you file a USPS inquiry, you agree to repay the Postal Service if the original money order is later cashed by the legitimate payee after a refund has already been issued.3USPS. PS Form 6401 – Money Order Inquiry Issuers usually investigate before releasing funds, and a police report can support your claim.
Old Money Orders and Inactivity Fees
USPS domestic money orders never expire and do not lose value over time, no matter how long they sit uncashed.9USPS. Money Orders Private issuers are stricter.
Western Union money orders also don’t expire, but depending on the state of purchase, a non-refundable service charge may be deducted from the face value if the money order stays uncashed for one to three years.10Western Union. Money Orders – Purchase and Cash at a Western Union Near You MoneyGram money orders don’t expire either, but those uncashed for more than one year may be subject to a monthly service charge that gradually reduces the value. The exact charge is printed on the back of the money order.11MoneyGram. Frequently Asked Questions About Purchasing a Money Order
If you’re holding an old money order you never sent, cash or refund it sooner rather than later. USPS money orders keep their full value indefinitely, but Western Union or MoneyGram money orders can quietly shrink if you wait too long.