In other words, yes, but be aware of all of the following.

If you get a cashier's check and you go into the issuing bank they can and will verify it. SOME banks will not cash them for non-customers, however, although in theory that's not supposed to happen because a Cashier's Check is, as the name implies, supposed to be negotiable as cash.

Under the UCC (https://www.law.cornell.edu/ucc/3/3-412) the issuer is obligated to pay a cashier's check according to the terms provided to the drawer at the time it was issued, which MAY include a regulation CC hold (one business day.) In practice, however, at the issuing bank they are payable immediately in cash since they can be immediately verified as good.

Note that this assumes the bank has the funds in cash; many branches do not have more than a couple of thousand available for such a transaction "on demand."

In addition, and this is *very* important, if the face amount is over $10,000 in the United States it is a reportable transaction (to the government via a CTR) and the bank will file the requisite form with the government, including your identification. This *may* increase your tax audit risk materially. Do NOT attempt to get around CTR filing by using multiple checks or other instruments; the bank is very likely to detect it and it is a specific *crime* to attempt evading reporting requirements, whether you succeed or not.

NO! NEVER, EVER do that.

That's not "technically" structuring, it IS structuring and is a CRIME.

While the odds are not high on getting caught if you do you're asking to have the entirety of the funds seized and you will LOSE if you challenge it, even though the underlying transaction was perfectly legal.

If you have a transaction that exceeds reporting limits ($10k) then just do it and accept that a CTR will be filed. It's ok. Worst case you get to explain it to an IRS auditor. Trying to evade reporting limits is not only a bad idea it can get you criminally charged and the funds seized even if what you were doing is perfectly legal (and buying or a selling pinball machine is certainly legal -- unless you stole it, of course!)

Yep. Nobody in their right mind will send money to someone other than a family member (who you are damn sure you want to have the money) using WU though

You don't *have* to use PayPal to take payment.

My protocol for a cashier's check works like this.

1. Buyer has to have a branch of his bank within a reasonable distance of me and my bank.

2. We go to HIS bank together and I *watch him* get the cashier's check. They deduct the funds from HIS account on the spot.

3. We take said check to MY bank. I ask them for immediate funds availability, and THEY confirm the check is good. This results in the funds having *no* hold at my bank (yes, even if it's for something big like a car or boat!)

4. I give him a *notarized* bill of sale (two copies), and it is notarized at *my* bank. This requires the BUYER to produce identification at my bank so the notary can stamp it. I now have positive identification, he has a bill of sale, and I have money. The property can now change hands.

Is it POSSIBLE for him to try to stop the cashier's check in this instance? Yes, but it's (1) difficult, as his bank KNOWS it has been cashed and cleared, and they verified it and (2) BOTH institutions saw BOTH of us and have us BOTH on video and (3) I have *POSITIVE* identification on the buyer, confirmed by a notary who stamped the copy of the bill of sale that I have retained. If he tries it my next act is to send the Sheriff over to explain the words "Grand Theft" to him.

Wires are safer but the fees are higher. Most banks will issue a cashier's check for $5 or $10; wire fees are frequently in the $25 range and some banks charge to *receive* wires (which is a rather jackass charge, but some do it.)