Comments on: Western Union Is A Scammers Best Friend

By: Uh

Uh — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 14:38:42 +0000

How does your sister owe 3000$ if “The lady sent my sister a $3000 check for ‘food, gas, and toys for her kids’”?

By: Robbie

Robbie — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 19:56:06 +0000

A similar situation just happened to me. Someone who we will call Jane Smith put an ad up on a nanny site, saying she would be in our state, but lived out of state, for a conference, and needed her kids watched. It drawed eyes because it was $17 an hour for 2 weeks, about $700 total. My sister took the job offer, and her and the lady were emailing back and forth. The lady sent my sister a $3000 check for “food, gas, and toys for her kids”. This did not include the $700 check she was supposed to receive after she babysit the kids. Jane told her to put it in her bank account, then wire it to Western Union. As soon as the money got to Western Union, Jane told my sister the job would be postponed a week, and my sister hasn’t heard from her. We’ve determined it was a scam. Basically, my sister owes our bank $3000 because the scammer already got it from Western Union, and all accounts associated with our family are frozen, because our mom’s name was on all of them. They will probably take this money unless they can find and get the money from this scammer.

By: PURPLICIOUS

PURPLICIOUS — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 00:00:36 +0000

Just want to share the internet dating sites has men and women pretending and uploading stolen pictures pretending to be someone else. Mostly are Nigerians stating they are US citizens traveling to needy countries helping.A unexpected event happens that they need money to leave, asking their romance online friend for help by sending them money through western union. I learn to be vigilant and match.com, eharmony are the highest with romance scammed.

By: babymama

babymama — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 16:59:01 +0000

No you are right! I just lost 1400 on a rental scam. I checked into everything the owner name of the house went to look at the house and everything and never heard respomse back after I sent deposit and 1st mth rent… So sad that these dumbasses try to bank off people with certain situations.

By: Loli

Loli — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 22:28:17 +0000

NEVER EVER send money thru western union in Montreal, Canada ( downtown) You will never ever get your money and you will have problems with police! ALL WESTERN UNIONS IN MONTREAL ARE SCAMS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: inno emman

inno emman — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 15:51:10 +0000

I was about to sent money thru western union for nigeria (ikeja lagos)to pay for a video camera i ordered form uk… but i was hesitant when i learn it well be sent to nigeria nad mot uk werein the seller came from.. it was name appleworld or abphones… until now im wondering if my decision is correct or bad decision

procs

By: Ken

Ken — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:27:28 +0000

Why does Western Union allow scammers to receive money without proper Identification. I emailed Western Union and asked why…I never got a reply.

By: D Fleury

D Fleury — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 00:53:26 +0000

A simple rule to follow is never send money to someoneyou don’t
know; if it’s not a personal friend, family member or a trusted business
associate or service provider don’t do it.
NEVER SENT MONEY TO A STRANGER!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: Foobarista

Foobarista — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 22:42:38 +0000

The only purpose of money orders and other money wiring arrangements is to allow money to move from Point A to Point B without getting lost on the way. It is not to encumber the money with any contractual obligations beyond those that the parties have agreed to before sending the money.

To expect Western Union to help out with a bad deal is like expecting your cellphone provider to patch up your relationship with your girlfriend because you had a fight over the phone.

By: Christopher Tracy

Christopher Tracy — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 18:06:46 +0000

Western Union is “trackable”, but not for the situation you’re talking about. Besides, what exactly would Western Union do? Pay you back? The money is already in the thief’s hands. You want them to play police and track the guy down and ask for the money back? It don’t work that way.

The same thing would have happened if you sent cash. Even a check, once it’s cashed and cleared, cannot be retrieved by your bank.

Chalk it up to a life’s lesson – if it’s too good to be true, read the fine print and pay with a credit card.

By: Posco

Posco — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 23:11:29 +0000

So this goes for USPS money orders, too? And personal checks?

Since you’re talking about an eBay transaction, it seems this has more to do with trusting the seller.

I don’t understand what you mean by untrackable. Untrackable by whom? eBay? the buyer? It seems that the only “trackable” payment then is PayPal. How should you pay if the seller does not accept PayPal?

By: smartypants

smartypants — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 21:40:29 +0000

What are you talking about? I used WU to MO $50k to a guy in Nigeria who needs it to pay the export fee on an exiled prince’s estate. The guy detailed it all in his email (which he was kind enough to send me unsolicited!).