Protection from fraud

Sending money to someone you don't know? You could be at risk for consumer fraud.

The Western Union Money Transfer service is a great way to send money to people you know and trust. If you need to send money to someone you don’t know well, you may be putting yourself at risk for fraud.

Because we care about consumers, Western Union urges you to protect yourself from fraud by considering the following:

• Never send money to a stranger using a money transfer service.
• Beware of deals or opportunities that seem too good to be true.
• Don’t use money transfer services to pay for things like online auction purchases.
• Never send money to pay for taxes or fees on foreign lottery winnings.
• If you think you have been a victim of fraud, please contact the Western Union Agent.

Be cautious if:

• You receive an offer that sounds too good to be true, like a rock-bottom price on expensive or hard-to-find merchandise.
• You are the winning bid in an online auction and are dealing with a seller who will only accept a money transfer as payment.
• You’re told you’ve won a lottery or prize, but have to pay taxes or fees before you can collect.
• Someone responds to your ad claiming they have found your lost pet or jewelry and asks you to send money for shipping or a reward.
• You’re selling merchandise and receive a check for much more than your asking price, but are asked to send the extra amount back through money transfer.
• You’re offered a low-cost loan but must pre-pay fees or the first few loan payments using money transfer services.
• You get a call from someone claiming to be a police officer or a hospital employee asking for money for the bail or medical treatment of a loved one.