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Use our identity verification: make sure everything is what it seems to be

#BeFraudSmart

You are our partner. While Western Union works hard to help prevent fraud, we believe that fraud prevention is everyone’s responsibility. Your best defense is to be aware, educate yourself and use good judgment with our informative tips. Don’t fall victim to fraud – learn to spot the warning signs of a fraudster or scam before it’s too late.

Click here if you need to report fraud to Western Union.

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Fraud alerts

Relationship Scam

Fraudsters contact their victims online and gain their trust by establishing false links. After gaining the victim’s trust, scammers ask for money for travel expenses, fees or other emergency expenses. If you are looking for a partner online, be on the lookout for clues that could give away the other person, as they may not be who they say they are. Remember, you should never send money to someone you have never met in person – always make sure by verifying identity documents.

Advance payment scam

Criminals can pose as genuine businesses and trick their victims into paying fees before receiving something of greater value, such as a loan, credit card, grant, investment or inheritance amount. The victim sends money to the scammer via a money transfer service, but then receives nothing in return. What was promised never existed, whether it was loans, credit cards, grants, investments or inheritances. And once the scammers get their hands on your money, they disappear.

Internet shopping scam

Scammers use websites or online classified ads to promote non-existent items, such as mobile phones, event tickets and cars. Be careful when sending money in response to an online advertisement.

Protect yourself from fraud

  • Don’t send money to pay loan or credit card fees, customs fees or shipping charges.
  • Don’t send money to someone you have never met in person.
  • Don’t trust entities without a verified mailing address.
  • Don’t pay for an item or service with a money transfer to a private individual.

Think you’ve been scammed?

Report it. You can help us and, in the process, help others from getting scammed in the future.

Call our Fraud Hotline at
900 901 375

File a fraud claim
Report to authorities

Forward the suspicious email to spoof@westernunion.com –do not cut and paste the contents, because valuable tracking information about the source will be lost.

Find out more

Types of Fraud: user identity verification

Test your fraud knowledge now
Smart people fall for scams every day. Test your knowledge of money transfer fraud and learn how to protect yourself.

Test your fraud knowledge now
Smart people fall for scams every day. Test your knowledge of money transfer fraud and learn how to protect yourself.

Protect Yourself—fraud comes in all shapes and sizes

Learn more about the tricks fraudsters use to lure in victims.

Clues to identify fraud

For more information on identifying fraud, read on here.

  1. Unexpected gifts, via social media or websites, that are wonderful and seem “too good” to be true.

  2. Companies, users or individuals who contact you unexpectedly for a “sale” or because of a “problem” that needs to be solved.

  3. Lack of data verification: when searching for the person who has contacted us, especially companies, we do not find any data on the person or physical institution on the web.

  4. Solicitation of advanced or unexpected payments.

  5. Request for the insertion of personal data such as the insertion of a PIN, any kind of password or personal data.

  6. Request for a transfer of money to new bank accounts on suspicion of fraud.

  7. Receipt of emails or SMS with suspicious links.

Newsroom

Western Union is helping to protect consumers from falling victim to money transfer scams through education and awareness.

Follow our alerts and updates

Knowledge can protect you

You work hard for your money and you want a company you can rely on when it comes to sending your money to friends and family. That’s why we want to help you protect yourself from fraud.

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Resource Center

Stand Guard—spot the warning signs of a scam before it’s too late, with tips, brochures, and other useful information.

Be resourceful, get educated and stop fraud
Keep informed and stay protected. The more information you have, the better you can shield yourself against criminals. Report fraud, stay updated on the latest scams, and learn how to detect con artists with these additional resources.