Western Union
reviews and complaints

I am concerned about the quality of the identify verification procedures used by Western Union. I am the recent victim of a debit card scam involving a Western Union money order sent to a foreign country. I would like to know the process Western Union employs to verify the identity of a caller with (stolen) debit card information.

Fraud email :

Thanks for your response to this office, regarding to your mail I don't want you to have any doubt about this transaction because we have already sent your first payment to your name and address with the transfer details you saw on our previous mail. So we are using this means to guarantee you that as soon as remit the only required fee of $250 we will quickly renew your payment files and re-send your first $5000 to your name and address. And also note that immediately you send the $250, then you will be able to get your first $5000 from us in the next 2 hours time ok.

You are advised to quickly locate the nearest western union office and send the fee to our account officer as details below:

Receiver name:... John emmanuel
Country:... Nigeria
Test question:...in god
Test answer:... We trust.
Amount:...$250 usd

Immediately you have sent the $250 with this above details, you are to get back to us with the payment slip for confirmation so as to make use send you your first $5000.

This is our guarantee..

Await your response in remitting the fee.

Regards
Mr. Harry mark
Forign operation manager
Western union lagotes palar
Tel: +[protected]

I tried sending my friend money yesterday Via western union in the amount of $4300. They called me for an interview in which I answered the questions accordingly, she's my bestfriend and I'm helping her with her bills. On the website it clearly states any amount, any occasion. I tried sending a smaller amount of $400 today in person aswell, the lady made a phone call and told me they wont send it until i bring them something. What am I supposed to bring them? apparently my name is blocked in their system, I'll never use western union again.

western union bank i Norway can put in system (computer) if customer ask the staff to send money in local carrency, the RECEIVER can have wright to receive the money inn local carrency RAND not ONLY inn Dollar.
we suggeste that from western union headcourt.
Thank you verry mutch.
Douglas Hanssen from Norway.

Attention Beneficiary,

This is to officially inform you that the United Nations Organization compensation payment committee, have mapped out funds running into Millions of United States Dollars for the settlement of all funds that have been lost to Nigerian Scams via Lottery Winnings, Contract payments, Fake Bank Transfer scams, Inheritance Funds payments, fake money orders, fraudulent online shopping, dating scams, charity scams, check transfer and ATM scams etc. This compensation is been sponsored and done by the Nigerian Government in collaboration with the World Bank, United Nations Organization and Western Union Money Transfer.

We have been directed by the United Nations Security Council to make a compensation payment of $50, 000.00 USD (Fifty Thousand United States Dollars Only) to you being one of the listed beneficiaries. Be informed that a first part payment of sum of $2, 000.00 (Two Thousand United States Dollars Only) shall be sent to you on a daily basis for 25 days.

===================================================
Below is the Western Union information for the first payment pick up:
MTCN: [protected]
SENDER NAME: Enoma Clark
Question: MONTH
Answer: DECEMBER
Amount: $2, 000.00 USD
===================================================

RECEIVER INFORMATION:
NAME:
ADDRESS:
TELEPHONE NUMBER:
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
ALL INFORMATIONS SHOULD BE SENT TO THE TRANSFER AGENT BELOW:
AGENT: Helen White
EMAIL: w.[protected]@aol.com
TEL: +[protected]
===================================================
Kindly get back to us via email and phone (+[protected]) immediately confirming your name, address and telephone number, Once we receive your email, we shall give you more information on what you need to do to activate the above MTCN([protected]) to start up your transfer.
KINDLY SEND YOUR REPLY TO: w.[protected]@aol.com
Regards,
Mrs. Helen White
Western Union Department Head office®
Tel: +[protected]
Email: w.[protected]@aol.com
Send Money Worldwide®
====================================================

I want to bring to your notice that the Chinese Guy, I dont know his name who takes care of western Union at Kipling and Dixon is Rude and Rough. He doesn't know how to talk and he abuses. I am in customer service industry and shocked at his behaviour. I am sure you must have got more complaints against him. I kindly request you to take action against him as he is spoiling your company's reputation. I had to go to Western union at a different location to send money. He has got a very negative attitude.

I would like to let you know about some troubles in Western Union office in the center of Warsaw (Poland) which happened to me on Monday. Unfortunately, I was in foreign country and could not contact to ask for support immediately. But I would like to ask you for help in order to prevent such a situation in the future (especially taking into account Euro 2012 in Poland and mass of tourists).

I was looking to change EUR into local currency (zloty) in Warsaw city center and found an exchange office with a Western Union sign (see pictures). With this sign I was pretty sure to find a good and trust service. And the rate on the window (big numbers were 4.5). I gave to the office stuff 100 EUR and was very surprised to find out that they gave only 327 zlotys instead of expected 450... They did not show me the sum that I would expect to get, they did not announce that the rate is different etc. I asked them to give me money back, but they denied... And showed me that actually there is diffirent (from the outside window) rate - small numbers in the table on the wall (see attached pictures). They behaved in a rude way and said me that it is useless to call the police and other administration. I was very upset the meet such fraud in European Union, in the office which has an official agreement with Western Union (as they have and use the sign and label of Western Union). I do not wonna my money back, I just would like to ask you to check this office and to prevent situations like this in the future.

The adres of the office - Kantor ISI Intercash Poland z o.o. Warszawa, Krakowskie Przedmiescie 59.

I have just spent an hour on the Western Union website, trying to send money abroad to my son.
Great website with promise of easy online payment using credit card. I registered as required and entered the details of my card. After completing the lengthy process of trying to send £450, a message was displayed telling me that the limit is £400. Why it could not tell me that at the start of the process I don’t know.
When I clicked the send button, I then received a message telling me to go to an agent!
What is the point in having an online service then? I checked my credit card and no problem. They even wanted to charge £32 pounds to make an electronic payment, which is a rip off. What a waste of my time!

Dishnetwork without my consent drafted money from my account. I contacted the western union gold card help line. I signed a affidavit of dispute, gold card refusing me money, but they waited three days before I was to receive another deposit on my card and over drafted my account to a negative balance. After going to social security to address the problem, and speaking with western union agents directly they were very hostel, rude, and angry with me. They were ridiculing me and not offering any solution to the problem. I was willing to excuse the original problem but the unprofessional manner of the western union agents was discouraging. Accusing me of being a freeloader and not wanting to pay my bills. After struggling through an entire day of rude comments and short tempers with them they finally closed my account. I didn't feel like a customer at all, I felt like a burden and like the only adult during the conversation.

I have sent money to this company saying they needed so much from me to send me a certain amount of money. After I have sent it I have found it to be a fraud. I sent the money by western union. I was supppose to e-mail them back with the mtcn number which I tried and my yahoo wouldn, t send my e-mail through because of suspecios activity. So they haven, t yet picked up the money because they do not have the mtcn number to pick it up with.

There is a scam which often originates from craigslist. Names associated with this can be nick beard or marisa beard. The victim is asked to send a check to 1707 honeysuckle dr., mansfield, oh. Do not send anything to this address! Everything sent here will be refused!

Attention beneficiary I am mr. Peter williams

Please we are very sorry for all the problem that you have passed through because of this your belong payment of which you failed till now, first of all, I want to introduce my self to you, my name is mr. Peter williams, I am the new elected director general of western union office benin republic I have been chosen last week. I am writing this mail with deep sorrow, I saw your name on our file yesterday through my searching as the one of the most beneficiary which did not receive your fund valued $950, 000.00 usd which supposes to be transferring at the rate of $5, 000.00 per day during former manager regime.

The reason I am emailing you today is to inform you that the former western union manager. Has been sacked out since last week due to his illegal work ungodly act, I am here to inform you that the only thing that will lead you to receive your fund is by trusting me and follow my direction. You sent lot money to him in order to get your fund which fails. Therefore I am to tell you that the reason you did not receive your fund is because you did not follow the direct way to get your fund but to extorting money from you in various quarters. Due to the former manager's attitude we therefore resolve to sacked him out since he didn't keep our instruction,

So now we have arranged to pay you because all our investigated confirmed that you are the right person to receive this fund note we have two option to pay you and you the one to make your choice option (1) 0ur western union gold card which you will withdraw daily $4000.00 option (2) receive daily cash $5, 000.00 till the total payment completed. There is one certificate called (Fund release order certificates) which you suppose to obtain from federal high court services which will noticed that you are not a benin citizen but you did not have it and that is only what you needed now.

According to the instruction passed to this western union department from the office of the (Federal high court services) this will duly guarantee and cover the money as being legitimately acquired from the benin government. So I want you to know that your fund of $950, 000.00 usd is still with the federal government account but it will release immediately to this western union office as soon as you obtain the (Fund release order certificates)

According to our messenger which went to the federal high court services office benin republic for the release order certificates he told us that it will cost you the sum of $109.00 only for the obtain of it, so he told us that they will issue it within one day if the fee will be paid. So reconfirm us your full address with the option either you want it gold card or daily per ok I will be awaiting to hear from you immediately with the payment information to obtain the fund release order certificates,

1. Receiver name: augustine mmorah
2. City/country: benin republic.
City: cotonou
3. Question: present year?
4. Answer: 2011
5. Amount: us$109.00

I am here giving your guarantee and also 100 % percent assurance that this is the only money you will pay and after you pay it you will receive your fund immediately. I will be waiting right to have the payment information in order to enable us obtain this needed certificate soon. Email me @ ([protected]@hotmail.co. Uk)

Regards,
Telephone +[protected]
Mr. Peter williams
The new manager of western union

http://www2.prnewswire.com/mnr/westernunion/36864/images/logo.gifhttp://static-cdn.guyanapublications.com/images/2010/10/20101002money.jpg

ATTENTION:

Welcome to Western Union Money Transfer. World widest, fastest and Reliable way of Sending and Receiving money.

CONGRATULATIONS ONCE AGAIN ON BEHALF OF WESTERN UNION MALAYSIA, YOUR EMAIL HAVE BEEN DECLARE AS THE WINNING EMAIL OF OUR YEARLY PROMO!.KIND FILL THE INFORMATION BAR FOR FAST TRANSFER OF YOUR WINNING FUNDS...

All participant were selected through a computer balloting system drawn form Nine hundred thousand E-mail addresses from Canada, Australia, United States, Asia, Europe, Middle East, Africa and
Oceania as part of our international promotions program which is conducted annually.

For security reasons, we advice all winners to keep this information
confidential from the public until your claim is processed and your prize released to you.This is part of our security protocol to avoid double

claiming and unwarranted taking advantage of this programme by non-participant or unofficial personnel.

1. Full name...

2. Address ...

3. Country of origin...

4. Occupation...

5. AGE...

6.Sex...

7. Phone number...

Call Mr.Morris Tan immediately on his direct phone: +[protected] for more Details and directives.

Congratulations once more from members and staffs of the Western Union Malaysia®
Mr.Morris Tan
Director Of Department

Hi

I am extremely disgusted with the Western Union Mney Transfer program, their horrible service and their lack of accountability. I spent hours on the phones hoping for help from anyone who could lead me to the right department just so that I could register a compaint.
I was sent money from Abu dhabi, UAE on 02July2011 and when I went to receive the same in Bolton, UK, I was told that I would not receive it since there was a hold on the transaction due to verification documents. After checking with my husband, who informed me that he had indeed submitted his ID ( UAE Driving License) and had proof of it, I relayed the information to the agent. The helpful and polite agent at Money Shop called [protected] and after being hung up on twice, put me on the call wherein I informed them that the documents had been sent and that I wanted to register a complaint. I was told by Jerry and Chris that they could only help customers who transacted in the UK (seriously can't there be one number for all customers?) and I was asked to call [protected]. I called the second number and spoke with Pearl who put me through to Robert, the supervisor, who told me that as part of the Customer Service team, he couldn't do any complains or escalations (wonder where that falls then!) and asked me to speak with Government Escalations Department and tranferred me to [protected] where I had to speak with Andy, who sounded like it was his first day out of training. He sounded inconfident, barely knew what he was talking about, had no clue to my problem or what needed to be done and kept repeating the few words that I could barely make out. When I requested to speak with his suervisor, he came back to me saying his supervisor was unavailable! What kind of an answer is that? I was forced to end the call myself frustrated after being 45 minutes on the line with the 5th representative, shuttled back and forth and with no one having any idea of the procedure to help a customer register a complaint! Seriosuly, how difficult is that?
More than the incompetent phone staff, would blame Western Union company policies for making it so hard for one to register a compaint. No email address for complaints, no direct phone number, no escalation process and they call themselves an international player!
The last time I had to deal with this unprofessional company, these were their exact words - 'We apologize for any inconvenience you may have experienced with this issue and will forward your complaint to management for training purposes.' (#8770-[protected]-6198)
I would like a complaint registered for my transaction being held even 2 days after all the necessary documents were submitted along with the money.

Mrs. Sheikh

Help put a stop to WESTERN UNION FRAUD.
THE COUNTY CONSUMER AFFAIRS HELPS WHEN WESTERN UNION DON'T GIVE MY MONEY.
" The Department of Consumer Affairs regularly investigates complaints of consumer fraud. When discovers violations of the law, the department presents its findings to prosecuting agencies for criminal or civil prosecution. Our small claims advisors will help you use the Small Claims Court and our Dispute Settlement Program offers you free mediation services. "

My son recived this and I believe its a scam, he got a $3, 700.00 dollar Casher's check in the mail this morning with the above information. We were selling a sofa that we paid $1, 800 3 years ago for $700.00, it really smells fishy to me.

Dear Seller,
I am the buyer of your item and i want you to kindly contact the shipper as soon as you recieve this payment. This is the shipper's e-mail address you could reach them[[protected]@yahoo.com] to make shipment arrangment with them.Below is the shipping company information you will also need for the wiring transfer of the shipping charges via western union:
Robert Cole
&5 Amstelplein
Amsterdam
The Netherlands

Note that the western union charges should be deducted from the balance you will will be sending and i will need you to forward a complet western union information to the shipper via e-mail.

Note:All THIS INFORMATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE SHIPPER E-M ADDRESS ONLY AND DO NOT BY ANY MEANS SEND THIS INFORMATION TO ANY OTHER PERSON RATHER THAN THE SHIPPER.

I have used western union for about 10 years and sometimes the send a message go call or i get called for additional verification before releasing the funds. I went to send money last night, And got the message to call for additional verification. When I did, I got the you have to give us your valid ID number or passport number before we can release the funds. What! When I told them I was not comfortable giving them my information and wanted to the supervisor, I was told that for that to take place, he would have to cancel my transaction and it would take a long time time to get a supervisor to talk to me... When I said that I'd wait anyway, I got the I am going to cancel your transaction and I am the only one who can uncancel it...it will not make a difference even if you talk to the supervisor as we are more powerful than they are...

Meanwhile, I asked for the reason why they wanted my ID or passport number after 10 years, the response was we don'd look at your previous transactions. I then asked what was the point of having an account that saves my information if they don't use it to determine my usage. The answer was the same, that they are looking at the current transaction and no other... After asking to tak to the supervisor no less than 10 times, i was put on hold...Fast forward almost 30 minutes later I finally got a hold of the supervisor who didn't hear a word I said. He then tells me that he's going to cancel my transaction and of course I am surprised that it wasn't already since i wa told tha tonl y way to talk to him is if the customer serviced rep cancels my transaction. Needless to say, I am launching a complaint with their corporate office and will probably not use them again. I'll take the inconvenience of 3 business days to wire it instead...

sun 22 may 2011 send 823.41 for the amount of € 694, 50
mtcn nr: [protected]
receiver: Anna Miles, 36b Ranuis road Aukland New Zealand

Did not open this mail, or react on it..just to be sure.
No money taken from my account, saved the message anyway.
Same mail was sent last month, exactly on 22-04, exactly same hour so this must be a computerised scam.

I have sent $600 to Rwanda as a money transfer through Western Union. The agent on the receiving end will not release the funds to the receiver. Every time the person comes in to withdraw the funds, she is asked for yet one more piece of information. I called Western Union in the states and was told that they cannot do anything about it. The money was sent for medical reason and some one is waiting for an operation, Western Union doesn't care "it's not our problem" was their response. I am currently looking at taking legal action against them.

Dear Sir
I had been requested By Mr Chris Scott to send money to him via Western union in the name of Dwayne Curtis who is supposed to work in one of your offices Cotonou Benin I would let Chris Scott know the number and than I was notified when it was Picked is there anyway to trace these two people as I think I have been scammed. My Daughter is placing this matter into the hands of our Federal police
The Amount of money sent was $8500
I leave this matter in your hands