To all those using Western Union for Money Transfer.

This letter below (I Cut And Pasted) was sent to me by a friend in Jamaica whose Brother-in-Law in New Jersey (Whom I personally know) , got scammed by (supposedly, employees of) Western Union:

WARNING!!!!!

DON’T BE CAUGHT UNAWARE!!!

Sending Funds through Western Union is it SAFE?



On July 10, 2006 I went into a Path Mark store in Paterson, New Jersey USA to transfer money (US $2000.00) to some one in England. I chose this path by paying $114.00 for the transfer, because my Bank told me that to obtain a Bank check in British currency, it would take me about 3 days with a fee of $10.00. Maybe foolishly, I chose what was supposed to be the faster route.

These funds were sent through Western Union at 12:44 PM EDT. When I called England I was informed that the party to whom the funds were sent was at the time in the Caribbean, and, would be returning the following Friday14, 2006.

I spoke with the party on Saturday July 15, 2006, gave her relevant details of the transaction, and I was informed that the funds would be picked up on the Monday July 17.

However on that day I received a call from the intended receiver telling me that having gone to the Western Union Agency, she was told that there was a problem and she could not receive the funds.

At that point I asked “What could be the problem?” Upon viewing the customer receipt I received when I sent the money, I recognized that the sender’s name appearing on the transaction is that of my wife. The reason being, the Agent asked me for my telephone number after telling her that I had a Western Union Preferred card which I had not used for a long time. When she entered the number, my wife’s name appeared. My exact words to her were, “Maybe I got the card when I was living at my former address, where I had a different number. If it doesn’t make a difference it could remain because she is my wife.” quote unquote. I have now in my possession a customer receipt signed by me with my information and my wife’s name appearing at the top as the sender.

Having told the intended receiver the correct sender’s name, the intended receiver went back to the Western Union Agency and told them the sender’s name. She was told to advise me to call Western Union, because something was wrong.

Upon my calling Western Union, I was told that the funds were collected two hours after it was sent. That is, before anyone knew that the funds were sent, how much money was sent and by whom it was sent.

After waiting two weeks, I was sent a copy of the voucher used to collect the funds. What is most interesting is that the form had no address or telephone number of the recipient, only a fraudulent signature. This could only be that this fraudulent person never had the relevant information, but was able to collect the funds. Further the person wrote the amount expected on the form as the US dollar amount sent, interestingly the intended receiver was only told the British currency amount, and this was days later. Also the intended receiver upon filling out the collection form, used my name as the sender, not knowing at the time that my wife’s name was the name appearing as explained above.

It is quite evident that the person who collected these funds had direct access to the Western Union system to have:-
- Collected the funds 2 hours after it was sent while the intended receiver was away and was not yet aware that it was sent
- Known the US Dollar transfer amount ($2000.00) when the intended receiver was not aware and was out of the country
- Received the funds without properly completing the voucher with an address and phone number
- Been aware of the sender’s name even though, it was not until Monday July 17, 2006 that the intended receiver was told, after having problems collecting

As of today September 28, 2006 the funds have not been paid and Western Union is refusing to refund the money plus the fee charged for the transfer unless I sign a document “Waiver and Release” in which I am being told that the only way for me to get my money back is to sign away my right to sue, and most importantly, to speak to anyone about the matter.

It is my contention that I reserve the right to tell any one I chose about my ordeal and how unsafe it is to transfer funds through this medium. Also refund should be unconditional. It may even cost less sending funds through a Bank which from my experience is much safer. If I had gone to a bank, the matter would have been resolved a long ago.

I am aware that there are a lot of people around the world who are using Western Union including hard working individuals who sometimes take on 2-3 jobs to be able to support their families around the world. They must warn their relatives of the dangers of transferring money through this medium. I would hate to see any of these hard working people go through what I am now experiencing and so it is incumbent on me to tell the fact of the story.


A Sinclair
Paterson, NJ 07502 USA

Western Union was recently closed here in AUA..... we do Money Gram now

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Wow, Alex. That is a bunch of crap.

I have never had any problems sending money. Just had some issues a few weeks ago, receiving some from someone in JA. I had to pretty much know his entire life story to get the money from the woman. I was not happy when I left the window.

__________________
Life's just a crazy ride on a run away train
You can't go back for what you've missed
So make it count, hold on tight find a way to make it right
You only get one trip
So make it good, make it last 'cause it all flies by so fast
You only get one trip

I never had a problem.

__________________

JG,
This was obviously an inside job.
Some unscruplous employee was in on this scam.

Now the guys out couple $$$$.
If I didn't know him personally I would not believe it myself.

People do not realize how much they harm everyone by their actions. You know that Newton was one smart man...............

Someone has to pay for the recouping of losses each time someone does something like this. It sickens me.

__________________
Life's just a crazy ride on a run away train
You can't go back for what you've missed
So make it count, hold on tight find a way to make it right
You only get one trip
So make it good, make it last 'cause it all flies by so fast
You only get one trip

Aye Aye, on that.

I recently sent some money to my son at school using this method ad when he went to pick up the funds with the tranaction number he was told that transaction had a different persons name on it...a spanish sounding female name....funny the agent who di my transfer was a spanish lady...wonder if she was gonna let someone else pick up my money....i was very upset and it took me about an hour and a half on the phone...to resolve it.

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No Problem kikikalonji.
Its not meant to imply that the problem is systemic to Western Union, but that we just have to be VERY careful in transacting business with them.

Ruperts brother said he never got the money that his ex wife sent from NY, but it showed it had been picked up.

__________________


[url=http://www.TickerFactory.com/]

There we go again.

And believe it or not, its nothing new.
We just dont hear about it as often.

I suppose check and double check your receipts and follow up on all transactions.

__________________
Life's just a crazy ride on a run away train
You can't go back for what you've missed
So make it count, hold on tight find a way to make it right
You only get one trip
So make it good, make it last 'cause it all flies by so fast
You only get one trip