Fraud awareness | Cash Express Service

Fraud awareness

Millions of people around the world are constantly sending and receiving money from both familiar and unknown, thanks to the services of Western Union. There are thousands of possible frauds, and detractors, too.

For us at Cash Express, the security of your money and personal data is a priority. Unfortunately, we face victims of fraudulent transfers every day. The quick intervention of our employees is not always a guarantee that the amount will be refunded to the sender, so be aware with the information below, which will help you to always recognize the fraud regardless of its face.

When you make a money transfer, the receiver can take the money as soon as you provide the money transfer control number (MTCN).

Important! The 10-digit number generated by Western Union system when sending a transfer does not guarantee protection.

A short guide to money transfer fraud

How do fraudsters work?

“Touch the soil” - explore their options;

They earn your trust;

They create the feeling that everything depends on you;

Do not allow close personal contact (eg phone, video chat, etc.);

They leave no traceability.

How dangerous can it be?

Money transfer frauds reach serious scales and sometimes losing a certain amount is the least that can happen to you. If you get an offer to become a "finance agent" or send money to a person abroad for a commission, we advise you to not accept this offer, no matter how good it looks. It is no coincidence that such a proposal is made - the money is likely to have been obtained through fraud and should be sent abroad as soon as possible. Be careful, even when you are promised to sign a contract. If you sign, you may be held liable for money laundering or illegal offering of financial services. Investments with dubiously high interest rates, as well as bidding at worryingly low prices, should also be explored before embarking on a dangerous financial transaction.

What if you have already sent the money?

If you have already sent a certain amount of money but suspect the recipient's the receivers intentions, the accuracy of the information provided to you, or anything else, take immediate action to suspend the transfer if possible. Contact a Western Union employee at the location where you sent the amount or call the phones listed on the site. Share your concerns about the alleged fraudulent actions on the opposite side, and we will do everything in our power to suspend the money transfer. We want to protect and prevent fraud from both our customers and our representatives!

Stay informed!

If the person who stands against you as a receiver of a certain amount of money is not your relative or friend, then ask yourself the following questions to be sure of what you are doing

Do I personally know the person to whom I am sending money?

If not, is it reasonable to do so?

If so, can I trust him?

Is it appropriate to share sensitive information with this person?

Isn't this offer "too good to be true"?

What is the reason behind all the secrecy and the required confidentiality?

Do I need to transfer money immediately?

Why does this person insist that I send the amount "urgently"?

What can be the consequences if I make a transfer?

Act responsibly, especially when you need to provide personal information or funds to a receiver whose identity you are not sure of.

Information and its authenticity are the key to secure money transfers.

Danger dimensions - examples, but not for imitation

The examples below are real cases, but they do not exhaust all possible types of fraud. It would be a daunting task for us to list the entire existing range of fraudulent remittances, so we urge you to be vigilant, regardless of their nature.

Money ordering for Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast and other African countries.

Nigerian Letter - In this type of fraud, a customer based in Bulgaria receives an email informing him / her that he / she wins a large amount of money (eg $ 1,000,000) which will be sent in parts via Western Union. The letter explains that in order to start paying the money, the "winner" must transfer 200-400 dollars or euros for charges.

Dating via the Internet, which develop into romantic relationships - Most often the subject of such frauds are Bulgarian women. The fraudster (in many cases posing as an American soldier in Africa) comes into contact with them and after a certain period of communication begins to ask for money for various purposes, including buying a ticket to Bulgaria for a possible wedding; emergency assistance and more.

Inheritance of property in an African country - The news is emailed (this should also be the 1st indication to you that something is wrong) stating that in order to receive the property, documents must be prepared by a lawyer on the spot. You are asked to send a solid amount for his fee. A lottery scam is similar to that scheme, where you are told that you should pay the cost of the transfer by sending it in advance to a stranger in Nigeria, Benin or others.

Remember. There is no lottery which will askyou as a winner to cover the transfer costs!

Money ordering for the UK, Austria, Germany and more. points from Europe:

Are you about to start working abroad? Or have you just started studying? Want to buy a cheap car abroad? Be alert. The transfers range from 1000 to 5000 euros and are sent mainly for the purpose of renting / keeping an apartment or buying a car, after agreement on a website.

IMPORTANT! Communication is by e-mail only, without telephone calls, which should make you think about the truth of the information given.

The orderly from Bulgaria is advised to send the money through Western Union to a relative, relative or friend, and then, by hiding the number, he sends proof of transfer to the "seller" in order to keep the car. The victim receives a "fake" email in which he is prompted via an internet link to check that the translation is already in the country. Clicking on this address directs him to a fake "Western Union site" where the sender enters the 10-digit translation number so that the fraudster receives the necessary information. The "recipient" makes a fake ID with the recipient's names on the form and withdraws the money within a few hours.

Sending money to China to buy goods:

Each of us has looked at a Chinese site at least once in our lives where low prices are the reason for a large number of purchases. However, what are the dangers? A customer from Bulgaria selects a particular product and pays its amount in the amount of $ 100- $ 500 through Western Union. The recipient is a Chinese national who withdraws the translation and does not send the goods.

Blackmail

Dating on social media quickly turns into a violent love and each of the couple trusts the other person. This also results in the sending of indecent photographs which are subsequently used to receive large sums of money from the injured party. We encourage you not to share personal information and footage with people whose identity you are not completely sure of. If you have already done so, then cut off any contact with that person, contact the police and the social media protection center, because once you send money, the fraudster will not stop asking.

You receive an email from a stranger sayingyour computer has been hacked, your passwords and contacts have been stolen, access to the camera and microphone is controlled by the extortionist and your actions have been recorded. What to do? DO NOT send money! These emails are fake. Contact the police and email provider again for additional security.

Charity - Don't be fooled, no matter how good the cause may seem. Study the initiative, the organizer and the representatives. Remember: No charity cause will invite you to send money to an individual. Our main goal is to familiarize not only our customers but also our Western Union service staff with the potential dangers. So, coming to our office, you can be sure that even if you are about to make a mistake, we are on the verge of preventing fraud.

×