Consumer complaint received 2015-09-29
Company: MONEYGRAM PAYMENT SYSTEMS WORLDWIDE INC
State: CA
Product: Money transfers
Sub-product: International money transfer
Issue: Fraud or scam

Complaint:
I was contacted by a person who claimed that I had won {$2.00} XXXX in a drawing. The person informed that to claim my prize, I would be required to send {$1800.00} USD as an advance on US income taxes owed on the prize money. The caller requested that I send the money via Walmart money-gram transfer. The caller specified that the funds should be sent in XXXX phases : XXXX for {$1000.00} and the other for {$850.00} and that each should be sent from XXXX different Walmart locations. 
The caller also requested that I keep the winnings secret from everybody so that others will not harass me for a share of the winnings. 
As I became more skeptical of the prize, I requested that the caller provide me with written confirmation of my prize. The caller then e-mailed me what appeared to be valid documentation from XXXX XXXX XXXX indicating that I had in fact won a prize. 
Based upon that information, I wired the first {$1000.00} to the caller in XXXX. I attempted to wire the second portion for {$850.00}, but the employees at Walmart strongly recommended that I not send the money. I complied with their advice and did not send the second installment. 
When I informed the caller ( " XXXX XXXX '' ) he became angry with me and informed me that I should have told the employees at Walmart that the reason for the transfer was none of their business and that I should have insisted on them completing the transfer. " XXXX XXXX '' informed me that without the advance payment on the taxes owed, I could not hope to collect my prize of {$2.00} XXXX. 
I also noted that the " documentation '' e-mailed to me indicated that the taxes due would be {$25000.00} USD. 
I subsequently sought the opinion of my tax advisor on this matter. He reviewed my documentation and recollection of events and informed that it was his opinion that I was the victim of fraud. 
The next day, the caller, " XXXX XXXX '' called to inform me that I would need to transfer, bank-to-bank, {$25000.00} to complete the required advancement of the taxes owed. 
When I informed my tax advisor of this new request, he stated that he would like to be present when " XXXX XXXX '' telephoned. 
The next day when " XXXX XXXX '' called, my tax advisor answered the phone. XXXX XXXX immediately hung-up and then called back about XXXX seconds later. On the second call, I answered and XXXX XXXX wanted to know if anyone else was present. I informed him that my tax advisor was present with me. When my tax advisor confronted XXXX XXXX about the fraud, XXXX XXXX became angry and demanded to know my tax advisor 's name and stated that he would come over and have him fired from his job. 
Over the next hour or so, XXXX XXXX repeatedly called my phone to harass and insult me for informing a third party of this transaction. 
I now understand the fraud that has been perpetuated upon me, and my hope is to inform others of the methods used by the fraudsters in their attempts to steal money from unsuspecting elders.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation