4 ways to protect yourself against advanced fee and prepayment
scams
When you’re reading through your daily emails, you most
likely check the spam folder, deleting the strange andunwanted items from your inbox. But what happens when
one slips through the cracks? Perhaps it’s from a phonyloan company, with emails, websites and documents thatappear to be legitimate. Their offer sounds almost too
good to be true, but you decide to test it out.
Unfortunately, thieves posing as authentic companies areluring victims every day into paying fees in anticipation ofreceiving something of greater value, like a loan, credit card, grant, investment or inheritance money.
The victim sends money to the scammer using a money transfer service, but then receives nothing
in return. These loans, credit cards, grants, investments or inheritance sums never actually existed.
And once the scammers get their money, they are never heard from again. These types of advanced
fee or prepayment scams often prey on those who are struggling financially, but that doesn’t mean
they can’t happen to anyone.
Phony offers don’t just come through email and over the Internet; you might receive a letter in themail offering you an opportunity. Another prominent scam may be initiated by someone claiming to
be a person of importance in a foreign country who needs your assistance in accessing funds in theircountry, tricking consumers into thinking their request is legitimate. The fraudsters are very
convincing.
To help you stay informed and make smart decisions, Western Union offers tips to help you protect
yourself against advanced fee or prepayment scams:
Never send money to someone you haven’t met in person. Make sure you know exactly who
you’re dealing with when using a money transfer service. While money transfer is a great way tosend money to family and friends, it should not be used for sending money in advance for a credit
card or loan fee. If you’ve never heard of the company or person contacting you, do a little research
to learn more about them. If possible, plan a visit to the business location or consult the Better
Business Bureau. If you have significant concerns, contact your Attorney General’s Office or yourlocal law enforcement officials.
You should never have to send money in advance to obtain a loan or credit card. Keep inmind: if an offer appears too good to be true, it most likely is. You should not pay money to someone
for a promise or in anticipation of receiving something of greater value. If you receive a suspicious
email that mentions a money transfer organization, be sure to notify the organization and report theemail right away. If someone contacted you through email asking you to send them money via
Western Union, forward the email to: spoof@westernunion.com.
Do not pay for an item or service with a money transfer to an individual. When purchasing an
item on the internet, be sure you’re using a secure payment method. It’s never a good idea to sendmoney to an individual to pay for an internet item or service via money transfer. When sending
money in any case, you should be aware of exactly where it’s headed.
Be suspicious of businesses without a verified street address. If the business you’re dealing
with operates out of a post office box or mail drop, you should be suspicious. Additionally, anyone
without a direct telephone line or who is never available when you call is a red flag that should makeyou think twice.
Follow these tips to keep your money where it belongs: in your wallet. For more tips and information
about consumer fraud awareness, visit: wu.com/fraudawareness. If you believe you may be a victimof fraud using Western Union, call the Western Union Fraud Hotline number at 1-800-448-1492.