Consumer complaint received 2025-03-09 00:00:00
Product: Money transfer, virtual currency, or money service — Money order, traveler's check or cashier's check
Issue: Problem with customer service — 
Company: WESTERN UNION COMPANY, THE
State: GA

Complaint narrative:
On XX/XX/XXXX my son XXXX XXXX purchased two money orders from Western Union at a XXXX XXXX in the amount of {$1500.00}. On XX/XX/XXXX which was a Saturday we deposited the money orders into fraudulent XXXX Bank account. At the time we did not know it was fraudulent. The money orders were for a deposit on a new rental property. On XX/XX/XXXX the money orders were deposited in the fraudulent account but the account was then flagged by XXXX Bank and they closed the account and held the money. 

I was unaware of this so I preceded with business as usual with the fraudsters. My move out date was XX/XX/XXXX so I had prepared to have everything gone by XX/XX/XXXX. On XX/XX/XXXX I was to deposit another {$1500.00} to the fraudsters inwhich I tried to but things started to became suspicious. I didn't know at that time their account was closed. So I figured they would want the money deposited in the same manner. Instead they wanted XXXX. That threw up a redflag in my mind. I said no I never gave a deposit in bitcoin is their another way. They then wanted me to send the money by XXXX XXXX money orders and overnight them to an address XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX under the same fraudulent name that was on the XXXX Bank account. Being that it was XXXX XXXX  on XX/XX/XXXX there were no organizations open that I could overnight the money orders and I needed to do this in my mind because I needed the key to move into the new rental property and according to the fraudsters I could not get the key until final payment. I had to be out by XX/XX/XXXX so I needed that key. Now comes XX/XX/XXXX I reach out again to the fraudsters and they want me to go to ups and overnight the money orders in which I did at first. When I did send the money orders out early that morning I asked them for the key. Mind you I never met them personally or seen them at all. 

When I saw the rental property XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX my family and I did a walk through by ourselves. We were in contact with the fraudsters via text messages. They gave us the unlock code to the property through text messages. So that Saturday XX/XX/XXXX after sending of another money order I then text the fraudsters for the keys since I already rented a XXXX  and had my whole house packed and ready to go. They then text back saying once the receive the money they will give me the key to the property. I was infuriated. I had already given them {$1500.00} plus rented a XXXX  and packed up my belongings and had to be out of my residence. I then called XXXX Bank to find out about my money orders I deposited on XX/XX/XXXX. They informed me that the account was flagged due to fraudulent activities and that they had my money orders. I asked if I could have them back. XXXX Bank said the account XXXX XXXX account number XXXX routing number XXXX was being investigated and that I should go directly to the XXXX Bank at which I deposited the money orders initially and talk to them. I then went to ups canceled my overnight money orders and got those back. I then went to XXXX Bank located at XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX and talked with the bank XXXX XXXX XXXX who can be contacted at XXXX. I and my family sat with him and his Bank teller and they researched what had happened and told me this was a unique case and that the State of XXXX  now had my money orders. He told me he would do what he could to retrieve my money. 
I emailed XXXX XXXX twice during that time and I was informed to talk to Western Union to get my money orders since my son purchased those through them. I called Western Union on behalf of my son using his name since he was the one who brought the orders. I called several times in this manner. I had the dates and times but since lost that information and when I asked Western Union for that information recently they refused to give it. While trying to retrieve my money back from XX/XX/XXXX through XXXX XXXX Western Union never looked into the case # XXXX ( {$1000.00} ) case # XXXX ( {$500.00} ) case # XXXX ( {$1000.00} ) case # ( XXXX ) I think this is for both money orders. They refused to do their due diligence this is why I have so many case numbers. I had to keep calling two sometimes three times a week to find out where is MY MONEY! THEY ARE STEALING IT! I gave them all the documentation all the proof that we purchased the money orders. They sent vague emails saying they were not going to give my money back. The money my son and I worked hard for! 

I then had the case escalated to XXXX XXXX for money order number XXXX ( {$1000.00} ) and XXXX XXXX for money order XXXX ( {$500.00} ). I was then told because the money orders had been marked that I could not get my money back. I let Western Union know I never marked any money orders the bank did. So I went right back to XXXX Bank and let them know what was happening. They informed me to contact the FDIC and they gave me copies of the money orders in which they marked on a XXXX Bank letter head to show proof that they marked it and that they received the money orders from me. I tried handling the situation under my name XXXX XXXX and they shut the case down in one week. The first case under my son 's name went on for months but under my name one week. They are not investigating they do not care about the proof or facts. They STOLE MY MONEY!!! Western Union is also fraudulent!! I have all the proof of documents, names, pictures etc you name it.

So please help retrieve my money from this thieving organization. I gave them everything called many many times and nothing. If you need anything else just contact me I'll show and give the proof.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation