sunflower29
Member
Reged: 04/13/04
Posts: 147
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Hi everyone,
I just have a question regarding using WU for sending payments internationally.
Does anyone know much about the inner workings of WU? My concern is that if I'm making frequent visits there, sending money overseas, if they track that, and are obliged by any law or mutual understanding with the authorities to report anyone who makes does frequent transactions overseas.
I used the same WU location every time, which probably doesn't matter because I'm sure they're all linked to one central database, but do you think this is cause for any conccern?
I don't want it to appear as though I'm a drug dealer because I tend to do my purchases in a blitz, assuming some may be seized by customs and also so I can get it over with and have the amount that I need to last me a long time, rather than live with the anxiety of possibly running out of my medication.
For example, if two money orders were sent in early August, would one be a fool to make a third before the month's end?
When I see that an IOP is getting raves, and is reliable, I tend to want to order right away in case the situation changes, since some go out of business rather quickly. My first instinct is to run to WU and make the order. But I'm having second thoughts now.
I'd really appreciate any feedback you guys can provide before I do anything potentially stupid.
Thanks and I hope everyone's getting through the week relatively unscathed.
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potatoboy99
Permanent Fixture
Reged: 02/04/03
Posts: 1199
Loc: Deep North (East)
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If you are making your WU payments using cash from the location (rather than using a Credit Card), then you do not really need to use your own name. All the merchant really needs is the Money Transfer Control Number in order to pick up the funds. Some IOPs may also actually request that you let them know what name the money was sent from, if different than your own. I think they assume that you might not use your own name for frequent WU cash transfers.
But just think how many foreign national workers send money home on a weekly (or more frequent) basis! That's why there are so many Western Union and Moneygram locations! These are heavily used services, and I doubt that any particular attention is paid to one individual making two or three transfers in one month.
That's just my opinion, though.
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JByrnes
horizondrugs.com
Reged: 06/04/03
Posts: 23
Loc: Costa Rica
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Actually, a lot of merchants need to know the sender's name as well as the control number in order to collect the money.
You are right about the foreign worker thing though -- people send lots of money (called remittances) to countries like Mexico, Central America, and the rest of the world, many of them using Western Union because of convenience and speed of transfer. El Salvador, a tiny country of just over 6 million people, has incoming annual remittances of over 2 billion US dollars!
Also, the regulations against things like drug dealers, money laundering, terrorists etc, are usually for amounts larger than US $10,000. Any cash or cash equivalent (which includes WU) transfer over that amount has to be fully declared.
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potatoboy99
Permanent Fixture
Reged: 02/04/03
Posts: 1199
Loc: Deep North (East)
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Quote:
Actually, a lot of merchants need to know the sender's name as well as the control number in order to collect the money.
That's sort of what I was trying to say, although sometimes it doesn't seem to matter if there is a specific name attached to a domestic cash transfer. At any rate it does not have to be YOUR name, was my point.
The rules for Credit Card transfers are MUCH more stringent than for cash, they want all the t's crossed and the i's dotted etc, before they will release the funds. (If you leave out a middle initial they often will not release the funds, for instance).
I use Moneygram instead of WU generally. They are a lot friendlier.
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PIGINPAIN
Journeyman
Reged: 06/10/04
Posts: 85
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WU and credit card transaction to an oversea's account can be monitored without a court order under the patriot act and under custom's regulations regarding export/import of money.
There is an EXCELLENT way around this for anyone concerned, although you probably shouldn't be, about LE looking at your transaction. Several drug stores such as Walgreens and Riteaid sell prepaid Mastercards. You only pay about $10 for the card and can recharge it with cash, money order or debit card for about $4. The point is, if you buy one of these cards they don't have your name on them and no one has your personal information tied to the card. Just make sure you never recharge it with a signed money order or your debit card and the card is untraceable. They can only trace it back to the store where you purchased it, so buy it in a large city an hour or two from where you live or while on vacation.
I have had one of these for years along with a prepaid cell phone that doesn't have a name on it either. I started this when I was doing undercover LE, but I kept it because it is nice to be annonymous ever once in a while in this day and age.
Hope this helps,
Pig
PS. LE is more likely to monitor a recipient of the WU then the sender. If they are working on busting an IOP or fake IOP they will monitor the money flow for 30-90 days before the bust so they can figure out where the cash is going and how much is coming in.
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sunflower29
Member
Reged: 04/13/04
Posts: 147
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Hi everyone,
I'm limited to using Western Union to make my IOP purchases, and I'm wondering if anyone knows of specific IOPs which have a good track record for not taking advantage of WU (the customer being more vulnerable than having a chargeback option with a credit card), and being pretty consistent when it comes to delivering the goods after receiving their payment?
After all, it's so easy to just take the money from the WU customers, never deliver, and only concern oneself with those who can issue chargebacks.
Is there anyone with more experience than I have using WU who could post or PM me with any recommendations?
It would be much appreciated. 
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excellence
Stranger
Reged: 08/19/04
Posts: 19
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For every payment that you make you should use a fake name. Also, try to use as many different addresses as possible. Do worry if the clerk completing the transfer recognizes you as soon as you enter the stall (oops, I meanst "store") The good thing about WU/CE stores though is they have no security cameras around! 
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lilstraw
Member
Reged: 03/01/03
Posts: 115
Loc: california
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One thing about western Union is that they have strange rules>Example they will not let me western Union Money to Brazil(I wonder who I am sending money to LOL) in california. Other states its ok. The way around this is to call your wesern Union Money in by Telephone. Dont want to use computer unless you want a phone call from W.U. MAKING SURE IT WAS YOU WHO CALLED IN ORDER.
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