Being Paid by Western Union - Advice Needed

Rockee

I have sold an item value £19.99 to a buyer in Hungary. Feedback looks good and he told me he wanted to send cash! I told him if wanted to do this then at least send it by recorded delivery. Then, today he has sent me an email informing me that he has sent it via Western Union (text from his email below)

'I have sent the money to you by Western Union Money Transfer. Please, find the attached form. You have to go to the local Western Union Office (at the post office normally) to collect the money. You have to know the Money Control Number: 67********. The senders name is....... '

He has sent me a j-peg of the form, but you can't make out any details. As I have never had anything to do with Western Union, I just want to know whether this is the normal course of action or are we talking 'scam time'.

Rockee

antenna

If you collect the cash from the post office,or wherever,it cant be a scam,as long as you dont send the goods before collecting the money.

mcwarre

Run like the clappers. Western Union is normally only associated with eBay through SCAM!!!!

Bossyboots

Rockee wrote:

I have sold an item value £19.99 to a buyer in Hungary. Feedback looks good and he told me he wanted to send cash! I told him if wanted to do this then at least send it by recorded delivery. Then, today he has sent me an email informing me that he has sent it via Western Union (text from his email below)

'I have sent the money to you by Western Union Money Transfer. Please, find the attached form. You have to go to the local Western Union Office (at the post office normally) to collect the money. You have to know the Money Control Number: 67********. The senders name is....... '

He has sent me a j-peg of the form, but you can't make out any details. As I have never had anything to do with Western Union, I just want to know whether this is the normal course of action or are we talking 'scam time'.

Rockee

I can tell you that his instructions to you are correct. You simply find your nearest WU office and give them the details he has provided you with. You will need ID. You can find your nearest WU office by telephoning the number on their website (you may even be able to search on there by now, it is some time since I needed to check). I found them really helpful, nice people and while you are on the 'phone to them you can double check you have all the info you need but that is certainly all I have ever given to WU recipients.

If I remember, once sent the money cannot be recalled as it is effectively a cash transaction. If you don't collect it though they do telephone the sender and I suspect it can be reversed after a period of time if it is not collected.

Bossyboots

mcwarre wrote:

Run like the clappers. Western Union is normally only associated with eBay through SCAM!!!!

As long as the goods are not sent before the money is collected, there should be no problem. The currency paid will be the currency in the country of collection so the sum sent should be correct.

Tojo_Ralph

mcwarre wrote:

Run like the clappers. Western Union is normally only associated with eBay through SCAM!!!!

Yes.... Normally I would agree, however, in this case the OP is being asked to receive cash rather than send it.

Either...

a) This is an honest EBayer.

Or...

b) This is a scammer who hasn't quite grasped the concept of the whole thing.

dirtyred619

I had the same thing happen to me a month or so back. Even though I stated paypal or cheque only, a buyer in France tried to pay me by Western Union. I tried my local post office but they didn't do it and didn't even know where I should go. The Western Union web site is useless because to search for an agent that deals with Western Union, you need to search by post code!! In the end I phoned them up from the number on their site and it turned out that Co-Op Travelcare is an agent, so if your having any difficulty finding an agent you could always try a travel agents.

I was like you in thinking it could be a scam, but as long as you have the money from Western Union before you send the goods you should be fine.

soolin

If Western Union was not an option in your auction listing then just tell your buyer that you cannot accept it and insist on a payment method outlined in the auction.

You should not have to trudge around collecting payments just because a buyer can't meet your auction terms.

Tell him to recall his payment and pay you by an accepted method. If not go through the NPB process and relist.

Do not allow your buyer to dictate to you.

Soo (no more Ms NIce Guy!!!)

Matt83UK_2

The usual scam on the receiving side is: I have sent Western Union payment, here is a jpg or ref, please send the item now so it will arrive in time for my son birthday. Some stupid sellers actually send it before shipping and that's where the scam is.

Of course sending wise the scam is obvious, you don't receive the product!

Rockee

I have now received a further email with a list of Western Union offices local to me including the Coop Travel! A couple are nearby, so I am going to find out a bit more before either
a) getting the cash, then sending the goods or b) or declining this method.
I did think the same as you Soolin at first but now I think it won't harm to find out more, as I am selling more on ebay and will help identify any future potential scammers. I shall report back tomorrow!
Rockee

Rockee

Just to let everyone know, that I have received payment OK. Just went down to the local Co-op Travel Foreign Exchange with my transaction details and ID and got paid. Will now send item to Hungary. It was quite straight forward but I can see why the scammers use this method. Many thanks to everyone for there help.

Rockee