Protecting customers is a priority
MoneyGram is a fast, convenient and secure way to send money all over the world. Our services help thousands of clients meet their financial commitments as well as support family members.
Unfortunately, some people have used our services to scam, mislead, or defraud consumers with a variety of scams. MoneyGram is dedicated to protecting our customers and our brand, which is why stopping scams and fraud is a top priority for us. Here’s a description of some of the common scams and ways to protect yourself from them.
Get started with the basics of Consumer Protection
Make sure the person or company you are sending money to (or on behalf of) is someone you trust and know. It is important to keep the information related to your shipment confidential. Note: Once the money has been sent, cancellation or refund is not possible. If you need to cancel or modify a transaction, please call MoneyGram or immediately contact the MoneyGram agent you sent to.
Common wire transfer scams
Fake check scam
You receive a check or money order with instructions to cash it at your bank and then send some of the funds to someone else via MoneyGram. Counterfeit checks can be difficult to detect and may not be recognized until you have completed the requested transfer. With this fraud, the scammers can get the cash and you are responsible for returning the false amount and any charges to your bank.
Lottery scam
You receive a phone call telling you that you have won money or a prize and that you need to send money to pay taxes, customs fees, etc. This common trick focuses on people’s hope of winning the lottery or a big prize. Never send money to claim a prize from someone you don’t know.
Hero scam
A response to your ad for a lost pet or personal item. This fraud uses word-of-mouth ads to contact people pretending they have found their lost item. Never include a complete description of the lost item in the newspaper – have the caller describe what they found.
Good faith scam
An unknown person tells you to send money to a friend or relative in “good faith” for a purchase. Legitimate businesses are not conducted this way. They tell you to send money on behalf of a friend, stating that your funds will be safe because they won’t be able to collect the transfer. That is not true. Scammers often use false identification to impersonate someone else.
Phishing scam
You receive an email that appears to be from MoneyGram requesting financial or other information. No matter how real it looks, we are not an online shipping or escrow service. MoneyGram will NEVER send an email asking you for personal or financial information or requesting you to send money.
False information scam
Instructions to hide transaction information or cheat MoneyGram. These are clear warning signs that something is wrong. Scammers are familiar with MoneyGram’s efforts to prevent fraud and may tell you not to share your transaction details with MoneyGram to hide illegal activities.
Disaster relief
When disasters strike, it is important to be on the lookout for charity scams. There are many legitimate ways to support people affected by floods, earthquakes, fires, and other natural disasters. If you want to donate, do it as you have done before or through an organization or a company you trust, which explains well how the funds are collected and used. It is important to never send funds using a money transfer service like MoneyGram to someone you do not know. Sometimes MoneyGram supports donation programs with a reputable charitable organization.
Buy a vehicle
Did you find a great vehicle online or in an advertisement that is priced too good to be true? Are you being asked to send the initial payment via MoneyGram money transfer? Unfortunately, it is a SCAM. Do not send money to pay for the vehicle to the seller or a payment representative. The criminal may try to convince you to pay through MoneyGram to avoid sales tax and get a great price. They can even send you an authenticating letter or email saying you’ve purchased an item, but must send funds to get it shipped. You will not receive a car or a truck. Once you send the money and they receive it, it cannot be recovered; so unfortunately you will lose all the money you transfer.
Send money to a stranger
MoneyGram never recommends sending money to a stranger. Money received by a stranger cannot be recovered; so unfortunately your money will not be refunded. MoneyGram is very safe for sending money to someone you know and trust.
Lottery and draws
The lottery or legitimate sweepstakes NEVER ask people to pay money up front. If you get a letter, call, or email saying you won something (money or a prize), but before it is delivered to you, you need to send money to pay taxes, customs or other fees, it is a scam. Did it say you won, but didn’t buy a lottery ticket or enter a sweepstakes? Is a gotcha. Don’t send a money transfer to people who say you’ve “WON” something, but you need to send them funds to get the prize awarded.
Online shopping
Have you found something online that interests you, such as a puppy, a car, an apartment for rent, or any item for sale? Does the item price seem too good to be true and are you being asked to pay by MoneyGram money transfer? Unfortunately, it is a SCAM. Don’t send money to pay the seller for the item. They may even send you an authentication letter or email saying you’ve purchased an item, but you must send funds first. Don’t send the money. Is a gotcha. You will not receive any merchandise. Once you send the money and they receive it, it cannot be recovered; so unfortunately you will lose all the money you transfer.
Relative in need
Did a grandchild or another member of your family call you? Or did a “lawyer” or “police officer” call you who claimed to be with your family member? Are you desperate because you have been arrested in Canada for not having a fishing license or for having caught protected species? Have you had a traffic accident? Does he ask you for money to pay a fine or repair the vehicle? Did a relative call you to ask for money because a family member needed medical attention or medicine? Is a gotcha! Be cautious when sending money in any of these situations. Callers can ask you to send money anywhere in the world. If you cannot verify with your family member (calling the number you had before this call, not the “new number” that the caller gives you) that they need money, and if you are not sure about the transaction, do not send the money . You will lose all the money you transfer.
Loans
Did you get an email or letter saying you could get a loan? Did they ask you to send money for fees, taxes, service fees, advances, or other loan costs? Is a gotcha. Don’t send money to a loan company to get one. If you transfer the money and they receive it, it cannot be recovered. You will lose all the money you have sent.
Checks and money orders
Did you get a check or money order with instructions to cash it at your bank and then send those funds to someone else via MoneyGram transfer? If this happened to you, the check or money order is fake, and the bank will make you cover the loss. Keep in mind, it is very difficult to detect fake checks. They may promise you a percentage of the paycheck for work or because they say they have been overpaid. Is a gotcha. Don’t send money and don’t cash that check.
Romance
Did you meet someone through a personal ad, email, chat room, or instant message? Did she ask you to send her money for travel or financial aid? Do not send the money: it is a SCAM. The money this person receives cannot be recovered, and you will lose everything you send. Newspaper ads Did you find anything for sale in the classifieds or other newspaper ad? Does it require you to pay for the item by MoneyGram money transfer? Is a gotcha. Don’t use money transfers to buy items from strangers. It is not safe to do so.
Elder abuse scam
A stranger begins a close relationship with you and offers to manage your finances and assets. Or, there are documents with signatures that do not look like yours. Don’t let your money be stolen with financial abuse scams. Criminals try to manipulate you into giving them property and money; Thus, they can get to take everything from you in a single transaction: cash, bank accounts, your life savings. Financial abuse scams can occur in a number of forms, including telemarketing fraud, identity theft, bogus loans, offering home improvements, and estate planning. Never trust your money to someone you don’t know.
Protect yourself
Buying items on the Internet
Be very careful when sending money to pay for goods purchased online. Many Internet auction and e-commerce sites provide secure payment systems that offer greater protection for both buyer and seller. These payment methods may be a better option than a money transfer.
Using the MoneyGram money transfer service
Protect yourself so that you are not deceived when using our services.
- Be careful who you send money to, and don’t send money to strangers.
- Please keep confidential and do not share any details about the shipment with strangers.
- Be suspicious of anyone who wants you to send money to or someone else.
Why is this important? If a receiver has a photo ID and has information about the transaction and the sender, a reference number or the answer to a test question may not be required to collect the transaction. Also, do not assume that your money transfer is secure because you have specified a country for the transaction; scammers can divert money to a different country.
Too good to be true
Be suspicious of offers that are too cheap or “too good to be true.” Before sending money in response to an ad in a newspaper or magazine in exchange for airline tickets, concerts, or the like, research the offer carefully. The same is true for loan or credit card offers that ask you to send money for fees before signing any documents. MoneyGram cannot assure you that you will receive the products or services for which you are paying.
Filtering against phishing
What is spoofing?
Identity theft is a type of online fraud designed to steal personal information such as:
- Usernames
- Passwords
- Credit card details
- Secret questions and answers
Typically, spoofing is done by email pretending it is legitimate MoneyGram email. The links in the email will direct you to a bogus web page that appears to be the legitimate MoneyGram site. It is best not to click on the links in the email. If you want to visit our website, type the address (www.moneygram.es) in your browser instead of clicking on the links in the email.
How can I recognize spoofing?
Here are some details to keep in mind if you suspect you’ve received a phishing email:
- Threats that if you don’t verify your account information, your account will be closed
- Links to a web page that asks you to verify your account information
- Links to a web page that asks you to enter your passwords or user names
- Links to a web page that asks for a credit card or bank account number
It is good practice to never click on links in an email. Instead, type the address of the website directly into your Internet browser.
How can I avoid identity theft?
The best way to avoid becoming a victim of phishing is to learn about the most common scams. Please carefully review the emails you receive to see if it is a phishing scam:
- Bad links
- Misspelled words
- Too good to be an authentic offer
- Always check the offers before making a shipment
- Messages written with poor grammar or spelling mistakes
Type directly the address of the web page in your browser, and do not click on the links received by e-mail
What should I do if I may have been a victim of identity theft?
If you suspect you’ve received a spoofing email, don’t make assumptions – report it.
Consumer Fraud Awareness
I received an email from MoneyGram asking for my financial information. Should I provide it?
No. MoneyGram will NEVER send you an unsolicited email asking for your personal or financial information.
If you receive a suspicious email claiming to be from MoneyGram, please inform us immediately so we can investigate it. Also, if your financial information has been compromised, we recommend that you contact your financial institution immediately.
Who can collect the money I have sent?
The person receiving the MoneyGram transfer must present a valid ID and the remittance reference.
You may be required to present personal identification, typically one or more of the following: passport, driver’s license, national identity card, or government-issued identification. You may also be asked to provide proof of address (bank statement or utility bill). Requirements vary from country to country, so ask your local MoneyGram agent for valid identification formats.
For the highest degree of protection, keep all information about your money transfer confidential and make sure you know who you are sending the money to.
What can I do if a person to whom I have sent money and myself are victims of fraud?
If you suspect that you or the person you have sent money to may be a victim of fraud, report the scam to Change Center (MoneyGram).
Security in Internet transfers
Do not leave your keys in sight
Many Agents tend to paste their access codes on the screen or other visible area. Malicious customers, regular customers, and friends of employees memorize these passwords and then impersonate you. Keep these keys always safe.
If an employee leaves your company, request a password change.
Attempts to deceive the agent
A common fraud is when a person, who boasts good computer skills, suggests the Agent a trick to make transfers without being detected by MoneyGram. He proposes to share the profits.
There is no trick. This person will have managed to send money to his collaborators and the Agent will discover the next day that he has to pay for all these shipments out of pocket.
Be wary of these types of proposals and any other strange that they propose to you. If you suspect, bring the case to the Change Center (MoneyGram) communication to prevent other Agents from falling for fraud.
First of all, collect the money
Another type of common fraud is to request a shipment and once recorded, the client pretends to regret it, asks that the transfer be canceled and leaves the establishment with their money.
Since the operation is available in MoneyGram in minutes, even before the customer leaves the store and you cancel the operation, a friend will have collected the money at the destination and you will not be able to cancel it.
Take the money before recording the operation and do not return it until you have confirmation of the cancellation. I was suspicious in these cases.
Suspicious emails
Remember that Change Center (MoneyGram) never sends its clients emails or messages asking them to enter their passwords, if you receive any please delete it immediately and let us know.
If you have suspicions
If you think someone has been able to copy your passwords, call us and we will assign you a new one. If you think you have been tricked or suggested some strange activity, call Change Center (MoneyGram) and we will help you. If you report scam attempts to us, we can report them to other agents and we will all win.
