UPDATE 9 JUN 2003: WHAT CAN YOU DO?
As stated before, you will not be able to recover your money or get your item, but you can take actions to prevent this from happening to others. TAG thinks that since Western Union is taking no action to prevent this fraud from continuing, they need to be forced into action. We think that Western Union should be required by law to warn every person sending a wire transfer, that the wire transfer is designed to send money to friends and family and people you know, NOT TO PURCHASE ITEMS FROM STRANGERS. If Western Union gave this warning, it would greatly reduce this scams effectiveness. This would cost Western Union nothing as it would only take a few seconds to do, but it could be very effective in giving buyers that last nudge that they are not acting in their own best self interest.

How do we force Western Union to do this? Write, call or visit your state and federal representatives (or your international equivalent of government representative), and explain to them why you think Western Union should be forced to give this warning. If you have had your money stolen via a Western Union wire transfer, write to your state's Attorney General and ask him/her to force Western Union to give this warning. States regulate Western Union wire transfers already, we think this warning should be added to every Western Union wire transfer transaction. To contact your Congressional rep go to -
Congressional rep
Search Google to find your state website, attorney general and other links.

File a complaint with the Better Business Bureau against Western Union, for not giving you this warning. Western Union is well aware of this scam, and they should take at least this simple step to prevent it. You can contact the Better Business bureau through this link -
Better Business Bureau

Update 6 Sep 03 - we see that WU has added a fraud prevention page to their site at - Fraud Faq, though TAG does not begin to feel this is adequate.

15 Aug 01
TAG recently was in the market for a new computer or two. As we normally do with the majority of our purchases, we sought to buy this equipment online. In our attempt to buy, we uncovered a form of fraud, selling non existent computers using wire transfers, with Western Union being the favorite of the scammers.

Here is what happens. You bid on and win a computer (probably the same thing happens with other big ticket items) listed with a location in the US. They take charge cards - so you know you have charge back protection, even though they have no or low feedback. You get the end of auction notice from the auction house (ebaY, Yahoo, ZDnet) and it has US contact info. You contact the seller and receive a (usually) auto-response, or form email that congratulates you on your win and please send your money to an address in Italy, Austria etc via wire, and they will ship your computer stat. Yeah right...

We talked to Western Union and asked if there was any recourse if the item was not shipped - answer - NO. We asked them what they were doing about these situations - answer - basically nothing. If the seller is reported, in writing (at least they let us do this via email) they will block that particular name and address (maybe) from receiving funds, but they are well aware that the person will just repeat the process using new info. They do nothing to pursue any of these scammers. To report a fraudulent or suspected fraudulent online seller, send copies of all information to
customerservice@westernunion.com
ATTN: Debbie Joyner

What are the auction houses doing about this? basically nothing. We could not even get Yahoo and ZDnet to suspend the sellers, despite plenty of proof. Just got form answers back and a big ho hum.

A buyer should NEVER complete an auction where the money is via wire transfer and going overseas when the item was supposed to be located in the US. Any change in terms of the auction (location, payment type etc) makes the auction null and void, though as far as we know, none of the auction sites will protect you from neg feedback. Your explanation of the neg should be enough to tip off future buyer/sellers, but it still stinks. We warn EXTREME caution when the terms of an auction ask you to send money by Western Union wire - particularly overseas, and definitely do not EVER send such money when the term was NOT in the auction.

If no one falls for this - this scam will end - but it sure looks as if neither Western Union or the Online Auction Houses will do anything about it.

On a VERY positive note, we did find a real honest to goodness person selling online, with great prices, phenomenal merchandise, lightspeed delivery, absolutely honest and up front! They have great feedback and deserve it all! If you need computer equipment, we are happy to recommend - bears2books Update 6 Sep 03 - Bears to Books is no longer selling on ebaY. - TAG

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