Report to Western Union

• Money sent to someone who turned out to be a scammer
• Romance, lottery and family emergency scams paid by transfer
• Fake job offers that required a transfer
• Emails spoofing Western Union

1. 1

   Call the fraud hotline

   Western Union gives 1-800-448-1492 and asks you to call immediately if you believe you are a victim of fraud.

2. 2

   Ask whether the transfer can still be stopped

   File the claim with the fraud department first. If the funds have not been paid out to the receiver yet, you may be able to stop the transaction.

3. 3

   Do not rely on email

   Forwarding the original email to spoof@westernunion.com does not file a claim. It is for reporting the message, not the loss.

4. 4

   File with police and the FTC

   Western Union asks you to contact your local law enforcement agency after the claim, and points to the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Consumer Protection.

• The money transfer control number (MTCN)
• The amount, date and receiver name
• The story you were told, and any messages

A transfer already collected is extremely hard to recover. One not yet paid out can sometimes be stopped, which is why the call comes before anything else.