Never send money to a grandchild, family member, or friend for an emergency situation that you haven’t personally confirmed through a reliable source. Never send money to someone you just met online. Never use Western Union for internet purchases (there is no guarantee that the person will send the purchased goods to you). Never send money through Western Union for an employment opportunity or to claim “lottery winnings”. You will often be prompted via email to send money to West African countries, such as Nigeria or Ghana in these situations. Remember that unsolicited emails are often scams - you did not win a lottery and you weren’t selected by a “prince” to receive millions of dollars. [2] X Research source Never send Western Union transfers for purchases or sales on sites like Craigslist. com. Sometimes, a buyer will claim to purchase something you have put up for sale and send a check for more than the price. They will then ask you to send a Western Union transfer for the difference. This is a common scam. [3] X Research source

Make sure that the recipient has a local Western Union that they can visit, and that you are able to send money to their location.

Fees vary depending on what payment method you choose, where you are sending money from, and where you are sending it to. If you are transferring from one bank account to another, you will need your recipient’s bank name, BIC (Bank Identifier Code) and IBAN (International Bank Account Number) numbers, and the account numbers. You may need additional information for certain countries. [5] X Research source Money may be available after a few minutes or a few days, again depending on location and payment method. Save the MTCN number. This is the tracking code and the recipient will need to give this when receiving money.

Using your credit card may result in a cash-advance fee imposed by the card issuer. [6] X Research source You will need to create a Western Union account to use the online transfer service. Fees vary depending on what payment method you choose, where you are sending money from, and where you are sending it to. Save the MTCN number. This is the tracking code and the recipient will need to give this when receiving money.

Using your credit card may result in a cash-advance fee imposed by the card issuer. [7] X Research source Fees vary depending on what payment method you choose, where you are sending money from, and where you are sending it to. Save the MTCN number. This is the tracking code and the recipient will need to give this when receiving money.

You can locate the nearest Western Union location on their website. [11] X Research source

The money will show up in your account a few days after the transfer occurs. This service may not be available in your country or with your bank.