Western Union Scam Text: How to Protect Yourself
Consumers are receiving smishing/phishing texts informing them that they have won a prize award from Western Union. The link in the text takes the consumer to a website where they are prompted to enter their personal identification information including driver’s license number. Please be advised that these are fraudulent texts and a fraudulent website. Please report receipt of a phishing/smishing text claiming you have won a prize award to your local law enforcement.
If you believe you may have been a victim of fraud and your transfer has not been paid, please call the Western Union Fraud Hotline 1800 448 1492 as soon as possible for assistance in filing a fraud claim. To view the full list of available fraud hotlines globally, please visit Western Union's Fraud Phone Directory. If no fraud hotline is available for your country, please go to your nearest Western Union agent location for assistance. You may do the following also:
- Forward suspicious emails to spoof@westernunion.com
- File a fraud complaint here
How to Protect Yourself:
- Before sharing information or sending any money, make sure you personally know the person requesting it. If you're unsure, verify with a friend or family member first.
- Cons often mislead victims into providing personal or financial information by unsolicited phone, text or email. Never respond, click on links or attachments in messages from someone you do not know.
- Do an online search of a company or product name with relevant words like "scam" or "claim", even phrases like "tax call" to review information shared.
- Fraudsters use any means to contact victims to gain your trust and then ask for money. Never send money to someone you haven't met in person or for a payment of goods, services or purchases found online.
- Banks are required to make funds from deposited checks available within days, but knowing if it's a fake check can take weeks. To avoid being responsible, funds from a deposited check should not be used until it officially clears.
Check the comment section for additional information, or share what you know or ask a question about this article, by clicking the 'View or Write Comment' button below.
Note: Some of the information in samples on this website may have been impersonated or spoofed.