mumbs wrote:
Was just wondering if there were any victims out there of the TNT/Craig's List/Western Union scam out there that have actually tried to pursue the location of the money wire through Western Union.
The problem is that if the scammer has the WU transer number and knows the correct information, even without an ID or being at the location you sent the money to, he can pick up the money. You could send the money to Bob in Texas, but if Bill in France knows the transer number, the amount of the transfer and the answer to the secret question he can sill pick up the money, even though his ID would show that he is not Bob and he is not in Texas.
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paired with the fact that my name and address is also known by the scammer. It's that latter fact alone that gets me the most upset. Although I'm sure it's over-reacting, but in the back of my mind I think of my wife and kids, and ultimately, our security. I don't like to feel vulnerable, and specially, afraid
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I tell people to be aware of their surroundings, but if the scammers were going to come to the United States to "get someone" it would not be over a few hundred or even a few thousand dollars.
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What I was wanting to know from others victimized by this scam, is who went through the process of finding out the exact location and identity of the receiver of the wire transfer.
There really is no way of knowing. Even if they DO show an ID, it is probably fake or stolen.
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This confused me b/c I was under the impression that when i filled out the paperwork for the transfer, i specified under RECEIVER: the name of the person to be picking up the funds on the other end. SO, with Western Union being so reluctant to reveal the identity of the sender, I'm left to believe that in fact can be someone besides the person I intended it to be?
You are correct . . . the story of Bob and Bill above shows that.
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What I'm getting at, is that if these funds are being picked up at the same Western Union Agent station, and this scammer is still at it (he/she has already re-posted the same item on Craig's List with the same story about being in the UK), should it be possible, we the assistance of Western Union, to send a wire to this individual and have them apprehended at the time of reception?? I know, it would take the cooperation of Western Union, who is making money on this scam regardless of their involvement. Even if the local law enforcement agency was needed or even the appropriate Federal agency, wouldn't it be another small step?
But now you are talking about Law Enforcement in another country. Over here, we can say "That is wrong!" all we want, but if the law enforcement in London, Canada or Nigeria does not want to do anything about it, since the actual "crime" took place in their country, there is nothing that can be done.
I understand all of your frustration and questions . . . I asked many of them after I became a victim of the counterfeit cashier's check scam, and since then I have talked to MANY people in government and law enforcement to get the answers to the questions.
We cannot stop them over there, but we can educate people over here!