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Auction payment to false name at Western Union?

I've been looking for phones online these days and i've found someone on ebay selling one. We talked out the price and everything. He asked me to transfer money through Western Union and put the receiver's name as a fake name where he can't get the money until I get my product, then once I get my product I would change the receiver's name back to his name. Is there anything to lose for me? You know, I'm scared to shop online as a first timer. Would you say this is a safe method of payment?

Dave's Answer:

I wouldn't do that. No way.

If you're worried about the product, then use an escrow service. eBay has information on escrow services if you look in its help area. Here's what eBay says:

"An escrow service is a licensed and regulated company that collects, holds, and sends a buyer's money to a seller according to instructions agreed on by both the buyer and seller. Typically, once the buyer receives and approves the item from the seller within an agreed time frame, the escrow service then sends the payment to the seller. Escrow is available for any purchase, but typically is used for purchases of $500 or more."

It'll cost (I think) about $20 but that'll go a long way to ensuring that you receive a fully functional product. Failing that, you'll end up at eBay's Item not received, or not at all like how it was described.

There are just a lot of reasons why this is a bad idea. Remember, the "fake" name might be this guy's real name and he might be using a fake name on the email he's sending you, or the fake name might be his confederate, so you think you're safe and his pal cooly walks into Western Union and picks up your money, while you sit at your mailbox waiting and waiting for a package that never arrives.

Western Union itself says:

"Do not send money using a fictitious recipient's name. This will not protect you when purchasing from someone you don't know."

The company also has an entire page on fraud protection that I think you should read...

Good luck. Be careful!

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Categorized: Auctions and Online Shopping (Article 5243)
Tagged: auction payments, ebay, escrow, western union
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Comments

Indeed, you can find the official word from eBay on the risks of each type of payment methods: http://pages.ebay.ca/help/confidence/isgw-fraud-sending-payments.html

They don't recommend Money Orders (including Western Unions BidPay) or Instant Cash Transfers.

Posted by: Gerry Power at January 12, 2006 4:02 PM

Also a common ploy is for scammers to make unsolicited sales pitchs at ppl they see bidding for items, they send genuine looking emails stating stuff like Squaretrade escrow services and that ebay have an account with $10,000 of the sellers money that gets frozen when a purchase is made so the buyer can get a refund.

You would be surprised just how many people get caught out by this.

Also common destinations are Italy and Spain and within the UK and the usual ploy is to ask to have the money sent in a different name or withold information from the seller. Walk away from anyone that asks for this or reall anyone who doesn't want to use the normal payment methods.

Oh, common sales items are mobile phones, expensive cameras, laptops and for some reason motorbikes and cars (altho anyone who trys to buy a vehicle over the internet without seeing it deserves to lose money imo)

nuff said.

Posted by: anon at January 27, 2006 4:56 PM

What if i am given the right to make up the fake name or send it to someone who lives next to my home in my country, the person should not be able to pick up the funds without providing a proper ID, even if i give him the mtcn no, i have seen ppl at western union not paying the money, and there is no test question and answer, he only has the details and the mtcn no, which is not a must to pick up the money, so is there still ne way he can pick up the money??

Posted by: Javed at March 1, 2006 10:17 AM

Dear Sir,

I have just received an e mail from Wester Union Services informing me that i have been awarded 250,000 uk pounds.

I have to reply to,, claimsdepartment779@yahoo.com.hk

The name of the contact person is,, Denis Julius.

Could you please let me know if this is a genuine award, as before they will give me the money they have requested some personal information, Name, address, etc,,

Best Regards,
Paul Mooney..

Posted by: Paul Mooney at April 2, 2008 10:10 PM

I have a lot to say, but ...

I have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but most of all I'd like to say thank you for all your efforts on this Web site by buying you a chai!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!