How Does Sending Money Through Western Union Work

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Western Union is a wire transfer service that allows you to quickly transfer money all over the globe. While it's not without risks, it is a reliable way to get money to friends and family almost anywhere in the world. Follow this guide to make sure your money gets to where it needs to go.

1
Know who you're transferring to. Western Union is a popular way for scam artists to receive money from their victims, so be absolutely sure that you know the person that you are sending the money to, and that you trust what the money is for.^[1] Western Union has the following guidelines on when not to send money:
- 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]
- 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]
2
Verify the recipient's location and name. You will need their location so you know what city to send the money to. Make sure you know the name that is used on their ID because this will be used to verify the funds are being released to the right person.
- 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.
3
Send money from a Western Union branch. Find your local Western Union office and fill out the necessary forms. You can send money from a branch in several ways: via cash, with a credit or debit card, or from bank account to bank account. Using your credit card may result in a cash-advance fee imposed by the card issuer.^[4]
- 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]
- 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.
4
Send money through the Western Union website. Click the Send Money link on the Western Union homepage. Select Send Online. Fill out the form, and choose how you want to pay. You can either send the money with a credit or debit card, or with your bank account. The recipient can either pick up cash at a Western Union branch, or have the money deposited into a bank account.
- Using your credit card may result in a cash-advance fee imposed by the card issuer.^[6]
- 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.
5
Send money over the phone. Call the Western Union toll-free number, which can be found on the website. Provide the agent with the necessary recipient information, and pay with a credit or debit card.
- Using your credit card may result in a cash-advance fee imposed by the card issuer.^[7]
- 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.
6

Use Western Union's Mobile App. Western Union's mobile app allows users to send money, track sent money, and pay bills right from their phones. The app is available for both IOS and Android platforms.^[8]
7

Speak with your recipient again. Provide them with the MTCN number given to you by Western Union, which they can use on the form when they go to an agent location to pick up the money. Advise them again that they will also need a government-issued ID that matches the name of the intended recipient to collect the money.^[9]

1
Pick your money up from a local branch. If you are receiving your money in person, you can visit your local Western Union to pick it up. You will need the MTCN number and a photo ID with a name that matches the recipient exactly.^[10]
- You can locate the nearest Western Union location on their website.^[11]
2
Have the money transferred to your account. If you want to receive money in your bank account, you will need to inform the sender and provide them your necessary banking information. This includes your IBAN, BIC, and account number.^[12]
- 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.
3

Get a Western Union prepaid card. This card will allow you to receive money, and then use the card like a debit for purchases and payments. Once you register the card, you can log in to your Western Union account and input the MTCN to have the money loaded onto your card. You can also load money onto the card by phone.^[13]
4

Receive money on your phone. Certain carriers in select countries allow the transfer of funds directly to a "mobile wallet" on a cell phone. See Western Union's website for more details.^[14]

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Question

What is the transfer limit?

Michael R. Lewis is a retired corporate executive, entrepreneur, and investment advisor in Texas. He has over 40 years of experience in business and finance, including as a Vice President for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas. He has a BBA in Industrial Management from the University of Texas at Austin.

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Expert Answer

The limits vary per origination and destination country, your transaction history, and the method you choose to send the money (online or in person). For example, the limit for the mobile money transfer service is generally $500 USD while the maximum online transfer is $2,999 USD.
Question

Is there a fee to transfer money?

Michael R. Lewis is a retired corporate executive, entrepreneur, and investment advisor in Texas. He has over 40 years of experience in business and finance, including as a Vice President for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas. He has a BBA in Industrial Management from the University of Texas at Austin.

Business Advisor

Expert Answer

Yes, there are fees for the Western Union money transfer services depending upon the method of ordering, the locations of the sender and recipient, and the specific service chosen. Contact a local Western Union office or visit their website to review their fees.

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Special promotions may reduce fees to send certain monetary amounts to and from certain locations or countries.
Fees will vary based on the amount of money you are sending, where you are sending it to, and how you are sending it. For example, it is cheapest to send and receive money using the Western Union website or their app.^[15]
Transferring money with Western Union is generally the least expensive when transferring a small amount of money to someone in the same country. Fees are higher when currency must be exchanged for the money transfer. You can estimate foreign exchange fees on the Western Union website before sending money.^[16]

Always be sure of who you are sending money to.
Always verify that any communications received regarding your activity with Western Union are in fact from Western Union.
Never disclose your activity to someone you don't trust.
Not all services are available at all agent locations, and not all countries will allow every method of sending money.

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Article SummaryX

One way you can transfer money with Western Union is by going in person to one of their local offices. If there isn't one near you, go online to the Western Union website to fill out a money transfer form. You can also call Western Union to make a transfer over the phone using your credit or debit card or bank account information. Finally, if you want to transfer money on the go, just download the Western Union mobile app! For more from our reviewer on transferring money with Western Union, including receiving money rather than sending it, read on!

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