BEWARE Western Union Not so secure and very easy to fraud

A friend of mine transferred money using Western Union to her colleague but before she could collect her money somebody else collected the money on her behalf using some fake identity. Many fraudster do the scam using Western Union as it has a very weak system.

My suggestion to all would be to never use Western Union.

Here is one of the scam used by a fraudster using Western Union and even police refused to file anything against it.

The student girls namely, ABC and XYZ, were looking for rental accomodation in London and found an advertisement on gumtree along with contact details of the landlady.

This landlady described herself as Kristian Nels from Sweden and said she had suffered rent losses earlier as her previous tenants were unable to pay rent.

As a result, before she travels to London to show them her apartment, she wants to make sure that she is renting the property to the person who has got enough cash to pay atleast the initial month rent and are serious about renting the property.

Not only that, she also sent them a soft copy of lease agreement, apartment pics and description of each item present in the flat.

She suggested that they transfer money using Western Union between themselves and send her a scanned copy of the receipt as a proof of cash transfer.

The girls being new to the city London and being young and innocent transferred 1200 Sterlings.

The transaction details are as below:

Transaction ID : 6015278516

Transferrer : ABC

Receiver : XYZ

They sent a scanned copy of the receipt to the landlady but before XYZ could collect the money transferred by ABC, this lady (Kristian Nels) went with some fraud identity posing as XYZ and got the money.

The biggest thing to question in this case is how diligently the identity check is done by Western Union before handing over the money to receiver and are there any cameras installed using which you can atleast track the person's face who collected the money using a pin and identity.

The money was collected from Western Union Today (17-August-2008) at 12:30 pm.

Here are some further details about the fraudster:

Email ID Used : kristiannels AT yahoo.com

Phone Number : +468-559 22 624

Gum Tree ad : ad #27299112: 3 bedroom Maida Vale

Comment On This

REAL EXAMPLE OF A CON ARTIST'S 'MAROONED TRAVELLER' PITCH

Here is the transcript of a con artist's pitch. Note how the con artist is increasingly curt in his/her replies.

This is the second such con artist I've dealt with, and in each case I turn the tables by luring them with the hope of success.

I create multiple fake personalities and crazy circumstances to waste their time.

It's a great game and I encourage all potential victims to give it a try if they get a 'marooned traveller's email' scam.

You will help end these scams by wasting their time. My record, about five hours.

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Subject: Holiday Mishap !!!

I'm writing with tears in my eyes,my family and I came down here to Madrid Spain for a short vacation unfortunately we were mugged at the park of the hotel we stayed,all cash credit cards and cell were stolen off  but luckily for us we still have our passports with us.

I have been to the embassy and the Police here but they're not helping issues at all and our flight leaves pretty soon from now but we're having problems settling the hotel bills and the hotel manager won't let us leave until we settle the bills.Please be so kind to reply back so I can tell you what to do and how to get some cash to us.

We are freaked out at the moment

Brian .

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Subject: Re: Holiday Mishap !!!

Oh, my God, Brian!  How terrible!

Do you have your ID?  Your driver's license?

Send me a copy and I'll wire you money till you get back home.

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Subject: Re: Holiday Mishap !!!

I'm glad you are willing to help .It has really been embarrassing for us.€1,350 will cover all my expenses but i will appreciate whatsoever you can afford to wire right now, I promise to refund it to you as soon as I arrive home.you can get the money to me here via Western union outlet around you,all you need is my name as it is in my international passport and the name of the country we are now to make the transfer ,so bellow are the information you may need

Receiver name: Brian [OMITTED]

Address: Calle General Alvarez de Castro, 11 28010

Country: Spain

Amount: €1,350

I still have my passport so I can use it as identification, e-mail me the transfer details and the confirmation number include the amount sent.

Let me know as soon as you are heading out to the Western union.

Brian.

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Subject: Re: Holiday Mishap !!!

Thank God, you're safe!

We're getting dressed now.  Thank you for the details.  I called my cousin now to bring back the car from his camping trip.   He said he'll be here in twenty minutes.  You know how Jacob drives!

He was happy to hear you're safe.  I don't have to tell you how bad he felt about that accident last year.  I have to tell you he wants to make it up to you.  Well, I'll let him tell you.

Jack is already waiting by the door.

We'll leave as soon as Jacob gets here.

Take care!

Robert

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Subject: Re: Holiday Mishap !!!

Once you have it done kindly get back to me with the Western Union confirmation details (MTCN) for the pick up of the funds

I'll hang in here

Brian.

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Subject: Re: Holiday Mishap !!!

Will do, Brian.

Jacob just called.  He's stuck at the Holland Tunnel because of the Whitney Houston service being held there today.  I always, always tell him to take the George Washington Bridge!  I'm sorry, but he is so stupid!  I'm not surprised that you got so mad at him.

We asked our neighbor--you know, Shirley--to drive us.  She's home.  She says hello.  You ought to ask her out when you get back.

They're honking.  Gotta go.  I'll get r[ight back to you.  Oh, your passport:  do you have "Brian T. [OMITTED]" or just "Brian [OMITTED]"?

Email me back.  I'm bringing my phone.

And no more travels for you for a while!

Robert

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Subject: Re: Holiday Mishap !!!

It's Brian [OMITTED], let me know how soon you can get the cash wired

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[NOTE HOW I BEGIN TO USE MULTIPLE PERSONALITIES TO ENGAGE THE CON ARTIST]

Subject: Re: Holiday Mishap !!!

Hi, Brian this is Shirley

 Robert's parking the car for me.  Ha ha, I can't fit that small space.  Jack sent the money gram thing and we has to drive him to work.

It came out to a little less than the 1,350 Euros.  So, let me know when ur coming back I'll pick u up at the airport.  I didn't know u were going to Spain.  That's like near Italy I think.  Call me.  

:)

Shirley

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Subject: Re: Holiday Mishap !!!

Okay, Kindly e-mail me the Confirmation details for the pick up of the funds.

I'll hang in here

Brian

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Subject: Re: Holiday Mishap !!!

Hi, Brian.  Okay, we sent it.  It came out to 1,292.78 Euros and it cost us $115.00.  Don't worry about getting it back to us.  We're just so relieved you're okay.  Did you fill out a police report?

So, the MTCN is # 9472859671-3847583

Jack folded the receipt and put it in his pocket cause he had to go to work.  We had to wait for him to call us back to give us the number.  Shirley wrote it down.  I can't read her handwriting but I'm pretty sure that's it.

Shirley's all happy and she ran next door to get dressed or something.  Are you coming back today?  Shirley thinks you're coming home today.

Jacob's still in Manhattan, says it's crazy with all the people going to Jersey for Whitney Houston's funeral.  We're watching it on TV.  She was pretty good.

Hey, call me collect when you get the money.  I gotta tell you something.

Robert

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Subject: Re: Holiday Mishap !!!

What is the sender's name?

Brian

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Subject: Re: Holiday Mishap !!!

Oh, sorry,

Jack Tierney.

Jack had the Chase card so I'll give the cash to him tomorrow.

Hey, call me collect.  You got the number.

Robert

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Subject: Re: Holiday Mishap !!!

I just got back from western union now and  i did not receive the payment Can you tell Jack to to scanned you the western union receipt so that i can look at the MTCN so that we can write it out correctly.

Brian

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Subject: Re: Holiday Mishap !!!

Oh, man, I can't believe this.

I called Shirley back.

She said I got the number wrong.  She said it's

# 9472859871-3847583.

So she wrote an 8 like a 6.

I called Jack.  He's not answering.  He must be in the subway.  He's only working part time today.  I'll tell him to scan the receipt if you still want when he gets back.  He saves everything so that will be no problem.  Shirley has a scanner.  But I think she's using Windows 7.  That won't be a problem, right?  You're the computer guy.

And listen, call me collect if you want.  Jacob's here.  I think his wife is upset, you know, canceling the camping trip.  But hey, it's not important.  What counts is that you're safe.  Did you get hurt?  Bet you wish you didn't listen to me about carrying that knife, right?

Okay, let me know when you have the cash.

Robert

PS:  Shirley's looking real pretty these days.  You know she got divorced, right?  Call me.

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[NOTE: HERE AGAIN, IT'S USEFUL TO PRETEND THAT YOU LENT THE PHONE TO SOMEONE WHO CAN ALSO WRITE HIS/HER OWN NOTES TO THE CON ARTISTS.]

Subject: Re: Holiday Mishap !!!

Hi Brian it's Shirley

Sorry about the number mistake.

Jack called from the train.  Robert's picking him up now.  I'm using Robert's phone cause mine the battery is dead.

This phone is nice.  Better than mine.

I can't wait for u 2  come back.  I saved the letters u wrote me.  I don't know what I'd do if something happened to u. I know it has been a while since we talked but I'll write to u later from my computer

:)

Shirley

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[NOTE: THIS CON IS STILL IN PROCESS, BUT AT THIS POINT I HAD THEM HOOKED FOR FOUR HOURS. TRY THIS FUN GAME AND POST YOUR RESULTS HERE!]