Consumer Fraud Money sent to my own name via Western Union, someone else took it.

Status
Not open for further replies.

billman_teskey

New Member
I was contacted about work in the UK, teaching English to the family of a Japanese Doctor for a year, I have been teaching ESL for 4 years so this made sense.
He connected me with his 'immigration lawyer' who made us send scans of our ID, marriage license, birth certificate, etc. She told us that we needed to send bank statements for 5000GBP or a Western Union transfer to my own name for 800GBP.
I sent the payment yesterday, today I checked online and it says 'picked-up'. I haven't left China yet, so it could not possibly have been me. Also, she has no hard-copies of my ID.
What possible recourse do I have?
 
None. This is an old scam. The scammer tricks the mark (you) into providing the money control number and other information and picks up the money him/herself.

Why would you send money to a stranger?

The lawyer was not a lawyer.
The lawyer was in on the "con".

Read how they work.
It is all over the 'net.
You can kiss that $900 good bye!!!

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advance-fee_fraud

http://www.419scam.org/419-western-union-money-transfer.htm

http://www.seattlepi.com/default/article/Western-Union-warns-of-money-transfer-scams-1187597.php
 
Um, with scans of you birth certificate, marriage certificate, and ID, they probably DO have your ID with their picture on it, and you are now open to all sorts of other fraud.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top