Sending Money Via Western Union Type Service: A Scam Every Time

There are so many scammers on this site, it can be downright hard work trying to find the legitimate ones. So let me give you the best advice I possibly can: I do not care what someone tells you, how many pictures of their "alleged" products they have, as soon as they mention the word "Western Union" or any other type of money wiring, IT IS A SCAM.
These types of services are for

1. People that do not have bank accounts

2. Money as a gift

3. To pay a bill (i.e. car payment).

If you send someone money this way, plan on never getting it back. Legitimate companies will NEVER EVER ask you to pay this way.(Ask yourself, when have you ever bought something from a store, and you "Moneygrammed" your payment for it?) If you need more proof, just browse through this forum of hundreds of people that are trying to find ways to get their money back.

This is my recent experience: I was dealing with a company I thought was legit. I checked them out on the internet, and it was an actual electronics company in Hong Kong. However, this guy had a free yahoo address(Why not have an email address from the company?) And when I checked out the IP address from the emails, they were traced to Nigeria. Then when he sent an email stating that method of Payment was Western Union, I knew he was a scammer. Also, the name he said to wire the money to was completely different, a 'Aletor Itua'; When I searched this name, I found endless articles of people being scammed from this same person. For fun, I emailed the scammer, telling him that I won't do Western Union, and recommended Escrow.com. This is the email I received back:

"this is my HONG KONG NATIONAL ID CARD,i have never done this before not even to the most trusted customer i will not send my ID card to that person the reason is that here in HONG KONG anyone could be easily located and arrested wherever you are so everyone here in HONG KONG do not give out there ID CARD but i have decided do this because of what you said in the content of your first mail and you wanted someone who could work with you to achieve success . The person that taught you and gave you all those informations are very correct but i want to inform you that if there are bad people in business there are also good people , 10 bad fruits on a tree does not make the whole fruits on the tree bad i want to assure you of a good deal you just wait and see also i want you to know that western union is not established for bad transaction western union is a legal means , but bad people just want to make it bad also do you know that there have been recent reports of cheat via paypal, escrow mr peter with this email bp20002003@yahoo.co.uk was cheated of about 13,000 dolars via paypal escrow but when he met me today he his happy as he bought goods worth 1800 dollars and he his happy in conclusion it is not method of payment that really matters what matters is the person that you wants to buy from , i have conscience oaky and i have promised myself to be good always and not cheat anyone i want to assure you that you are ina a safe hand just go ahead and send the money right now and give me the MTCN today and i will get back to your email with the FEDEX shipment tracking numkber today take me for my word i am expecting to hear from you N.B . please please please my national id card i send to you is my life please , i will send your item and also to the second address immediatelly i get the MTCN after you have your items i will require you to inform me . THANKS. Stephen Lai "

REMEMBER THEY ARE GOOD.....THEY MAKE A LIVING THIS WAY!

We are all keeping the scammers thriving by falling for their tricks. Please, please please do your research, and keep your money safe by only dealing with legitimate companies with legitimate payment methods, like www.escrow.com. I posted an ad for wanting to buy Nintendo Wii's, and I received over 40 responses- all fake. Be Careful and be Wise. I HAVE STARTED A WEBSITE FOR ALL OF US HONEST PEOPLE TO TELL OUR STORIES, GET HELP, AND STOP THESE SCAMMERS. Email me for more information at helpIwasscammed@yahoo.com, and visit my fraud website at http://www.helpiwasscammed.com NOTE: I have no idea why, but if you send me an email from a gmail account, I will not be able to respond to you. I apologize for the inconvenience.

Replying to [inwilddreams]:
But i find a lot of chinese companies i have dealt with deal in western union and bank transfer, but dont accept anthing else like credit card or paypal.

Replying to [inwilddreams]:

What you mentioned is partly right. In my opinions, any payment method is safe for an honest supplier, and no payment terms is safe for a professional scammer worldwide. Can't you see that many professional scammer can cheat you with fake documents even in terms of L/C?

For us, we also accept Paypal, Western Union, T/T and any other terms, sometimes we also prefer Paypal or Western Union because it's faster than other payment terms.

Replying to [inwilddreams]:
You are right about scammers through western union,,,but you seem to advertise for paypal,,,do you have some shares in it ????it was just a question.

Replying to [inwilddreams]:

I know this way to transfer dollars to oversea.

Replying to [alimartin888]:

My friend, you don't know Chinese at all.
Some people related with you is't use palpal and other, only because they don't believe it!

Replying to [Business in China]:

You are right , i am agree with you!

Replying to [alichintock]:

No, I was just using paypal as an example, there are many ways to send money, and it only makes sense to channel it through safe methods that can be traced and insured. I have used paypal for many years, with 100% success, so I suppose you could say I am confindent with them, that is all.

Replying to [alimartin888]:

My opinion is always do your research, any time you are wiring money to another country to someone you have never met before, you are taking a huge chance. I personally will not do business with anyone that only offers a wire transfer for payment.

Replying to [Business in China]:

Yes, but you give the buyer options also for payment, you do not just expect Western Union only.

Please do not deal with David Derrickson or Phone House Palace Limited or Ahmed Kabiru of Ahmed Stores Unlimited...They are tied together and scammed me on a mobile phone deal...They are both con artists...Ripped me off and I have reported them to Alibaba...Trying to protect others..I have all our conversation transcripts indicating payment was made and they claim they made shipment but nothing...PLEASE BEWARE!!!