Sending money abroad, either online or in person, should be as secure as possible. However, recent cyberattacks on money transfer platforms have cast some doubt on the reliability of these services. Western Union has been enabling people around the world to send and receive money for over 150 years. Since it was founded, it has made it a matter of principle to offer money transfers that are fast, easy, and most importantly, perfectly secure.
Is Western Union reliable? Absolutely. In this article, discover why we remain the most secure and most widely used money transfer service in the world, offering the best cybersecurity protections (money transfer, personal information and fraud).
How does Western Union protect your information?
For us, protecting your identity and personal information is paramount, as this is often what is targeted during cyberattacks. We make every effort to ensure the secure management and storage of your personal data, such as social security numbers, bank account numbers, telephone numbers, email and postal addresses etc. To that end, our Western Union protection includes but is not limited to:- End-to-end encryption: This encryption system ensures the security and confidentiality of your information during interactions. Only you and your recipient can access and read the information provided.
- Transport Layer Security (TLS) and Secure Sockets Layer (SSL): These security systems ensure data encryption (confidentiality and data integrity) when you use Western Union, which guarantees you safer browsing.
- Avoid using your name, your date of birth or any words that can easily be associated with you.
- Use a combination of letters and numbers, and a mix of lower case and capital letters.
- Use different passwords for all your accounts to mitigate the risk posed to you if one of your passwords is compromised.
- Avoid writing your password down where it may be seen.
How does Western Union protect you from fraud?
Western Union also does everything in its power to combat fraud and offers many ways to protect you, including:- Automated fraud warning.
- Information on fraud prevention at our various retail store locations.
- Fraud prevention tips and resources available on our website and social media platforms.
- Work with the media and consumer groups to provide better education on the risks and dangers of fraud.
- Speeches and talks at major fraud prevention events.
- Don't send money for customs duties or shipping fees.
- Don't send money to someone you haven't met in person.
- Be wary of businesses without a verified mailing address.
- Don't pay for an item or service via a money transfer to an individual.
- Be aware of scams that require a money transfer (such as prizes or lottery winnings), claiming to come from the government or public services.
Why choose Western Union for your money transfers?
At Western Union, the security of your money transfers is our top priority, regardless of the amount being transferred. To ensure peace of mind when completing your transfers, we have put reliable and effective protection measures in place, including to send money online:- Multiple ways to send money, tailored to your needs: No matter your circumstances or where you live in the world, you can take advantage of one or more secure ways to send money through Western Union: through our website, via our mobile app or in person.
- Different means of payment: With your bank account, with a bank card (debit or credit) or in cash (at agent locations).
- A multi-factor authentication process: In order to offer an additional layer of security and in compliance with the EU PSD2 directive, each Western Union money transfer is secured by multi-factor authentication: PIN, password or biometric data.
- Rigorous identity verification: For money transfers over 1000 euro, you must verify your identity, both online and at an agent location. This verification can be done for an online transfer via video chat or through La Banque Postale, and by presenting a form of official identification (identity card, passport or French work or residence permit).
- Precise tracking of your transfer: Once the money has been sent, you can track and check its status in minutes with your MTCN, the 10-digit tracking number assigned to your transfer.
Send money securely with Western Union
Trust Western Union and take advantage of over 150 years of experience to send money securely to loved ones in just a few clicks to more than 200 countries.What do people think about Western Union?
Based on our experience and the continued security of our money transfers, Western Union reviews are very positive. We have been making millions of transfers every year for over 150 years, thanks to the trust our users have in us and the security of all our processes (transfers, personal data and fraud). Discover Western Union reviews and ratings across review platforms, including:- 2/5 on Trustpilot,
- 4/5 on Google Play,
- 6 on the App Store,
- 5/5 on Monito,
- 5/5 on eBuyClub.
FAQs
Are there any risks to using Western Union? No, there is no risk in using Western Union, whether in person at our agent locations, on our website or via our app. We have implemented a variety of safeguards to ensure the security of your money transfers and personal information. What are the most common types of fraud? Some of the most common types of fraud include:- Advance fee scams,
- Charity scams,
- Car sale scams,
- Recruitment scams,
- Fake check scams,
- Identity theft,
- Lottery scams,
- Romance scams,
- Rental property scams,
- Social media scams.
