The Ultimate Guide to Money Transfer Security

When you send a money transfer, security is the highest priority. Here’s everything you need to know about money transfer security, so you have peace of mind when you send money abroad online.

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Be informed. Be aware. Protect yourself from fraud.

Be informed. Be aware.

Protect yourself from fraud.

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We are committed to keeping your data safe

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Secure money transfer with Western Union

Money transfers should be secure. That goes without saying. But how is that level of security and reliability provided in a world where financial fraud is rife, particularly online?

At Western Union, providing a trusted and reliable money transfer service is our top priority.

We are committed to security, with safeguarding measures in place to protect your personal information when you send a money transfer with us. This provides peace of mind to our users, knowing that we provide a trusted money transfer service with a commitment to security.

So, here are three key security measures which help us keep your online money transfers as secure as possible.

It’s important to note that no money transfer service can truly guarantee 100% security. Any service that does should be viewed with a level of caution.

Identity verification for money transfer security

When you send money with Western Union in the UK, you’ll need to verify your identity if you’re sending 800 GBP or more.

Once your identity has been verified, your money transfer limit is extended to up to 50,000 GBP per transfer, depending on payment and receiving methods.

You can verify your identity in two ways:

 

During an online transfer

Through video chat

Verifying your identity for an online money transfer

If you want to verify your ID during an online money transfer, you just need to:

  • Log in to your profile and initiate a transfer of 800 GBP or more. If you don’t have a profile yet, you can do so here on our website, or via our app.
  • Enter the required details.
  • Confirm your details on the Complete your profile page and select Continue.
  • Provide additional identity information and select Continue.
  • Choose a government-issued ID to upload, enter its details, and select Next.
  • Review your transfer details and select Send.
  • Upload the document and select Upload.
  • Choose a proof of address and select Upload now.

It may take 30 minutes or more for us to verify your identity. We appreciate this is a bit of a wait, but it is a vital part of securing your money transfer for larger amounts. When you have verified your identity, you won’t need to repeat this for future transfers.

If we need any additional information, we’ll request you to send it to id@westernunion.com.

If you have sent a money transfer at a Western Union agent location before, please use the same government-issued ID you used at that location.

Note: Before you upload a copy of your ID documents, make sure:

  • Your picture, signature, birthdate, expiration date, and other key information are clearly visible.
  • The information matches what you enter on your Western Union profile.
  • Your documents are in PDF or JPG formats.
Verifying your identity through video chat

If you’d prefer to verify your identity through video chat, you simply need to:

  • Log in via our website or app.
  • Select the profile icon at the top right and choose start verification now.
  • Select computer and webcam or smartphone as the medium of video chat.
  • Follow the instructions to complete the verification.

Note: Please enable access to your camera and microphone before you start the video chat so that we can see you. Also, keep your ID documents nearby.

We may take around four hours to verify your identity after a video chat. Once your identity verification is successful, we’ll send you a confirmation email. When the ID verification process is complete, you can send future money transfers with ease.

Which documents are accepted for identity verification?

You can provide any one of the following ID documents:

  • Your passport
  • Your EU/EEA-issued ID
  • Your driving license
  • Your residence permit
  • Your emergency passport or travel document
  • Your asylum seeker residence permit
  • Your ship passport
Which documents are accepted as proof of address?

You can provide any of the following proof of address documents:

  • Your electricity bill
  • Your gas bill
  • Your phone bill
  • Your bank or credit card statement

Register to send an international money transfer today

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Send money with peace of mind

It’s easy to register and start sending money transfers reliably and quickly around the world. If you’re looking to send a secure money transfer, visit our registration page to get started.

Choose the way you’d like to pay

With Western Union, you can pay for our money transfer service using your bank account, a credit or debit card, or cash at our agent locations.

Track your money transfer

As part of our commitment to money transfer security, you track your transfer to keep up with its progress at any time via our website or app.

Convenient agent locations

Send an international money transfer for cash pickup at a Western Union agent location near your receiver, with thousands in the UK and hundreds of thousands worldwide.

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Payment authentication for money transfer security

Another way we keep our transfer money services secure is with our payment authentication process.

Strong Customer Authentication (SCA), as mandated by the EU’s Revised Payment Services Directive (PSD2), requires payment service providers to authenticate digital payments.

SCA, also known as 3D Secure, is a multi-factor authentication that adds an extra layer of security to digital payments to reduce fraud. It asks you to authenticate your online money transfer using PIN, password, or biometrics.

We use multi-factor authentication to secure your Western Union money transfer in line with the SCA requirements.

Why wasn’t my payment authentication successful?

We use Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) to secure online money transfer payments. To successfully authenticate your payment, please ensure:

Your card or bank account is registered for SCA (3D Secure). If not, contact your card issuer or register it through your online banking portal.

Your contact information is up to date with your bank and Western Union.

You enter your PIN or password accurately.

Note: Please note that you can also pay for your money transfers using alternative methods. We’ll show your payment options when you start an online money transfer.

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Relied on by people around the world

As a company working in cross-border, cross-currency money movement, Western Union aims to help grow economies and create a better world. We keep you connected with the people that matter the most to you. Join the customers in more than 200 countries who receive money from overseas with Western Union.

Secure money transfer app

You can also transfer money internationally using the Western Union app. Our secure money transfer app makes it quick and easy to send money on the go.

Money transfers on the app use the same encryption and security measures as our online money transfers. In addition, you can enable Touch ID on your smartphone or tablet for extra-secure logins.

Once you’ve verified your identity, you can send repeat money transfers in a matter of minutes.

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Consumer protection for secure money transfers

Consumer protection is one of our biggest priorities. However, you also have a part to play in keeping your money safe.
Beware of scams when you transfer money online.

Some key scenarios to beware of include
  • Sweepstakes, prize or lottery company representatives who tell you to transfer money to them in order to claim a prize you’ve won.
  • Unsolicited letters or emails from foreign government officials requesting assistance in the transfer of excess funds from a foreign country into your bank account.
  • If you are required to pay a fee before receiving a loan.
  • Telephone calls from the police claiming that someone you know has been in an accident or been arrested and is requesting money.
  • Unsolicited letters or emails offering an unrealistic price for expensive or rare merchandise.

Make sure you know who you are sending money to. If you’re purchasing goods or services and paying through the Western Union network, it is your responsibility to verify the reputation of the seller. Western Union is not responsible for the non-receipt or quality of any goods or services.

How does Western Union protect customer information?

As part of our commitment to keeping our money transfers as safe as possible, Western Union employs a variety of measures. This includes SSL technology to keep your personal information safe.

To keep your password secure:

  • Make your password difficult to guess. Avoid using any part of your name, your birthday, or any words that can easily be associated with you.
  • Use a combination of letters and numbers and a mix of lowercase and capital letters.
  • Avoid writing your password down where it may be compromised.
  • You can further protect your passwords by making sure your virus-scanning software is up to date, and by running anti-spyware programs. These programs help protect you from viruses and malware that could compromise your identity even if your computer seems to be working fine.
  • Use extra caution when entering your password on a computer or smartphone that does not belong to you. Viruses, spyware, or browser settings might be used to compromise your account by recording your username and password.

Frequently asked questions on sending money without a bank account

What are the different ways to transfer money safely?

Money transfer security via our website
Not sure how to transfer money safely online? We are committed to security for our online money transfers, and we have millions of satisfied customers who use Western Union to transfer money internationally each year.

Our three key security measures, identity verification, payment authentication and consumer protection, are in place for to help you send secure money transfers via our website.

Money transfer security via our app
We have made it our mission to offer one of the best and most secure money transfer apps possible. All the key money transfer features on our website are also available on the app, with the same security features, too.

Money transfer security in person
Our in-person money transfer services have security measures, too. Anyone looking to send money at an agent location will need to go through ID verification to send more than 800 GBP.

Is it safe to transfer large amounts of money online?

Yes, you can transfer large sums securely using Western Union’s trusted money transfer service. Whether the amount is large or small, your transfer is subject to our extensive security measures.

We require ID verification for any money transfer of 800 GBP or more in the UK for an extra layer of protection.