Is Western Union safe? 2025 full guide

Western Union is one of the world's largest money transfer networks, allowing you to send money to more than 200 countries.¹ It's a well-known service, but it's normal to wonder: "Is Western Union safe to send money?"

Generally speaking, Western Union is safe. The biggest risk when using it isn't the money transfer company itself, but the scammers who can try to trick you into sending them money.

Once you send money through Western Union, it can be hard to get it back, so you need to be careful about who you're sending money to.

Here's how to use Western Union safely, whether you're sending money online or visiting an agent location in person.

Is Western Union safe to use?

Yes, Western Union takes safety seriously. They use security technology to protect your information and money transfers. They also cooperate with agencies for fraud investigations (although Western Union explicitly notes that their role isn't "law enforcement").²

That said, scammers often target Western Union users because once the money is picked up, the transfer usually can't be reversed. This makes it appealing to fraudsters who don't want to be tracked down. They usually try to rush you into sending money quickly before you have time to think things through.

What are Western Union's safety features?

Data protection

Western Union encrypts your personal information when you send it to them. This means they scramble data like your password, user ID, and credit card numbers so that nobody can steal this information while it travels over the internet.

They use strong security technologies called TLS (Transport Layer Security) and SSL (Secure Sockets Layer).³ When Western Union sends information back to you, it remains encrypted until it reaches your device. This protects it from hackers.

Western Union also follows PCI DSS rules (Payment Card Industry standards) to keep your data safe. These protections work whether you use their app, their website, or you visit a Western Union location in person.⁴

Identity verification

Western Union requires everyone to register and verify their identity before sending money. This helps prevent fraud and money laundering.

For large transfers, they'll also ask for extra documents to confirm your identity, your occupation, and where your money is coming from.³

Track your transfer

You can easily check online if your transfer has been picked up yet using the MTCN (Money Transfer Control Number). This tracking number works like a package tracking code.⁴

Fraud prevention

Western Union has security systems in place, but the truth is that avoiding scams is mostly up to you. Once you willingly send money and someone picks it up, Western Union usually can't get your money back.

That said, Western Union does provide a Fraud Resource Center with tips to avoid online scams and ways to report suspicious activity.²

Pros and cons of Western Union

Western Union is a trusted money service with a global reach. However, like any money transfer service, it has advantages and disadvantages that you should consider before sending money.

Western Union can be an expensive way to send money abroad, especially when you have to change currencies. It uses its own exchange rate instead of the mid-market rate, and this exchange rate includes a markup.¹

This cost comes on top of any up-front fees Western Union already charges for the service.

What’s the best way to send money internationally?

Banks are certainly one option for sending money internationally, as are services like PayPal. But the problem with banks is they can often be slow, expensive and inconvenient. Luckily, there’s a better alternative out there.

You can send money worldwide with Wise for low fees and the mid-market exchange rate. It’s easy and quick to set up a payment online, and you’re guaranteed secure transfers even when sending large sums.

Wise is a money service business (MSB) regulated by 12 international financial authorities and uses sophisticated security features to keep you and your money safe.

Open a Wise account, and you can send, spend and convert between 40+ currencies whenever you need to. You can even receive money from all over the world using your own local account details.

As if all that wasn’t enough, there’s a Wise Multi-Currency Card too. For a one-time fee of just $9, you can spend in over 150 countries in the local currency. Your USD is automatically converted at the mid-market rate for just a small conversion fee.

Open a Wise account today

💡 Need to make a business payment? With the Wise Business account, you can send up to 1,000,000 USD per transfer from licensed states.

Some key features of Wise Business include:

• Better visibility and organization of business finances; this is helpful for account reconciliations and audits
• Major local account details for a simple one-off fee to receive international payments with ease
• No monthly account fees or minimum balance requirements
• Receive payments from e-commerce platforms such as Amazon or via Stripe
• Create invoices using the free Wise invoice generator or invoice templates
• Accounting integrations, including a QuickBooks Bill Pay connection
• Signing up to Wise Business allows access to BatchTransfer which you can use to pay multiple invoices in one go.

Discover the difference between
Wise Business vs. Personal

Is the Western Union app safe?

Yes, the Western Union app is safe. It has the same level of security as Western Union's website, and there are also additional safety features specifically for mobile users.

The app encrypts all your personal and financial information using advanced security protocols to protect your data from hackers. Plus, there are also biometric security options like Touch ID for logging in.⁴

Tips and tricks for avoiding scams

Scammers target Western Union users because transfers are quick and are almost impossible to get back once your recipient picks them up.

Many scammers operate from different countries, which makes it harder for police to track or catch them.

Here are some common scams to watch out for:

• Lottery and prize scams: Someone tells you that you've won a contest or lottery, but you need to pay fees or taxes via Western Union to claim your prize

• Emergency scams: You get a message claiming to be from a family member or friend who's in trouble abroad and needs money right away

• Romance scams: Someone you've met online professes their love quickly, then starts asking for money for emergencies, travel costs to meet you, or other expenses

• Job opportunity scams: Fake employers offer you a job but ask you to send money for training, equipment, or background checks

• Rental property scams: Someone advertises a property that doesn't exist or that they don't own, then asks for a deposit via Western Union

• Advance fee frauds: Scammers promise large sums of money if you help them move funds out of their country, but first, you need to pay some fees

• Online purchase scams: Sellers on marketplace sites ask you to pay via Western Union instead of through the platform's payment system

Western Union typically can't help you if you willingly send money to a scammer. They can't refund completed transfers, so it's very important to only transfer money to people you know and trust.

Bottom line: Is Western Union safe?

Western Union is safe to send money internationally, but it's often expensive.

They have strong encryption and identity verification systems in place, and the main safety risks come from scammers. As long as you're vigilant about who you're sending money to and follow basic security practices, it's a reliable way to send money abroad.

However, it's not the most budget-friendly option. Western Union charges you transfer fees plus currency exchange rate markups, so make sure to compare different providers to see if you're able to find a better deal elsewhere.

For a fast, simple, and secure way to send money abroad with low fees and no currency exchange rate markups, use Wise.

Sources

1. Western Union
2. Western Union - Fraud Resource Center
3. Western Union - Is Western Union safe?
4. Western Union - Money Transfer App