western union lottery winner 2018 Western - Western Unionfine Mavis Wanczyk Navigating the Landscape of Western Union Lottery Scams in 2018

Western Unionunclaimed money The allure of winning the lottery is a powerful one, and unfortunately, it's a sentiment that scammers frequently exploitWestern Union might owe *you* money, but you have to act .... In 2018, a prevalent wave of lottery scams targeted individuals, often using Western Union as the method of payment for fraudulent prize winnings2017年12月4日—Bertha Wheelesssent the money through Western Union. She later called police, but her money was gone. In a 6 million settlement, the Federal .... While the search query "western union lottery winner 2018" might suggest legitimate winners, the reality, as evidenced by a wealth of information from 2018 and surrounding years, points overwhelmingly towards fraudulent schemes.

Understanding the Mechanics of Lottery Scams

These scams typically begin with a deceptive notification, informing the victim that they have won a significant sum of money in a lottery, sweepstakes, or raffle. This initial contact might come through a phone call, email, or even social media platforms like Facebook, as seen in the case of a Sydney man Terry Nichols who was promised $1AG Warns of Canadian Lottery, Sweepstakes Scam.5 million via Instagram. The perpetrators often create a sense of urgency and exclusivity, pushing the victim to act quickly to claim their supposed prize.

The "win" often comes with a catch: the victim is required to pay upfront fees, taxes, or processing costs before they can receive their winnings. This is where money transfer services like Western Union and MoneyGram, or even Green Dot prepaid cards, come into play.6 million Western Union settlement: Be careful about ... The scammer instructs the victim to send money through these channels, often to individuals presented as "lottery officials" or "claims agents." The promise of a substantial payout masks the fact that no such prize exists.American Bankers Association The only entities that truly win in these scenarios are the scammers.

The Western Union Settlement and Remission Efforts

The widespread abuse of Western Union for fraudulent purposes led to significant legal action....WESTERNMALTING CO. Breakfast Cereal Manufacturing. D Continuing. L1A. D. Initial ...2018SYNTEL INC. Custom Computer Programming Services. D Continuing. L1A. In fact, a substantial $586 million settlement was reached between the federal government and Western Union.Customer Service FAQs This settlement, which began to see remission phases in 2018, was designed to allow victims of money transfer scams, including those related to lottery fraud, to reclaim some of their lost funds.Jamaican lottery scammer receives 34 months for ... The Western Union remission phase 2 in 2018 saw over 500,000 petitions mailed to identified victims, with over 180,000 ultimately processed. This initiative highlights the systemic nature of the problem and the efforts to rectify the harm caused.

Victims like Bertha Wheeless, who sent money through Western Union only to discover it was gone, represent the many who suffered losses. While some victims might have been able to recover funds through these remission programs, the promptness of action was crucial.2022年2月4日—Troy Smith and Michelle Greenwood, who are married, are accused of being “money mules” for a Jamaica-based scam between 2016 and2018. For instance, in late 2017, victims had a deadline of February 12, 2018, to make their claim related to phony lottery or prize winnings scams.2024年2月2日—Winner:Brian Maguire, West Linn, OR1st Alt: Gary Caraccioli, Gonzales, CA 2nd Alt: Kelly Eberspecher, Hinsdale, IL. 2018 Raffle Tag Winners ...

Real Lottery Winners Versus Scam Victims

It's important to distinguish between legitimate lottery winners and victims of these fraudulent schemeswestern union lottery winner 2018 avoid Western Union lottery .... While news outlets often report on genuine lottery winners, such as Mavis Wanczyk who won a record-breaking Powerball prize in 2017, or the lottery winning ceremonies for individuals in Western New York splitting millions, these represent fortunate outcomes of chance. In contrast, the "western union lottery winner 2018" narrative is predominantly one of deception.

Instances like the alleged involvement of Oraine Gray (a.The only winner in this sweepstakes is the scammerk.a. “James Cooper”) in a Jamaican lottery scam receiving a 34-month prison sentence in 2019, or the indictment of Troy Smith and Michelle Greenwood for acting as "money mules" in a Jamaica-based scam between 2016 and 2018, underscore the criminal nature of these activities.Lottery/ Prize: You receive notification you havewonalottery/sweepstakes and need to send money to claim the prize. Rental Property: You are interested ...

Red Flags and How to Protect Yourself

The American Bankers Association and other consumer protection agencies consistently warn about lottery scams, particularly those targeting older Americans.Shareholder Class Action Filed Against The Western Union Company Key red flags include:

* Being told you’ve won a lottery you never entered.

* Being asked to pay fees or taxes in advance to claim a prize.

* Requests to send money via wire transfer, prepaid cards, or gift cards.2018年5月2日—Sydney man Terry Nicholswas told over the weekend by a man via Instagram that he had won .5 million in the "Facebook lottery". A Facebook ...

* Unsolicited contact claiming you've won2019年8月15日—Oraine Gray a/k/a “James Cooper”, a 23-year-old resident of Jamaica, to 34 months in federal prison after his admission of guilt to devising a lottery scam..

The existence of valid winners in lotteries is real, and services like Western Union are legitimate tools for money transferWestern Union Admits Anti-Money Laundering and Consumer Fraud .... However, when combined in the context of a "you've won" notification requiring upfront payment, it is almost certainly a scam. Websites and organizations like the FTCWesternUnion often provide resources and warnings about such fraudulent activities2017年11月14日—A 6 million settlement between the federal government andWestern Unionwill let people who wired money to scammers reclaim some of that cash .... It's crucial for consumers always to be skeptical of unexpected winnings and to verify any claims independently before sending money through any service, including Western Union. The 2018 Raffle Tag Winners list, for example, features names like Brian Maguire, West Linn, OR, showcasing legitimate winners of raffles, distinct from the victims of deceit.