Dear Yulia,
I am so sorry for not replying sooner, but you were right - I was sleeping. As you know, we are very far apart in distance, and in time. I think you are 11 hours ahead of me in Russia. I am so sorry that there was an issue with the transfer, and I’m sorry that you were kept waiting at the internet cafe. It was night here so I did not see your messages until this morning.
I double-checked the confirmation number. It matches what Western Union gave me when I completed the transfer. I was confused, so I contacted Western Union Customer Support this morning to determine what the issue might be. I was transferred to their Fraud Prevention Division, and spoke to a very nice and helpful representative named Dan Wilson. I told him about our situation and how the confirmation number did not work. He explained that a ‘freeze’ has been placed on this transfer, due to ‘suspicious activity’. This is a new procedure that Western Union has recently implemented for money transfers outbound from the US to certain countries due to an unfortunate increase in fraud. Many American financial institutions have similar safeguards in place. For example, sometimes my bank places a freeze on my credit card if they think a purchase seems suspicious based on my usual activity. When this happens, my bank contacts me to verify that the purchase was legitimate. A similar thing has happened here.
Mr. Wilson explained that the funds will be held for 72 hours pending verification. Once the verification process is complete, the freeze will be lifted and the funds will be released and made available for pick up in Russia. If we do not verify in 72 hours, the transfer will be cancelled and the $700 will be returned to me.
He explained very carefully what we must do. He also sent a follow-up Email as a reminder after our call. Here is what he sent:
Subject: Suspicious Activity Case 9821374 - Additional Verification Required
Mr. Dunlap,
Thank you for taking the time contact Western Union about your recent money transfer to Russia. For your convenience, I am sending this email as a summary of our phone conversation.
You confirmed that the purpose of the transfer was to help Yulia with upcoming travel. As discussed, please have Yulia send you the following. It is important that she sends you this information to your Email, and that you then forward it to me. This allows us to verify that you are in communication with the intended recipient, and that trust exists between you.
1) A photo of current government-issued ID. If Yulia does not yet have her passport as you explained, she should send a photo of the ID that she will use to pick up the funds in Russia.
2) Photos or scans of at least 2 documents as supporting evidence of Yulia’s intent to use the funds for travel to the USA.
3) A custom message photo. This should be a photo of her holding a written message, with her face and message clearly visible in the photo.
Please remember to submit the following supporting evidence within 72 hours. Once verified, the fraud prevention freeze will be lifted and a new confirmation (MTCN) number will be generated for this transaction, as well as a Case Resolution Reference Number (CRRN). Yulia will then be able to receive the money in Russia by providing these.
I understand that this new additional verification procedure is an annoyance, but this is for your own protection as a valued Western Union customer.
It was a pleasure serving you today, and we hope that these enhanced fraud prevention measures will enable you to continue to trust Western Union with your money transfer needs in the future.
Regards,
Daniel Wilson
Western Union Fraud Prevention Specialist
7001 E Belleview Ave
Denver, CO 80237
[email protected]
(720) 354-1834
Mr. Wilson said that the 2 documents can be anything that shows that you are planning a trip. This should be simple since I know you have been very busy preparing documents for your passport and visa. Just take a photo of some of them. You can also send a photo of any documents that your work has provided, like the vacation order or the letter they gave you for the visa application. Any paperwork from the travel agency will be helpful as ‘supporting evidence’ as well.
I will explain the custom message photo. The purpose is to verify that we are in correspondence, and in a relationship. I have already taken my custom message photo and have attached it to this Email as an example. You just need to take one like it. The photo should show you holding a note that says: “I ♥ Ryli”. I will forward both of these photos to Mr. Wilson and that will satisfy the custom message photo requirement.
My dear Yulia, I am so sorry for the delay. I know this is a real annoyance and hassle. It was quite unexpected. I have used Western Union before have never encountered this, but Dan explained that these are new policies that just went into effect this month. I know it is frustrating, but the good thing is that this should be pretty simple for you to do. I know you do not have your passport yet, but I think you must have some other form of ID issued in Russia. I know you have been very busy preparing a lot of paperwork for your visa application, so I’m sure you have a few forms you can take photos of with your phone. The ‘message photo’ is also very easy. It took me less than 1 minute to make mine. So yes, I know this is all frustrating. But, I don’t think it should be very difficult either, and once you send me these photos, I will forward them to Mr. Wilson and you will be able to pick up the $700 that is currently ‘frozen’.
Remember, It is important that you send these as soon as possible. I have to forward them to Dan at Western Union within 72 hours.
My dear Yulia, it is so nice to read your lovely Emails, and to hear how you dream of us being together. I am so happy that we have the same dreams! I dreamed all night about you last night. I cannot wait to dance with you, in your beautiful blue dress. I will wear my suit like you suggested, and our first dance together will be absolutely wonderful! Yulia, it might sound hard to believe, but I think I feel my love for you growing with each message. In fact, my love for you grows minute by minute, and I will do whatever it takes to ensure that we can be together next month! However, for right now, I have done all that I can. I am eagerly awaiting your verification photos. I think this is the only thing remaining between us. Once you send these, the verification procedure will be complete, and then you will have the $700 you need to finish booking your trip to Las Vegas. Nothing will keep us apart then, my beautiful Yulia. Oh, how I yearn for you to be in my arms! You are the most amazing, sweetest woman I have ever met!
It is a real shame that cases of fraud and scams have gotten so bad that Western Union has had to implement these new measures. I cannot believe how cruel and evil some people in this world must be to trick and take advantage of others like that. But my sweet Yulia, I am not worried. I know that you are not a scam. You are very real to me! I love how we like the same music. In fact, now that I am almost finished writing this Email, I am going to work on a new video for you!
Take care Yulia. I love and miss you. I can’t wait to meet at the airport in a few weeks! I understand that the exact details of your arrival will not be available until you complete payment to the travel agency. But, please let me know as soon as possible. I am dying to know the exact time of our meeting!
With much affection,
Your Ryli
