| The need to transfer large amounts of money | | | | just through bank accounts. western Union are one |
| overseas is growing and beginning a much more | | | | of the most reputable companies in this regard. With |
| common practice. Whether the purpose is for | | | | a burgeoning market for money transfers many new |
| purchasing a second home overseas, buying a car, | | | | companies are entering the market offering new |
| for business purposes or simply because you are | | | | services all the time. Remember cheaper doesn't |
| emigrating the need for safe and efficient money | | | | always mean better so here are a few questions |
| transfer services is growing. | | | | you may wish to consider asking before using a |
| One of the most important things to remember | | | | money transfer service as a safety check list: |
| when transferring large amounts of money is that | | | | Are they registered with the official bodies in that |
| even a small differences in exchange rates between | | | | country? |
| currencies can make a significant difference to the | | | | How long has the company been doing business? |
| amount of money that you will receive at the other | | | | Do they have a large staff? A medium-large sized |
| end. For example just a 0.5% improvement on | | | | company would generally be more reliable than a |
| $100,000 is $500! Therefore making sure you get the | | | | small recently started up. |
| best exchange rate possible should be of prime | | | | What is feedback like from other users of this |
| concern to the sender. | | | | service on chat forums? |
| One of the most common ways to transfer large | | | | Are audited accounts available for viewing for |
| amounts of money is to use a bank wire transfer. | | | | example at Companies House (UK)? |
| The main reason for this is that they are by far the | | | | Is there a designated money transfer account? |
| safest way to transfer money. The reasons why this | | | | Of course a few other safety tips should be added, |
| is a very safe method are because every account | | | | although they seem fairly obvious. Never send money |
| holder must show proof of identity which will be | | | | to someone you do not know for a product or |
| thoroughly checked. Charge-backs are also unlikely to | | | | service. The recipient may just collect the money and |
| occur however wire transfers may be recalled. The | | | | run. Seems pretty obvious advice but a spate of |
| information sent regarding the transfer is in a highly | | | | scams requiring people to do this was very |
| secure format using encrypted communication | | | | successful for the scam artists. At the time it was |
| methods very are very difficult to intercept and | | | | known as the Nigerian letters scam, 419 scam or |
| interpret. | | | | advance fee fraud. Do not be a victim. |
| The price of bank wire transfers varies greatly, | | | | The Federal Bureau of Investigation describes the |
| depending on the bank and its location; in some | | | | scam as follows: |
| countries, the fee associated with the service can be | | | | "Nigerian letter frauds combine the threat of |
| costly. | | | | impersonation fraud with a variation of an advance |
| Bank wire transfers can often be one of the | | | | fee scheme in which a letter, mailed from Nigeria, |
| speediest methods to transfer significant amounts of | | | | offers the recipient the "opportunity" to share in a |
| money between bank accounts. The cost of bank | | | | percentage of millions of dollars that the author, a |
| transfers can alter greatly between banks so make | | | | self-proclaimed government official, is trying to |
| sure you shop around for the best deal. | | | | transfer illegally out of Nigeria. |
| The process for bank transfers is as follows: | | | | The recipient is encouraged to send information to |
| The bank sending the money sends a message using | | | | the author, such as blank letterhead stationery, bank |
| a highly secure system like Fedwire to the receiving | | | | name and account numbers and other identifying |
| bank with instructions detailing the payment. | | | | information using a facsimile number provided in the |
| Funds may take several hours to be transferred to | | | | letter. Some of these letters have also been received |
| the recipients bank account so it is not immediate. | | | | via E-mail through the Internet. The scheme relies on |
| Usually the banks involved with the money transfer | | | | convincing a willing victim, who has demonstrated a |
| have a reciprocal account with each other or the | | | | "propensity for larceny" by responding to the |
| payment may be sent through another bank that | | | | invitation, to send money to the author of the letter |
| does have such an account | | | | in Nigeria in several installments of increasing amounts |
| Millions of bank transfers are performed everyday | | | | for a variety of reasons." |
| particularly in Europe. Wire transfers within Europe | | | | With that said generally speaking using your common |
| can be very cost effective whereas sending outside | | | | sense and shopping around to get the best price, |
| of Europe can be a good deal more costly. | | | | wire transfers are a very safe method for you to |
| Of course there are other ways to wire money not | | | | transfer large amounts of money overseas. |