fbpx

Fraud issue with Western Union for AdSense Publishers

Most AdSense Publishers in the Philippines would use Western Union to pick up their earnings because it’s the fastest and most convenient method. However, based on recent experience, it’s also the most un-secure and prone to fraud. Just the other day, someone claimed my AdSense earnings via Western Union and got thru.

This isn’t the first time this kind of MO happened and it isn’t an isolated case either. A number of local publishers (and bloggers) has had their Adsense revenues wiped out thru Western Union in the past.

In my case, I was out of the country (flying in from Jakarta actually) last March 1 when someone cashed out my AdSense account thru Western Union. When I dropped by today to pick it up, I got the bad news and the local branch I went to could not do anything.

My initial hunch was that it was an inside job — someone from the WU agent has access to records (specifically the MTCN). The first time I picked up my AdSense from this new branch (the old branch I usually go to for years, the one in Park Square 1, is already closed) near the house, I gave my credentials and ID (passport).

Those personal information and identification, along with access to the system for MTCN is all they need to cash out. The security flaw could be the ff:

– All WU agents have access to the MTCN. They can just do a reverse look-up (search for the name and then look for corresponding MTCN for that name).

– WU agents have network access to customer information. Anyone can pull it up and share it with an outsider to pose as the customer.

– WU agents are not very strict with regards to verification. Not sure if they have access to the soft copy of the photo ID.

These type of incidents put Western Union in a very bad light. Even if the culprit is just one of their agents, it’s still a huge security hole and will certainly reflect on customers’ trust on the service.

I’ve reported this fraud to Google’s Support and sought the help of a friend who works there. Frankly, I’m more interested to get to the bottom of this, find the lapse in security and figure out who the culprits are.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 561 other subscribers
Avatar for Abe Olandres

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines. He is also a technology consultant, a tech columnist with several national publications, resource speaker and mentor/advisor to several start-up companies.

52 Responses

  1. Avatar for jehzlau jehzlau says:

    May resolution na ba case na to? nahuli na culprit? O.o

  2. Avatar for Http://Yahoo.Com/ Http://Yahoo.Com/ says:

    yahoo is the best website for all of your internet needs!

  3. Avatar for Joseph Enmanuel Joseph Enmanuel says:

    Hmm grabe naman! Baka sindikato na yan! nakakita ng opportunity sa security flaw ng WU.. bad news ito para sa mga google adsense earner at sa mismong Western Union..sana maayos!

  4. Avatar for CarloBlogg Online3.0 CarloBlogg Online3.0 says:

    I am almost on the payment threshold of Google adsense, and reading this entry makes me feel worried about WU payout method. Dapat aksyunan iyan ng Western Union din mismo, kasi pangalan mismo ng WU ang sisirain nila.

    For those who are filing complaints, we support you. Pwede namang kasuhan mismo yung western union branch, iyon ipalagay nyo sa information – dapat as a branch handling money, they should exercise extraordinary diligence in handling these kind of transactions. Just like in fraud cases in bank checks where the check owner’s signature is forged, the bank is still liable for not exercising due diligence. Same with these kind of branches. There are information that are available only between the WU branch and the customer. When this info is divulged without consent or used for fraud, the branch itself may be held liable. Tsaka may pinapakitang id sa kanila diba? dpat alam nila kung pano maginspect ng mga ganung IDs. Violation of Art 19, 20, 21, and 22 of the Phil Civil Code yan; panglalamang iyan.

    Sana bigyan din ito ng media mileage with Sir Abe’s help; masakit mang aminin, pero ang authorities natin minsan di alam ang gagawin, bigla na lang malalaman ang solusyon pag nagkaroon ng “exposure’ sa media.

  5. Avatar for kent kent says:

    Hello kuya Abe, we have the same issue and it happened on the same date too, it was picked up on March 1.

    I’ve contacted google and they have escalated an investigation. I have also called WU support and they said that it will take 21 days.

    How about yours? What’s the update with your issue? Are you able to withdraw the money? Any progress?

    God speed! Hope you’ll reply

  6. Avatar for Jericho Montes Jericho Montes says:

    Ako mas pinili ko po yong paypal although matagal ang process pinaka safe I guess…

    Sana magkaroon ng iba pang paraan para makuha ang AdSense earning…

    Anglaki siguro ng nakuha sayo Sir Abe? :D

  7. Avatar for RL Quito RL Quito says:

    Hala, palala na ng palala nangyayari, dami na scam a iba iba modus, halos every week nlng may bagong modus…

    Better to get the money asap siguro after maissue ung MTCN number

Leave a Reply
JOIN OUR TELEGRAM DISCUSSION

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *