to feel uneasy about my friends request to transfer this money?

[just5morepeas]

An old friend of mine works in Kuwait as an English teacher in an international English speaking school.

They just asked me if I could put some money into their bank account for them if they transferred me some via Western Union. They said they got paid cash.

I know they probably don't have anyone else they could ask but this makes me feel really anxious and I'm not sure why.

Getting paid cash just sounds bloody odd and shouldn't they have a bank account over there they could use? They've been over there at least a year - maybe more, can't remember exactly. I know they have bills in this country to pay but shouldn't they be able to do this via a bank account they can access over there?

It's either trying to scam you out of money, or getting you to money launder. Either way stay well away.

I currently have a close friend working in a school In Kuwait and she doesn't get paid cash, this does all sound really dodgy!!

I've had three friend requests on FB from names of people I have never heard of. When I go in, they don't even exist on FB so it being on FB is no guarantee of it being legit.

Dont do it!

I never mix friendship with money in much less shady circumstances.

I agree with PP, if you don't even have her current telephone number, what the hell is she doing asking YOU to transfer cash for her? Unless she is totally friendless in the entire world, wouldn't she ask someone closer to transfer?

And it's a scam. Not unlike the 'I've been in an accident and $100 to pay to get home'. Once they've got a sniff of your bank details they'll be away...

If she can transfer money to your account she can transfer it to her own bank. She doesn't need you as a middleman. Whether this is real or not.

Nope not with a barge pole

johnsnow what sort of bank did you work for that would discuss a customers bank details with a stranger who couldn't even provide a contact phone number for the person !

thank heaven I have all my money stashed in jam jars under my apple tree.

I'm probably being thick but I don't understand how the scam works.

I never said they would discuss details of the customer but she could go in an explain the situation give what details she has and explain her concerns the bank can look at it and either give it the go ahead or not. No personal details discussed with op. If she goes in with a name and bank details that's all they will need to look into it further and as iv said scam or money laundering the op is doing the bank a favour by doing this. 2 different ones and within money laundering before starting my family.

I work away from the UK and, obviously, know a lot of ex pats - including teachers. You set up a HSBC account in the U.K., you set up an HSBC account where you are and move money around via their on-line system. Job done. Pass this on to your friend - but do not do as requested!

I hope banks don't have any kind of discussions about people's accounts with 3rd parties, even a yes or no to the transaction is giving out personal information.

Sandy they have walked in with a name and account details it's no different to a mother coming in and wanting to transfer to their married daughters account. All they need is name sort code and account number for that. They will not ask you to prove who you are they will however ask the reason for the transfer. Obviously this is a bit more complicated than that but as iv said the bank will appreciate the heads up especially on potential dodgy money transfers.

Fuck it I'm out.

Kualabear is absolutely on the button suggest she opens an account with HSBC as they are worldwide and just tell your friend you are uncomfortable and walk away. I'd still tell her bank about the request if you think it's dodgy though.

Do not ever send anyone money with Western Union. It's like throwing money in to a black hole. Western Union themselves are not a scam, they are a legitimate business, but once you've sent the money with them, it's gone. That's it. There's no way of re-recovering it like with a debit/credit card payment or Paypal. The recipient withdraws the money and that's the end of it. More info on how Western Union works and the scams people use it for here.

If someone ever asks for you to send or receive money from them by Western Union, the answer is no!

I've had a few messages through Facebook from friends that turned put to be hacked. Funny enough one was my brother who teaches English abroad although not the middle East.

Avoid like the plague.

of course it is a scam and well known
www.idtheftcenter.org/Current-Scam-Alerts/western-union-facebook-scam.html

I don't know if you're still reading @jonsnowsbuttocks but you seem to be suggesting that anyone can go to a bank give another person's account number and ask if they should transfer money to that account and you can't see how wrong it would be for the bank to say "no, don't transfer the money, that account looks dodgy to us" to literally a random person off the street.

I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who currently works in a bank branch about whether that would happen. I'd move my account from a bank that did that.

I'm not disputing that you can transfer money to other people I'm doubting your assertion that you can discuss transfers to 3rd party accounts with their bank and they will pass an opinion on whether you should do the transfer. Apologies if that's not what you're saying but that's the way it reads

Scam. I once got an email from a lady at an agency I'd done some work with asking to borrow £1k as she'd been robbed on holiday. An hour later another very apologetic email arrived in my inbox telling me to ignore and that it was a scam. She was mortified!

Tell her to go to HSBC in Kuwait. They could open an account in Kuwait and the UK for her. Don't get involved yourself, because you could get into trouble.

They would disclose nothing, look like they were processing it but instead do a money laundering review on the account. If the teller discussed anything about the account with 3rd party it would be classed as "tipping off" highly illegal and they could be heavily fined and jailed.

At no point did I say the teller would say anything to op. They would listen and nod and either say they are doing it or they may decline for reasons as information is not correct but that is neither confirming or denying anything about the persons account.

Just to clarify everyone linking the WU scam the op has not been requested to pay any of her own money into the account. I may be wrong but how iv read it is kuwait friend is transferring money into WU op is to collect cash and then deposit it into Kuwait friends British bank account. There is no risk to op as far as I can see.

Also depending on the amount if it is unusual for the account, the bank may run a money laundering check regardless of how the cash comes in.

Put it this way Sandy some banks have name, sort code and account number on the bank card, you drop said bank card which will identify which bank you are with as does the sort code I pick your bank card up iv got a few hundred pounds burning a hole in my pocket and I decide it's your lucky day. I ask teller to put said amount into your account it's a gift then hand card over to teller and say you have lost it. I have not done anything illegal and neither has the bank.

You'll end up getting your bank accounts frozen due to money laundering or fraud suspicions, and CIFAS markers against you. You won't be able to get another bank account, credit card, or insurance again.

Has she replied yet OP?

Scam, plus if you take part you could be prosecuted for money laundering under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

I used to do this for a friend who worked in Russia - other way round tho, they'd transfer money into my account and if take it out and western union transfer it to them. There was a good reason for it, can't remember exactly what (it was 20 years ago) but it's not always illegal or a scam.
Don't do anything you're not comfortable with tho