Western Union is a global financial services company that specializes in money transfers. It was founded in 1851 as the New York and Mississippi Valley Printing Telegraph Company in Rochester, New York, and changed its name to the Western Union Telegraph Company in 1856 after merging with several other telegraph companies. Today, Western Union allows people to transfer money to friends and family around the globe, with over 200 countries and territories served. Some key features of Western Union include:
-
Wire Transfers: Western Union allows people to transfer money quickly and reliably to friends and family almost anywhere in the world.
-
Money Orders: Western Union also offers money orders, which are a secure way to send money through the mail.
-
Bill Pay: Western Union allows people to pay bills online, including utilities, credit cards, and mortgages.
-
Transfer Tracking: Western Union provides a tracking number for each transfer, allowing people to track the status of their transfer online.
-
Price Estimation: Western Union provides a tool on their website that allows people to estimate the cost of a transfer based on the destination and amount of money being sent.
While Western Union is a reliable way to transfer money, it is not without risks. Scam artists often use Western Union to receive money from their victims, so it is important to be absolutely sure that you know the person you are sending money to and that you trust what the money is for.
