NEVER buy products from anyone who wants to be paid by Western Union. If someone asks for payment by Western Union, do not respond to them, and block their email. I know their low priced merchandise is tempting, but it is a scam EVERYTIME. Western Union advises the following on their website:

“Make sure you know to whom you are sending money. If you are purchasing goods or services and paying through the Western Union network, it is your responsibility to verify the reputation and legitimacy of the seller. Western Union is not responsible for the non-receipt or quality of any goods or services.”

Common Western Union scams include, but are not limited to the following:

Scam 1: Seller asks you to pay by Western Union and tells you it will be safe because you can make out the payment to the name of one of your friend's or relative's names, but put the seller's address on the payment. You will then tell the seller the control number (identification) of the payment so he can go to Western Union and verify you have made the payment. Once you receive the shipment, you will go to Western Union and change the name to the seller's real name so that he can pick up the money.

Why it's a scam: Once the seller knows the address or control number of the payment, he can go get the payment and send you nothing. Many Western Union agents in foreign countries never ask for identification.

Scam 2: Seller asks you to pay by Western Union and tells you to make the payment using Western Union's "secret question" feature. This feature is designed so that the Western Union agent will ask a secret question to whoever is picking up the money, and he must get the answer right in order to collect the money.

Why it's a scam: Again, many times Western Union agents do not ask the question, and only care if the person knows the address or control number, especially outside of the United States. Western Union even advises on their website not to rely on the secret question feature.