Catfishing Scams via MoneyGram
How scammers using fake identities steer victims to MoneyGram for cash pick-up transfers that are near-impossible to recover.
Part of: Catfishing Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
MoneyGram's global cash pick-up network makes it a frequent tool for catfishing scammers who pretend to be stranded or in crisis overseas. A fraudster who has spent weeks building an online romance can direct even tech-savvy victims to a MoneyGram location with a specific reference number and a recipient name that may change from one transfer to the next.
Because MoneyGram funds can be collected in cash at thousands of agent locations worldwide, the money is nearly untraceable once picked up. Victims often realize they have been scammed only after sending multiple transfers and receiving fresh excuses instead of the reunion they were promised.
How this scam works on MoneyGram
The catfisher claims to be stuck in a foreign country due to a lost passport, medical emergency, or customs hold on a package containing valuables. They ask the victim to send money through MoneyGram because 'it is the only service that works here' or 'the bank wire takes too long.'
The victim goes to a pharmacy, supermarket, or post office that carries MoneyGram, fills out a send form with the scammer-provided recipient name and country, and shares the reference number so the scammer can pick up cash. Within hours the funds are gone.
The scammer may ask for several transfers over days or weeks, always with a new story about why the previous amount was not enough. Each time, the emotional script intensifies — promises of repayment, declarations of love, countdown timers to a supposed reunion.
Common red flags
- An online romantic partner asks you to send MoneyGram to collect cash overseas
- The pick-up country changes or the recipient name varies across requests
- The person cannot explain why a bank transfer or card payment will not work
- Each successful transfer is followed by a new emergency requiring another
- You have never video-called or met the person despite months of contact
- The story involves being stranded abroad with no access to personal funds
- You are told not to mention the transfer to family or friends
How to protect yourself
- Refuse to send MoneyGram to anyone you have only met online without in-person verification
- Be especially skeptical of requests framed as overseas emergencies
- Confirm identity through a live video call before any financial discussion
- If funds were sent, call MoneyGram's fraud line immediately to attempt a stop-payment
- Keep all chat logs and receipts as evidence for any subsequent police report
- Discuss any overseas emergency request with a trusted person before acting
How to report it
- Contact MoneyGram's fraud hotline immediately if you suspect a scam transfer
- Report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or your country's equivalent fraud authority
- Report the catfisher's profile to the dating or social platform where contact was made
Frequently asked questions
Can MoneyGram stop a transfer I just sent?
If the recipient has not yet collected the cash you may be able to cancel the transfer. Call MoneyGram's customer service line with your reference number immediately. Once the cash is picked up, recovery is extremely unlikely, so speed is critical.