Securely Collect Your MoneyGram: A Step-by-Step Guide

A woman is promoting a money wiring service.

A MoneyGram is an easy way to send and receive funds. Unfortunately, that makes its services a target for scammers as well as for legitimate users. To pick up a MoneyGram, you'll need to provide proof that you are who you claim to be and that you are the intended recipient of the funds.

Go to Where the Funds Are

Find a MoneyGram location near you. You can go online to the MoneyGram website to find nearby locations and filter that to make sure the most convenient one provides the service you'll need. You have to physically go pick up your funds; there's no mechanism to send someone else in your stead or to get the funds transferred to your bank account online or over the phone, unless the recipient is in Mexico.

Bring ID

Once you're at the location, complete the receiver form to get your funds. You'll be asked to provide proof of identity with a driver's license, passport or other government-issued ID. Make sure the ID represents the exact name that the sender used to send the money. If it differs -- if the sender, for example, used a nickname that doesn't appear on your ID -- you may have problems getting the money. You'll also need your reference number to get your funds. Have the sender provide that information to speed up the process.

Other Proof

In some locations, simply providing a picture ID isn't enough. You also may need to provide proof of your address, such as a utility bill with your name and address on it. You'll also likely be asked information about the transfer. In addition to the reference number, you may need to recite the name of the sender and the amount being sent. These measures vary by country and are designed to reduce the risk of fraud.

Obey the Rules

Some MoneyGram rules limit your ability to get funds. For example, you can only pick up the money in the original country specified by the sender as the destination. While it's another measure designed to prevent fraud, it means that a traveler who misses his chance to pick up his MoneyGram in London can't swing by a location at his next stop in Paris and pick up the cash. Except in a few locations, the recipient must get the funds in the local currency. If an area offers multiple currency options, it's the sender who determines which one the funds are paid in.