Fergie's Tech Blog

Western Union Blocks Arab Cash Transfers

An AP newswire article by Anjan Sundaram, via The Boston Globe, reports that:

Money transfer agencies have delayed or blocked thousands of cash deliveries on suspicion of terrorist connections simply because senders or recipients have names like Mohammed or Ahmed, company officials said.

In one example, an Indian driver here said Western Union prevented him from sending $120 to a friend at home last month because the recipient's name was Mohammed.

"Western Union told me that if I send money to Sahir Mohammed, the money will be blocked because of his name," said 36-year-old Abdul Rahman Maruthayil, who later sent the money through UAE Exchange, a Dubai-based money transfer service.

posted by Fergie @ 7/06/2006 09:05:00 AM