Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to our most common questions.

How to send money

How do I send money from a MoneyGram Agent location?
  1. Find a location
  2. Find a MoneyGram agent location near you.
  3. Prepare for your agent visit
  4. Bring the following information:1
    • For all sends:
      • Your I.D.
      • Your address
      • Your phone number
      • Your date of birth
      • Your recipient's full name matching their I.D.2 and their location
      • The amount you wish to send, plus fees.
    • If sending to a bank account, you also need your recipient's bank name and account number.1
    • If sending to a mobile wallet, you also need your recipient's mobile number with international dial code.
  5. Complete your transaction
  6. Where applicable, complete a send form. Give the agent the completed form with applicable funds (including transaction fees).
  7. Notify your recipient
  8. Save your receipt and share the 8-digit reference number with your recipient for pick-up. Funds sent to a bank account or mobile wallet will be sent directly into the account.

1 Requirements vary by country and agent. Please ask your local MoneyGram agent for details about their process and procedures.
2 Please note, when completing the transfer form, the recipient's name on the form must exactly match the name on the ID he or she presents to pick up the transfer. For example, John D. Smith is NOT the same as John David Smith.

How do I find a MoneyGram agent location?

MoneyGram is available at agent locations worldwide. For an agent location near you, use our MoneyGram agent locator tool.

How much does it cost to transfer money with MoneyGram?

MoneyGram fees vary based on the send and receive countries and the amount sent. Use our estimator tool to estimate the cost of your transaction.

How much money can I transfer?

When sending at an agent location, the maximum amount you can send is approximately $8,000.1 Use the MoneyGram cost estimator tool to estimate the cost of your transaction.

1 Requirements vary by country. Maximum send or receive limits may also apply.

How can I pay for a money transfer?

Most MoneyGram agents accept cash only for transactions at agent locations. Contact your agent prior to your visit to find out what method of payment they accept.

When will the money be available to my receiver?

Money is typically ready for cash pickup within minutes after the transfer has been sent successfully, regardless of the payment method used.

1 Subject to agent operating hours and compliance with regulatory requirements.

What are my currency options?

MoneyGram offers a choice of currencies for sending or receiving money in select countries.  You can view currency options when using our cost estimator tool.

Ask your MoneyGram agent for full details on the currency options available for your transaction.

Can the person I’m sending money to choose the currency to receive the money transfer?

No. If the country to which you're sending money allows money to be received in more than one currency, as the sender you will select the currency in which the money will be received.

How do I know what currencies are available for payout in the country I am sending to?

Use our cost estimator to verify the country you're sending money to allows money to be received in more than one currency.

What should I do if the person to whom I am transferring money is having trouble picking up the transaction?
  1. Make sure they have the correct Reference/Confirmation Number.1
  2. Verify your Receiver has a valid photo identification (ID), and that the name on the ID matches the name you provided when sending the money.2

1 Please note, your name on the transfer record must exactly match your name as it appears on your official ID.
2 Requirements may vary by country and agent. Please ask your local MoneyGram agent for details about their process and procedures. For further assistance, contact us by completing the contact form on this site, or call 1-800-666-3947 or 1-720-362-5024.

Receive money from an agent location

What do I need in order to receive my money transfer?

You'll need the following in order to receive your money transfer:

  • Government-issued identification+ (ID) that displays your legal name.1
  • Reference number - request the reference number from the person who sent you the money transfer.2
  • Address
  • Date of birth
  • Telephone number.

1 Please note, your name on the transfer record, completed by the person sending you the transfer, and must exactly match your name as it appears on your official ID.
2 Requirements vary by country so please ask your local MoneyGram agent for details about their process and procedures.

How do I find the nearest MoneyGram agent location?

MoneyGram is available at agent locations around the world so we are never far away. To find an agent location near you, use our locator tool.

How do I receive a money transfer?
  1. Ask for the reference number associated with your transfer. The person sending you the money transfer will have the reference number.
  2. Visit a MoneyGram location. Remember to bring your reference number and personal identification.1
  3. Complete the receiver form at the location and hand the completed form to the MoneyGram agent to receive your money.

You may be required to provide personal identification2 usually one or more of the following:

  • Passport
  • Driving license
  • National identity card or
  • Government-issued identification

You will also required to provide your date of birth, phone number and address.

You may also be required to provide proof of address in some cases.

Please ask your local MoneyGram agent for acceptable identification formats, as well as details about their process and procedures.

1 Please note, your name on the transfer record must exactly match your name as it appears on your official ID.
2 Requirements vary by country so please ask your local MoneyGram agent for details about their process and procedures.

When will the money be available for pick up?

Money is typically ready for cash pickup within minutes after the transfer has been sent successfully, regardless of the payment method used.*

*Subject to agent operating hours and compliance requirements.

Anti-phishing

What is Phishing?

Phishing is a type of online fraud designed to steal your personal information, such as:

  • User names
  • Passwords
  • Credit card details or
  • Secret questions and answers.

Phishing is typically carried out by email and is disguised to appear as a legitimate email from MoneyGram. Links in an email direct you to a fake website that looks like the legitimate MoneyGram online site.  It is best to not click on the links in an email. If you wish to visit our site, type our website address into your browser instead of clicking on an email link. 

How do I recognize phishing?

Here are some things to look for if you suspect you have received a phishing email:

  • Links to a website asking you to verify your account information
  • Links to a website asking you for a bank account or credit card numbers, user names, and passwords
  • Threats if you don't verify your account information, your account will be shut down.

It is a good practice to never click on the links provided in an email. Instead, type the website address directly into your internet browser.

How Do I Prevent Phishing?

The best way to avoid becoming a victim of phishing is to carefully review email messages you receive to see if it is a phishing scam, and to become aware of common scams.

  • It is a good practice to never click on the links provided in an email. Instead, type the website address directly into your internet browser.
What should I do if I may have been a victim of Phishing?

If you suspect you've received a phishing email, don't second guess yourself - report it!

Consumer fraud awareness

I received an email from MoneyGram asking for my financial information. Should I provide it?

No. MoneyGram NEVER sends you an unsolicited email asking for your personal or financial information.

If you receive a suspicious email claiming to be from MoneyGram, please report it to us so we can investigate. Also, if your financial information has been compromised, we recommend you contact your financial institution immediately.

Who is able to pick up the money I transferred?

The person receiving the MoneyGram transfer must present a valid photo ID and know information about the transfer.

To help protect yourself further, keep all information about your money transfer confidential and be sure you know the person to whom you're sending money.

What can I do if the person to whom I sent a money transfer and I are the victims of fraud?

You may use the contact form to report fraudulent activity by selecting Report Fraud from the Type of Request drop down.* Please provide details of the incident in the Comments field.

*If you suspect fraud on a transaction that has not yet been received, please contact our Customer Care Center at 1-800-926-9400 in order to have the transaction cancelled immediately.

Where can I get more information on protecting myself from consumer fraud?

For more information, visit our Consumer Fraud Prevention site.