How to track and keep your money transfer safe

Some money transfers can take more than five days to reach your recipient. Many money transfer companies and banks offer end-to-end tracking so you can monitor the progress of your payments.

However, each company has a different procedure for tracking transfers. To help you understand the differences, here’s a look at how the major transfer companies track your money transfer.

How can I track my money transfer?

With most companies, you can track your transfer using the confirmation number on your receipt. You should be able to view the steps of your progress, from sending to receiving, either online or by contacting them over the telephone. A few transfer services also offer the option of text or email notification at each stage of your transaction.

In general, to track a money transfer:

1. Complete your transfer. After sending a transfer, you can start tracking it.
2. Check your receipt. Look for a reference, confirmation, order, transaction or similarly-named number.
3. Contact the sending company. Call, go online or visit a physical location of the company you sent your transfer through and provide your tracking number.
4. Sign up for notifications. When possible, opt in for notifications on each step of your transfer.

Track a Western Union transfer

Tracking a Western Union transfer requires an MTCN, which is Western Union’s tracking number. If you don’t know the MTCN, you still have options, but you’ll need to know:

• Sender’s phone number OR both the sender and receiver names
• Receiver’s country
• Send amount OR receive amount
• Date of transfer

Learn more about how Western Union tracking works or contact Western Union directly for further help.

Track a MoneyGram transfer

MoneyGram tracking is fairly straightforward. It requires your last name and the authorization or reference number.

• Authorization number – This number is found in your confirmation email.
• Reference number – This number is found in your email only after the money is ready for cash pickup.

Learn more about how MoneyGram tracking works or contact MoneyGram directly for further help.

Track a Ria money transfer

Ria tracking can be done through the mobile app, online or by contacting customer service on the phone. You’ll need to provide one of the following to track your money transfer:

• Order number
• PIN
• Reference number

Learn more about how Ria tracking works or contact Ria directly for further help.

Sample tracking page for Ria.

Track a Vigo money transfer

Because of Vigo’s partnership with Western Union, tracking money transfers on Vigo is very similar to the process of tracking money transfers on Western Union. Visit Western Union’s website, go to the “tracking transfer” section, enter the 10 digits of your MTCN and click “Track Transfer”.
Learn more about how Vigo tracking works or contact Vigo directly for further help.

Track a Walmart money transfer

In order to track Walmart-to-Walmart money transfers, you’ll just need to provide your transaction reference number. Learn more about how Walmart tracking works or contact Walmart directly for further help.

How do I find my tracking number?

Depending on the service you choose to transfer your money overseas — whether a bank or independent money transfer specialist — your transaction should come with a confirmation number or a record of your transaction.

Money tracking numbers come in many different names:

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What to do if I don’t have a tracking number?

Transfers come in all shapes and sizes, and depending on what type of provider you use to send your money, you may or may not have a tracking number. Don’t worry — chances are you can still track your transfer even if you don’t have a tracking number. Here’s how:

How can I keep my international money transfer safe?

Sending money abroad can be risky if you don’t take the right precautions. Keep your international money transfers safe by only transferring money through licensed money transfer services. Ensure you have the correct details on hand before sending a transfer — and never send transfers to people you do not trust. This way, you’re less likely to fall prey to international money transfer scams. Lastly, always remember to keep your transfer reference number on hand so that you can track the progress of your transfers. If you notice anything suspicious, contact your provider immediately.

What happens if I entered the incorrect information for my transaction?

If you enter incorrect information for your money transfer, you typically have two options to consider: change the recipient’s information or cancel the money transfer.

Can I change my recipient’s information if I entered it incorrectly?

Unfortunately, you’ll find that changing your recipient’s name or address is trickier after you’ve initiated a transfer. But if you haven’t entered your recipient’s details correctly, they may not be able to receive their funds at all. If you’ve found an error with your recipient’s information, call, visit or live chat with your provider immediately.

Keep any confirmation number or receipt handy to help in pulling up your transfer. Your provider should be able to correct or modify your recipient’s details for you, even if it means adding a few more days to your delivery window as the system updates. If you’ve discovered the error outside business hours, try logging in to your account — you may be able to make the changes yourself if your transfer isn’t yet complete.

Can I cancel a money transfer?

Nearly all banks and money transfer providers offer some way of canceling your transaction after you’ve set it in motion — especially if your money hasn’t yet been delivered. If you need to cancel your transfer within 30 minutes, federal law guarantees a refund without penalty. Simply call or visit — in person or online — the provider you used to send your transfer. If you can log in to your online account, you may have the option of canceling there. If you initiated the transfer more than 30 minutes before, search your provider’s website for information on canceling or stopping a money transfer. Or call a representative to learn how you can start the process of halting your transaction.

If you’re able to cancel your money transfer, you should see a refund for the total you paid for it. In the rare case, a provider may deduct a cancellation fee from your refund — which might be another factor to weigh when choosing the company you ultimately go with.

If your transfer is not yet picked up or deposited into your recipient’s account, you may be able to log in to your account to cancel the transfer yourself. Otherwise, call, visit or live chat with your provider to discuss its refund process and how much you can expect to get back.

Frequently asked questions

• What is an MTCN?

  Every brand wants points for originality — and money transfer providers are no exception. An MTCN is what Western Union calls its transfer confirmation number. It stands for Money Transfer Control Number, a unique reference number assigned to your specific transfer.If you've ordered a cash pickup, your recipient will need to submit the MTCN before Western Union will release your funds.

  Similarly, an RTRN is a specific code used for Remit2India transactions. It stands for Remittance Transaction Reference Number, and you'll only receive it when sending money through Remit2India.

• Can I track a money transfer using a SWIFT code?

  Yes. If your transfer isn't delivered within the window you were promised, you can request a trace on your transaction using the bank's SWIFT code. A SWIFT code is an ID that banks use when sending wire transfers. With this number, your bank can determine whether the deposit is on hold or in progress.

  How can "on hold" be an option? One drawback of SWIFT transfers is that banks can hold on to your money until they're able to get an exchange rate that better favors their bottom line. If your money needs to reach your recipient by a specific deadline, be sure to specify that exact date or time to avoid any bank delay.

  Sometimes you'll need to know your IBAN — International Bank Account Number — for international money transfer tracking. This number identifies your bank account, your bank and your country to make international transfers faster. Transfers to and from the European Union often use an IBAN, so be prepared to use it when transferring money to and from the EU.

• What happens if I lose my tracking number?

  If you lose your money transfer tracking number, you should contact your provider immediately. In most cases, they will be able to provide you with a new tracking number if they verify that you are indeed the sender.