Money orders and wiring money

[ripvanwinkle]

Yesterday I went to Kroger grocery shopping. I bought a $1 scratch off lottery ticket and won $20. I had to go go to the customer service line to cash it in. I was 6th in line. They were all of Hispanic descent. People were buying money orders. One lady bought a Western Union wire transfer. It took a while.

I've never done a wire transfer before. I got to wondering. Does the Feds monitor money going in and out of the US? Is this legitimate money or ill gotten gains?  

[minnesotapaintlady]

What a weird post.

I wonder if the money you used to buy the lottery ticket was legitimate money or ill gotten gains.

But, to answer your question.  All Western Union wire transfers are completely track-able and monitored by the government and cash transactions greater than 10K are reported the same as they are with banks.

[Tennesseer]

Aug 24, 2024 23:42:17 GMT -5 ripvanwinkle said:

Yesterday I went to Kroger grocery shopping. I bought a $1 scratch off lottery ticket and won $20. I had to go go to the customer service line to cash it in. I was 6th in line. They were all of Hispanic descent. People were buying money orders. One lady bought a Western Union wire transfer. It took a while.

I've never done a wire transfer before. I got to wondering. Does the Feds monitor money going in and out of the US? Is this legitimate money or ill gotten gains?  

Did you ask each and everyone in front of you if they were of Hispanic descent, if they were U.S. citizens and where they were sending their personal money? How fucking nosy (and racist) are you?

[ripvanwinkle]

Aug 25, 2024 0:16:35 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Aug 24, 2024 23:42:17 GMT -5 ripvanwinkle said:

Yesterday I went to Kroger grocery shopping. I bought a $1 scratch off lottery ticket and won $20. I had to go go to the customer service line to cash it in. I was 6th in line. They were all of Hispanic descent. People were buying money orders. One lady bought a Western Union wire transfer. It took a while.

I've never done a wire transfer before. I got to wondering. Does the Feds monitor money going in and out of the US? Is this legitimate money or ill gotten gains?  

Did you ask each and everyone in front of you if they were of Hispanic descent, if they were U.S. citizens and where they were sending their personal money? How fucking nosy (and racist) are you?

Not racist. I figured they were of Hispanic decent because the LADY BEHIND THE COUNTER WAS SPEAKING SPANISH TO THEM!!

[Tennesseer]

Aug 25, 2024 0:51:32 GMT -5 ripvanwinkle said:

Aug 25, 2024 0:16:35 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Did you ask each and everyone in front of you if they were of Hispanic descent, if they were U.S. citizens and where they were sending their personal money? How fucking nosy (and racist) are you?

Not racist. I figured they were of Hispanic decent because the LADY BEHIND THE COUNTER WAS SPEAKING SPANISH TO THEM!!

Why was it your fucking business what they were doing with their own money? And yea, you are a racist. You did not need to bring up their ethnicity to ask your question about tracking money.

[Opti]

Depending on where you look Google is reporting 42 to 50 million Spanish speakers.

Map of the US circa 2018 showing percent of spanish speakers which I think is measured by if one speaks Spanish at home.

[Opti]

Note Puerto Rico has 93.4% Spanish speakers which should make sense.

[Opti]

Interesting link that should probably be its own thread. It is from 2016, but given scgal's posts in other threads maybe the RW media believe they are in 2016.

corryfrydlewicz.com/how-shitty-should-american-poverty-get/

[raeoflyte]

What made you think money transfers done at the grocery store weren't legal?

[swamp]

Aug 24, 2024 23:42:17 GMT -5 ripvanwinkle said:

Yesterday I went to Kroger grocery shopping. I bought a $1 scratch off lottery ticket and won $20. I had to go go to the customer service line to cash it in. I was 6th in line. They were all of Hispanic descent. People were buying money orders. One lady bought a Western Union wire transfer. It took a while.

I've never done a wire transfer before. I got to wondering. Does the Feds monitor money going in and out of the US? Is this legitimate money or ill gotten gains?  

Holy crap.  Racist much?

yes the feds monitor money transfers.  I used to do wire transfers all the time for work, sometimes international. I had to declare the purpose of the wire.  Would you have been suspicious of me, a middle aged whitey mcwhiterson?
 Or was I ok because I could do it at the bank since my escrow account was there ?

[swamp]

Aug 25, 2024 0:51:32 GMT -5 ripvanwinkle said:

Aug 25, 2024 0:16:35 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Did you ask each and everyone in front of you if they were of Hispanic descent, if they were U.S. citizens and where they were sending their personal money? How fucking nosy (and racist) are you?

Not racist. I figured they were of Hispanic decent because the LADY BEHIND THE COUNTER WAS SPEAKING SPANISH TO THEM!!

Have you ever heard of Spain? 

[billisonboard]

Aug 25, 2024 18:46:00 GMT -5 swamp said:

Aug 25, 2024 0:51:32 GMT -5 ripvanwinkle said:

Not racist. I figured they were of Hispanic decent because the LADY BEHIND THE COUNTER WAS SPEAKING SPANISH TO THEM!!

Have you ever heard of Spain? 

I've heard of it but never been.

Sorry.

[ripvanwinkle]

Aug 25, 2024 17:42:21 GMT -5 raeoflyte said:

What made you think money transfers done at the grocery store weren't legal?

I didn't say I thought they were illegal wire transfers. I've just never done one. I was more irritated that it took about 20 minutes in line to get my winnings. Couldn't care less what they were sending the money for. I was just wondering if the feds monitored money going out of the US.

[NoNamePerson]

Aug 25, 2024 18:57:36 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

Aug 25, 2024 18:46:00 GMT -5 swamp said:

Have you ever heard of Spain? 

I've heard of it but never been.

Sorry.

You should go. Wonderful place to visit. Ok OT so carry on. 

[billisonboard]

Aug 25, 2024 20:38:18 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

Aug 25, 2024 18:57:36 GMT -5 billisonboard said:

I've heard of it but never been.

Sorry.

You should go. Wonderful place to visit. Ok OT so carry on. 

At least I apologized.

[busymom]

That's nothing unusual to wire money home.  Farm workers here would send money they'd earned home to their families in Mexico.  In fact, I was working in a store where the men would occasionally come in to shop for clothing for their children to send home.  Be happy they are supporting their families.  

[Tennesseer]

Here is how Rip's OP should have been written to not draw attention to his well known dislike of Hispanics aka by Rip as 'illegal aliens" (which was further implied in his post later on with "ill gotten gains" (they are all criminals)):

'Yesterday I went to Kroger grocery shopping. I bought a $1 scratch off lottery ticket and won $20. I had to go go to the customer service line to cash it in. I was 6th in line. They were all of Hispanic descent. People were buying money orders. One lady bought a Western Union wire transfer. It took a while.

I've never done a wire transfer before. I got to wondering. Does the Feds monitor money going in and out of the US? Is this legitimate money or ill gotten gains?'

[raeoflyte]

Aug 25, 2024 20:35:02 GMT -5 ripvanwinkle said:

Aug 25, 2024 17:42:21 GMT -5 raeoflyte said:

What made you think money transfers done at the grocery store weren't legal?

I didn't say I thought they were illegal wire transfers. I've just never done one. I was more irritated that it took about 20 minutes in line to get my winnings. Couldn't care less what they were sending the money for. I was just wondering if the feds monitored money going out of the US.

Everything takes a while at the customer service desk. You were 6th in line and you're complaining that each transaction took 3 minutes. If they were transactions that could be automated the store would have. If you don't want to wait come back when the lines shorter (and still be prepared to wait to find someone who can work the desk).

How do you know they were doing wires and western union transfers if they were speaking Spanish?

[NoNamePerson]

This tread reminds me of one poster who was forever posting about what people had in their grocery carts and how many paid with Snap/food stamps. The poster invariably referenced ethnic makeup. Then would see what type of car they would drive off in. I always wondered what the fascination was with how people paid and what they bought. I'm too busy making sure I have what I came in for and getting out of the store and on my way. Wonder if anyone looked in my cart and questioned my choices Well the 10 bottles of wine might have raised an eyebrow or two   

[daisylu]

I avoided this thread until today. The OP is exactly what I expected it to be. 

[Tennesseer]

[soupandstew]

Aug 26, 2024 6:34:31 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

This tread reminds me of one poster who was forever posting about what people had in their grocery carts and how many paid with Snap/food stamps. The poster invariably referenced ethnic makeup. Then would see what type of car they would drive off in. I always wondered what the fascination was with how people paid and what they bought. I'm too busy making sure I have what I came in for and getting out of the store and on my way. Wonder if anyone looked in my cart and questioned my choices Well the 10 bottles of wine might have raised an eyebrow or two   

When I'm stuck in line I love looking at carts and trying to figure out what they are going to cook.  I can usually tell the green smoothie person (lots of yogurt and fresh greens like spinach and kale), pot roast person (chuck roast, potatoes, carrots), gluten-free (cauliflower rice, cauliflower crust pizza), and BBQ host (chicken wings, fajita meat, case of beer).  

I've had total strangers see my wine and ask if I recommend that variety - why yes, I do, that's why there's so much of it in my cart 

[TheOtherMe]

Aug 26, 2024 6:58:28 GMT -5 daisylu said:

I avoided this thread until today. The OP is exactly what I expected it to be. 

    It is either something like or how to cheat on taxes. 

[bean29]

Aug 26, 2024 8:12:20 GMT -5 soupandstew said:

Aug 26, 2024 6:34:31 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

This tread reminds me of one poster who was forever posting about what people had in their grocery carts and how many paid with Snap/food stamps. The poster invariably referenced ethnic makeup. Then would see what type of car they would drive off in. I always wondered what the fascination was with how people paid and what they bought. I'm too busy making sure I have what I came in for and getting out of the store and on my way. Wonder if anyone looked in my cart and questioned my choices Well the 10 bottles of wine might have raised an eyebrow or two   

When I'm stuck in line I love looking at carts and trying to figure out what they are going to cook.  I can usually tell the green smoothie person (lots of yogurt and fresh greens like spinach and kale), pot roast person (chuck roast, potatoes, carrots), gluten-free (cauliflower rice, cauliflower crust pizza), and BBQ host (chicken wings, fajita meat, case of beer).  

I've had total strangers see my wine and ask if I recommend that variety - why yes, I do, that's why there's so much of it in my cart 

I always laugh to myself when I am buying my weekly supply of spinach, Kale, and cabbage.  The grocery store must think I am a health freak, in reality, I own two rabbits and they are the ones eating most of the really healthy stuff in my cart.  

DH occasionally sends Wester Union money orders to his brother in Mexico, and Walmart is the store he goes to. DB is a US citizen and has a home in Georgia.  He has always spent a good part of the winter in Mexico.  He is now retired, but still goes back and forth between the two countries.  His adult kids and grandchildren are mostly in Georgia, so I don't expect he will move to Mexico permanently.  They send $$ back and forth sometimes.  His brother usually pays him back.  If he never repays it, it is not so much that I really care.  

[minnesotapaintlady]

Oddly enough, the only people I know that are working under the table are a couple white guys avoiding child support.  

I live near a town (in upper Midwest) that is almost 52% hispanic and they make up a huge portion of the people working at the two major industries in that town.  My ex has been working there for the past 10 years, so he talks to them a lot on the floor and said a lot of them send money back to their families in Mexico.

Seems a lot more honorable than taking cash jobs so you don't have to support your own kids.

[jerseygirl]

Great that people are able to wire money to their families. Should be a nice help to them. But might be just something to do with a business or paying a bill

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Aug 26, 2024 10:36:32 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

Great that people are able to wire money to their families. Should be a nice help to them. But might be just something to do with a business or paying a bill

true! not everyone has a checking account!

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

Back in the stone age before online billing took off I used to pay my utilities at Hy-Vee through Western Union.  It went through faster as opposed to giving them a check and having to carry it over sometimes up to a month before it cleared.

It feels like it was forever before the water company finally got on board with being able to pay online. 

I believe you can still pay that way I'd have to look for people who don't have internet at home which is still shockingly common.

I would hardly stand there thinking it was for nefarious reasons.  The only reason to mention they were Hispanic in the same breath is the racist assumption that anyone who is brown couldn't possibly be doing legal money transactions at the grocery store could they? 

Some people have way too much free time on their hands.

[minnesotapaintlady]

Aug 26, 2024 13:42:20 GMT -5 Rukh O'Rorke said:

Aug 26, 2024 10:36:32 GMT -5 jerseygirl said:

Great that people are able to wire money to their families. Should be a nice help to them. But might be just something to do with a business or paying a bill

true! not everyone has a checking account!

It blows my mind how many people don't.  The company I work for is 95% all white, midwesterners that have mostly lived in this area their entire lives and many of them had been working here for a number of years.  We've had direct deposit here for forever, but it was only about 10 years ago or so that the company put their foot down and said everyone must have it and they wouldn't be handing out checks to those that didn't anymore. The number of people that threw a fit!  I would have never guessed this many were unbanked. I think they eventually went to some system where their checks were deposited on a card or something I can't remember what the solution ended up being, but I know it was a big issue for quite a few.

[Cheesy FL-Vol]

Aug 26, 2024 14:06:38 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Aug 26, 2024 13:42:20 GMT -5 Rukh O'Rorke said:

true! not everyone has a checking account!

It blows my mind how many people don't.  The company I work for is 95% all white, midwesterners that have mostly lived in this area their entire lives and many of them had been working here for a number of years.  We've had direct deposit here for forever, but it was only about 10 years ago or so that the company put their foot down and said everyone must have it and they wouldn't be handing out checks to those that didn't anymore. The number of people that threw a fit!  I would have never guessed this many were unbanked. I think they eventually went to some system where their checks were deposited on a card or something I can't remember what the solution ended up being, but I know it was a big issue for quite a few.

I had to go through my brother's stuff when he passed away last summer. He spent the last 20 or 25 years of his life unbanked. He paid for everything with cash or money order. He cashed his paycheck at the bank payroll issued the checks from.