Consumer Alert
Questions on your money back from Western Union?
Since we told you it’s time to ask for your money back from Western Union’s settlement with the FTC, we’ve gotten some questions about who can make a claim, when, and how it works. Here are some answers.
- If you lost money to a scammer who had you pay using Western Union between January 1, 2004 and January 19, 2017, you can file a claim. You have until February 12, 2018, to file your claim.
- You do not have to pay to get your money back. To file a claim, you have to give your Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) on the claim form. But nobody will call you to ask for those numbers, or for your bank account or credit card number. Anyone who does is a scammer, so tell the FTC right away.
- If you don’t have either a Social Security number or an ITIN, check the box that says so. When asked for a reason, you can explain that you’re not a U.S. citizen – or whatever other explanation applies.
- The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is managing the claims process through the company they hired, Gilardi & Co. Your claim will go to Gilardi, but we suggest you start at FTC.gov/WU, which will link you to the claims website.
- If you had reported your loss to Western Union, the FTC, or another government agency earlier, you might have gotten a pre-filled claim form in the mail. But even if you didn’t, you can still file a claim.
- To prove how much you lost, it helps to have documentation – like a receipt or transfer send form. If you don’t have those, file anyway. Give as much information as you can about your wire transfer and the money you lost, including when and why you sent it. That will help DOJ validate your claim.
- We know it’s not that safe to send your Social Security number through the mail to someone you’ve never heard of. That’s why we suggest filing your claim online, starting at FTC.gov/WU. But if you got a claim form in the mail from Gilardi and you want to return it by mail, the only address to send it to is: United States v. The Western Union Company, PO Box 404027, Louisville, KY 40233-4027.
- If you have power of attorney for someone, or you represent their estate, you can file a claim on their behalf.
- How much money you get back depends on how many people file a claim, and how many claims DOJ can validate.
- It might take a year for DOJ to process all the claims and send out checks.
Check FTC.gov/WU for updates and answers to other questions.
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In reply to I lost almost $50,000 mostly by jeannette h
If you lost the money to a scammer between January 1, 2004 and January 19, 2017 and you paid by Western Union, you can file a claim to get money back. You must file a claim by February 12, 2018. Go to FTC.gov/WU to start the process.
I tried to file a claim. I don't have exact dates of the times I sent money through Western Union. I just threw away all my paperwork last month. I filled out the form on the site. I got a claim IS no. But I did not get a pin. And after I fill out the clam form do I push link that says (File a Petition for Remission) If so I do not have a pin to put in the form
In reply to I tried to file a claim. I by Donna R
Some people received claim forms in the mail, because they previously reported the fraud to Western Union or the FTC. Those claim forms had Claim IDs and PINs on them. The people who received forms by mail can go online to FTC.gov/WU and start the process of filing their claims, or send back the paper claim forms.
Some people did not get claim forms in the mail and therefore did not get PINs. If you did not get a claim form by mail, you can go online to FTC.gov/WU and start the process of filing your claim. Filing a claim is also called "File a Petition for Remission."
When you file a claim, give details that the online form asks for. The form asks about the transactions, including how much money you sent, the date you sent it, the location you sent the money from, and the location you sent the money to.
In reply to I was scammed by IRS by Jacob
No, you can't file a claim for money you sent through MoneyGram. This process is for people who sent money through Western Union.
In reply to No, you can't file a claim by FTC Staff
In reply to I never received any update by V. Jacob
If you report a problem to the FTC at FTC.gov/complaint, and you give your email address, you will get an automatic email reply. The information you give goes into a secure database that the FTC and other law enforcement agencies use for investigations. The FTC does not handle individual complaints.
Last year (apprx mid-yr) had been speaking w/several agents. Should I assume a claim was filed? Haven't been in contact in a while, pls advise. Sincerely, Cynthia
In reply to Last year (apprx mid-yr) had by Cynthia P
You must file a claim if you want to ask for a refund. You must file by February 12, 2018.
Go to FTC.gov/WU for more information. You can start to file your claim at FTC.gov/WU.
In reply to Do the claims payments extend by EEstate PR
No, money transfers sent by Vigo aren't eligible for refunds under the Western Union settlement.
In reply to I was scammed by IRS by V. Jacob
The refund program described in this blog is only for people who transferred money between January 1, 2004 and January 19, 2017 using Western Union. This program does not provide refunds for people who transfered money through MoneyGram. The Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission do not have a refund program for people who sent money through MoneyGram.
You can report a problem with a MoneyGram transfer to MoneyGram Customer Care Center at 1‑800‑926‑9400. You can also report the impersonation scam to the FTC at FTC.gov/complaint. The information you give will go into a secure database that the FTC and other law enforcement agencies use for investigations.
In reply to I NEED TO FILL MY CLAIM O by rahantaniainan…
Did you send money to a scammer using Western Union between January 1, 2004 and January 19, 2017?
If yes, you can file a claim to get money back. You must file a claim by February 12, 2018.
You can file your claim online. First, read the questions and answers at FTC.gov/WU. Then, click a button on FTC.gov/WU to go to the claim page.
In reply to can I email due file attached by debo
If you want a refund, you must file a claim. You have to use the claim form. Go to FTC.gov/WU to get a link to the claim form.
The claim form asks for details about you, and about the transaction. After you give details, you can upload files.
In reply to I was scam over 3,000.00 by Guillaume
If you lost the money between January 1, 2004 and January 19, 2017 and you paid by Western Union, you can file a claim to get money back.
You must file a claim by February 12, 2018. Go to FTC.gov/WU to start the process. There are more questions and answers about the refund process at FTC.gov/WU.
In reply to I was scammed back in by Lamay
Did you receive an email or a letter by postal mail? If you received a pre-filled claim form by postal mail from Gilardi & Co. you could return it by mail, but the FTC suggests that you file your claim online. Go to FTC.gov/WU to start filing your claim online.
You must send your claim by February 12, 2018. When you file a claim online, you can attach electronic copies of files. If you have a copy of a police report, you can make an electronic copy of the report and send it with your claim.
In reply to MANY UN CLAIM COMMISSION IN by JIMMY O
If you sent money to a scammer between January 1, 2004 and January 19, 2017 and you paid by Western Union, you can file a claim to get money back. You must file a claim by February 12, 2018. Go to FTC.gov/WU to begin.
Si usted perdió dinero a manos de un estafador que lo hizo pagar usando Western Union entre el 1 de enero de 2004 y el 19 de enero de 2017, ahora puede presentar un reclamo para recibir la devolución de su dinero de parte del Departamento de Justicia. FTC.gov/WU. Usted debe presentar un reclamo antes del 12 de febrero de 2018.
In reply to I am helping my sister, who by MariaM
You can get a form on the US Department of Justice (DOJ) refund website. DOJ hired Gilardi & Co. to administer the refund program. When you are on the refund website, look at the list of case documents. Click on remission form. That's the form your sister should fill out and return by February 12, 2018.
Your sister can send copies of documents when she returns the remission form. If she doesn't have documents, she should still send a claim for a refund. She should give as many details as she can. The FTC has questions & answers about filing claims at FTC.gov/WU. You could print a copies of the FTC questions and answers and send it to your sister with the claim form.
Your sister must give her Social Security number on the claim form. That's because before it sends refunds DOJ must check with the Treasury Offset Program to verify that a person does not owe any money to the federal government. It needs your Social Security number to do that.
In reply to I lost 600 dollars in a scam by Wj04071955
If you lost money to a scammer between January 1, 2004 and January 19, 2017 and you paid by Western Union, you can file a claim to get money back.
You must file a claim by February 12, 2018. Go to FTC.gov/WU to start the process.
In reply to How can i get money back from by Lynda
You can report that to the FTC at FTC.gov/Complaint and to the wire transfer company you used. Call MoneyGram Customer Care Center at 1‑800‑926‑9400. If the scammer contacted you through a website, for example a dating website or product sales website, you can report the problem to that site.
In reply to Does this even cover money by Rmills
If you lost money to a scammer between January 1, 2004 and January 19, 2017 and you paid by Western Union, you can file a claim to get money back.
You can file a claim for money you transferred inside the United States and money you sent outside United States, if you sent it through Western Union and between January 1, 2004 and January 19, 2017. You must file a claim by February 12, 2018. Go to FTC.gov/WU to start.
In reply to 2016 or end month of 2015 I by ohonrada
If you lost money to a scammer between January 1, 2004 and January 19, 2017 and you paid by Western Union, you can file a claim to get money back. You can't file a claim for money you sent by MoneyGram.
You must file a claim by February 12, 2018. You can provide as many details as you remember about the transactions. You can send copies of receipts or other paperwork. Go to FTC.gov/WU to start the claim process.
In reply to I was lied to about 500,000 by bcok0007
If you want to request a refund, you must file a claim by February 12, 2018. You can file a claim if you lost money the money between January 1, 2004 and January 19, 2017. You must file a claim by February 12, 2018. Go to FTC.gov/WU to start the process.
In reply to What if you don't have ur by Angel one
If you want to ask for a refund, you must file a claim. You can file a claim, even if you don’t have paperwork related to your money transfer. When you file the claim, you can tell when you sent the money, and where you sent it and other details.
You can file a claim if you lost money to a scammer between January 1, 2004 and January 19, 2017. You must file a claim by February 12, 2018. Go to FTC.gov/WU to read more about the refunds and start the process.
Hello, I receveid the claim form and I filled it, but I don't know where I'll send it after I postmarked? By email to info@ westernunionremission.com or via postoffice to the menntioned address?
In reply to Hello, by maricutam
If you received a paper form by postal mail, you can return the paper form by postal mail, or you can fill out a form online. If you want to return the form by postal mail, send it to:
United States v. The Western Union Company
P.O. Box 404027
Louisville, KY 40233-4027
If you want to fill out your claim online, go to FTC.gov/WU. Click the light blue button that says "I got a pre-filled claim form." That will take you to the website where you can fill out your form.
Do not send your form to info @ westernunionremission.com. That is the wrong place to send a claim form.
In reply to What happens if money was by The diamond
No, you are not eligible to request a refund under this settlement if you sent money to a scammer after January 19, 2017.
You can report the scam to the FTC at FTC.gov/complaint. The information you give will go into a secure database that the FTC and other law enforcement agencies use for investigations. You can also call the Western Union Fraud Hotline at 800-448-1492 .
In reply to I received the pre-filled by Pralok T
You can call the refund administrator at 1-844-319-2124.
The refund administrator say you can file a claim online. To file a claim online, go to FTC.gov/WU and read about the refund process. Then, click on the orange button at the top of the page. It will connect you to the US Department of Justice website where you can file your claim. Write as many details as you remember on the claim form. You can write the year, and why you sent the money and other details you remember.
In reply to I lost my money back in 2011! by lost my money …
You can file a claim online. Go to FTC.gov/WU and read about the refund process. Then, click on the orange button at the top of the page. It will connect you to the US Department of Justice website where you can file your claim. Write as many details as you remember on the claim form. You can write the year, and why you sent the money and other details you remember.
In reply to Is asking for dates money was by irma
Write as many details as you remember on the claim form. You can write the year, and why you sent the money and other details you remember. You can call the refund administrator at 1-844-319-2124.