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 My mother was sending money by Mother scammed
If your mother lost money to scammers between January 1, 2004 and January 19, 2017, and she paid by Western Union, she can file a claim to get money back. She must file a claim by February 12, 2018.
It's good that your mother is being careful about sharing her Social Security number. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) needs your mother's Social Security number when she files a claim. DOJ must check with the Treasury Offset Program to verify that your mother doesn't owe any money to the federal government. It needs her Social Security number to do that.
Go to FTC.gov/WU for more details about the claim process. There are two buttons at the top of the page. If your mother did not get a claim form in the mail already, click on the orange button. It links from the FTC site to the site where your mother can file her claim.
In reply to If your mother lost money to by FTC Staff
Might be to late, but I can PROVE while I caring for my husband in his final days the week of January 5 2016 that money was wired Western Union from my account. (Regions Acct) Money was wired out his Buisness Acct. as well. He passed away January 11th...My grandfather taught me it 's better to be the one robbed than The Robber! I had 3 attourneys. Two must be friends with the Robber. Last attourney is willing to help. I don't have an e-mail acct. right now they've been hacked. along with all my devices.
In reply to Might be to late, but I can by rdelahoussaye
You can submit a claim for another person if you represent the person's estate, or you have power of attorney for the person making the claim. Get more information at FTC.gov/WU.
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 When will FTC start issuing by Yazz
The FTC is not sending checks. The US Department of Justice is managing the refund process.
It might take one year or longer to process and verify all the requests and determine who is eligible to get a payment. You can go to FTC.gov/WU for updates about the refunds process.
In reply to I was scammed in August 2017, by Emmy
The refunds related to the Western Union settlement with the FTC are for transactions that happened between January 1, 2004 and January 19, 2017.
If you sent money to a scammer outside those dates, you can report a scam to the FTC at FTC.gov/complaint. You can provide information about the company, what it promised, and what you received. The information you give goes into a database that law enforcement uses for investigations.
You can also report it to the Western Union Fraud Hotline at 800-448-1492.
In reply to I got the letter from Gilardi by sad grandma
Here is contact information for the refund administrator:
I was twice how can I get reimburse here's my email address
In reply to I was twice how can I get by Terri E
We don't post private email addresses on the blog.
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 read about the refund process. You can click a button at the top of the FTC.gov/WU page to connect to the claim-filing website.
In reply to I was contacted by western by Evazquez
Someone might be trying to trick you. The person who called might not really be from Western Union.
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 I filed a claim to the Dallas by Rickbizz
If you want to ask for money back, you have to file a new claim form connected to this settlement. You have to file the new claim form by May 31, 2018.
To start your claim, go to FTC.gov/WU. There are two buttons at the top of the FTC.gov/WU page. If no one sent you a claim form already, you can click on the orange button. Then click again, and you will be connected to the US Department of Justice claim filing website. The online claim form asks for information about the money you sent.
In reply to I made multiple transactions. by multiple trans…
Please go to FTC.gov/WU to connect to the U.S. Department of Justice claim filing website. Follow the directions on the DOJ website.
What if I am outside of the USA (Australia) Can I make a claim
In reply to What if I am outside of the by atoyle
You are not required to be a United States citizen or in the United States to file a claim. 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 May 31, 2018. Go to FTC.gov/WU to start the process.
In reply to I know you don’t have an by Michael
If your claim is verified, the amount you get will depend on how much you lost and the number of people who submit valid claims.
Only the amount you transferred via Western Union is eligible for a refund. Other expenses like Western Union fees, other losses, or transfers sent through other businesses are not eligible for a refund.
In reply to I was wondering when our by dualhvision
It may take up to a year to process and verify people’s claims and determine who is eligible to get a payment. We will publish more information when we have it.
In reply to Still waiting to hear from by Spike56
If you want to file a claim to ask for money back, you must file by May 31, 2018.
In reply to When will our money be sent by Yazz
It may take up to a year to process and verify people’s claims and determine who is eligible to get a payment. We will update this page when we have more information.
In reply to I just rediscovered my claim by Crowley
The deadline was extended to May 31, 2018. If you used Western Union to send money to a scammer between January 1, 2004 and January 19, 2017, you can file a claim to get your money back.
You have a fill out the paper claim form you have and send it back by postal mail, or go to FTC.gov/WU and click the blue button near the top of the page to connect to the online claim filing website.
In reply to I lost money during the dates by Scammed
Yes, you can still file a claim. The filing deadline was extended to May 31, 2018. Go to FTC.gov/WU to start the process.
In reply to Is there anyway to get an by kellygirl
You can request an update from the refund administrator. You may get an answer that your claim is "under review."
It may take up to a year to process and verify people’s claims and determine who is eligible to get a payment. The FTC will publish new information at FTC.gov/WU. You can visit that page periodically to check for updates too.
In reply to I am from the Philippines, am by Sheila
If you used Western Union to send money money to a scammer between January 1, 2004 and January 19, 2017, you can file a claim to get money back. You must file a claim by May 31, 2018.
Go to FTC.gov/WU to read more about the refund process. You can click the orange button near the top of the FTC.gov/WU page to connect to the claim filing website.
Yo no hablo inglés. Necesito saber si ya empezaron a reembolsar el dinero a las victimas de las estafas ??? No tengo idea de dónde puedo buscar información.
In reply to Yo no hablo inglés. by maiyolm
For help in Spanish, go to FTC.gov/es/WU.
hel;lo I have been victimized by the scammers using western union I would like to no will you be able to see all my transaction since 2008 if I lost my mtcn numbers could you please email me and let me no
In reply to hel;lo I have been victimized by benny a
We can't send you email. If you want to ask for a refund, you must file a claim. You must file the claim by May 31, 2018.
You can file a claim even if you don't have all the paperwork. You can file a claim online. Click on this: FTC.gov/WU. The FTC.gov/WU page tells more about refunds. To file online, click the orange button near the top of the FTC.gov/WU page. It connects to the website where you file a claim.
I do not think that the date of filing is by Feb. Of 2018 when a person who was scammed just found out about this suit against Western Union in April 2018
In reply to Not a comment, a question. I by rick
If you click the link on this page, it should open a form that you can print.
Or, you could submit a petition online at the Department of Justice online site.
In reply to what if you were paid from by isthisjustanot…
This settlement is for people who used Western Union to send money to someone for a scam between January 1, 2004 and January 19, 2017.
If you used Western Union to send money to someone for a scam between those dates, you can file a claim to get money back.
You can file a claim about the money you sent by May 31, 2018. Go to FTC.gov/WU to read more about the refund process. To file your claim, click the orange button near the top of the FTC.gov/WU page. It will connect you to the claim filing website.
I have sent in a claim and documentation I have never heard from anyone. Is there anyway to check if they received my documents?
In reply to I have sent in a claim and by Kelley C
You can contact the redress administrator. Use the information from the administrator's contact us page.
What if I don't have paper work or the exact amount?? and I was scammed twice in that period