Consumer Alert
New deadline for Western Union settlement requests
Did you lose money to a scammer who had you pay using Western Union between January 1, 2004 and January 19, 2017? If so, you can ask for money back from the FTC’s settlement with Western Union. And the deadline to file your claim was just extended to May 31, 2018.
Here’s the deal. Western Union agreed to return $586 million to people to settle the FTC’s charges that Western Union hadn’t adequately protected people from fraud, and didn’t properly discipline problem agents. To get money back, here’s what you need to do by May 31, 2018:
- Start at FTC.gov/WU to file your claim online. If you got a letter in the mail about a complaint you filed earlier, you’ll have a Claim ID and a PIN. Click the blue “I got a pre-filled claim form” button and use those to file your claim. If you didn’t get a letter in the mail, click the orange button that says “I lost money, but did not get a claim form.”
- Give as much information as you can about your loss. Upload any paperwork you have. The Department of Justice, which is handling the claims through their contractor, Gilardi & Co, will use that information to try to validate your Western Union money transfer.
- Yes, you have to give your Social Security number or ITIN to file a claim. Read why here.
- Don’t pay anybody to help you file your claim, or get money back. Anybody who asks you to pay for your claim or refund is scamming you. Tell the FTC.
- Then, be patient. It might take a year for the Department of Justice to validate all the claims and start returning money.
If you have questions, you might find answers here, and also check out the FAQs at FTC.gov/WU. Why not do it now? But you have until May 31, 2018. After that, you won’t be able to file your claim to get money back under this settlement with Western Union.
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In reply to My Parents were scammed and by Chris
You can contact the refund administrator. The contact information is on this page. And save a link to FTC.gov/WU. We have useful information for claimants, and we'll update the page when there is news.
In reply to I did receive a letter and by dmci
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 the information at FTC.gov/WU when we have more information.
In reply to Why does the deadline keep by boymomx3
The deadine was extended to allow people who used Western Union to send money to a scammer to file a claim.
In reply to My mother lost over $200,000 by Rick B
If your mother used Western Union to send money to a scammer between January 1, 2004 and January 19, 2017 you can file a claim for a her if you represent her estate. You need to provide documents that support your role. Be sure to provide the claimant’s Social Security number or ITIN with the claim. The deadline to file a claim is May 31, 2018. Go to FTC.gov/WU for details about the claim filing process and to start filing your claim online.
In reply to How can I verify they have by dociledave
You can contact the refund administrator to ask about your claim. The contact information is on this page. And save a link to FTC.gov/WU. We have useful information for claimants, and we'll update the page when there is news.
In reply to Will we find out the amount by Daschmidt
The claims are reviewed as they come in. After all the claims are reviewed, the US Department of Justice will make decisions to approve or deny claims. Then it will work through an appeal process for the claims that were denied. Payments won't begin until the appeal process for the claims that were denied is concluded.
In reply to The claims are reviewed as by FTC Staff
Hello. I did file a claim, but had no way of sending the receipt I was able to recover from the WU site. Do I need to include this receipt with my claim? If so, where should I send it. Thank you for your assistance.
In reply to Hello. by Harold
You could ask the refund administrator about that. Call 844-319-2124, or email info@WesternUnionRemission.com
In reply to I don't remember the exact by royal
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 can file a claim even if you don’t have paperwork related to the money transfer. You may still be eligible for a payment. Go to FTC.gov/WU for more information. You can click the orange button near the top of the FTC.gov/WU page to connect to the claim filing website. You must file a claim by May 31, 2018.
The date on my complaint for 400.00$ is wrong . It happened around June, July ,August or September. Of 2017. Thank you
In reply to The date on my complaint for by James S
You are not eligible to ask for a refund from the Western Union settlement for money you sent after January 19, 2017.
You can report that to the FTC at FTC.gov/Complaint and to the Western Union Fraud Hotline at 800-448-1492.
In reply to I'm an Italian, frauded by tommyredz91
You could contact the refund administrator that works for the US Department of Justice. The contact information is on this page.
In reply to I already did the claim and by 24stevensd
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 the FTC.gov/WU page when we have more information
In reply to I received the paperwork by pschooler
The FTC and US Department of Justice did not tell people they would get money in April 2018. The FTC and US Department of Justice did not send paperwork to people nine months ago.
If someone said you would get money in April 2018, it was not the FTC or US Department of Justice. If someone sent you paperwork nine months ago, it was not the FTC or US Department of Justice.
If you filed a claim on the US Department of Justice website,
the US Department of Justice will review your claim. It could take up to one year for the Department of Justice to review all the claims and determine who is eligible for a refund. We will put news about refunds on the FTC.gov/WU page.
In reply to I received the paperwork by pschooler
In reply to bridget, by wow!
I am going to answer your question in two parts. First: yes, it is helpful to give details about the money you sent to a scammer when you file a claim. It's helpful that you included the MTCN when you filed a claim.
Second: Sending the MTCN might help your claim to qualify, but it does not guarantee your claim will qualify. Other decisions and facts effect whether a claim qualifies. The Department of Justice must verify every person's claim. Claims must be related to money sent to a scammer between January 1, 2004 and January 19, 2017. Read more about the claim process on FTC.gov/WU.
In reply to bridget, by wow!
The FTC encourages people to submit claims if they used Western Union to send money to a scammer, even if they don’t have all of the paperwork. They may still be eligible for payments.
Each person’s claim must be verified by the US Department of Justice. If your claim is verified, the amount you receive will depend on how much you lost and the number of people who submit valid claims.
In reply to Is there a way the Western by femartinez
The deadline to file a claim is May 31, 2018.
You may file a claim, even if you don’t have the paperwork related to your money transfer. You may still be eligible for a payment. Read more about the claim process at FTC.gov/WU.
In reply to What do I do if I was scammed by MsMaggie
You can report the scams to the FTC at FTC.gov/Complaint and to the Western Union Fraud Hotline at 800-448-1492. The information you give will go into a secure database that law enforcement uses for investigations. If the scammer contacted you through a website, for example a product sales website, you can report the problem to that site too.
In reply to What if you still have the by Tea
This refund program is only for people who used Western Union to send money to a scammer. You can report other problems related to wire transfers 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 product sales or social media website, you can report the problem to that site.
In reply to How about if it’s not western by Coco
This refund program is only for people who used Western Union to send money to a scammer. You can report other losses related to wire transfers to the FTC at FTC.gov/Complaint and to the wire transfer company you used. If the scammer contacted you through a website, for example a product sales or social media website, you can report the problem to that site.
In reply to How soon after the claim is by ep5246
The refund administrator, Gilardi & Co., is working to verify claims now. This process could take up to a year. When the verification process is complete, we will post an update at FTC.gov/WU.
In reply to Despite the fact that I by sahrtsn
The refund administrator did not mail checks yet. The refund administrator is reviewing the claims that people submitted. It could take one year to review the claims. The FTC will post news at FTC.gov/WU when the review is finished.
We were told we won a sweepstakes to receive it we were told to send money to Jamacia. We were scammed over $350,000.00 dollars. In November 2017 we returned all forms to recieve money back on the scam. and also money that was never picked up. Have never heard from this again please notify us and let us know what is the hold up on the $3,000.00 we were suppose to get back.
In reply to We were told we won a by sheri/tommy
The claim forms you sent in must be verified by the US Department of Justice. If your claim is verified, the amount you receive will depend on how much you lost and the number of people who submit valid claims.
It may take up to a year to process and verify all the claims and determine who is eligible to get a payment.
You can contact the refund administrator to ask about your claim. The contact information is on this page. And save a link to FTC.gov/WU. We have useful information about the process and will update the page when there is news.
In reply to I received a letter regarding by Jrn
It may take one year or more for the US Department of Justice to review, process and verify peoples’ claims and determine who is eligible to receive a payment. Save a link to FTC.gov/WU. We have useful information about the process and will update the page when there is news.