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 I was scammed in 2005! I by Becky
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.
In reply to I just found out today about by Ralph
The last day to apply for a refund was May 31, 2018. We are not accepting any new claims.
In reply to I a victim of daiting online by Helen
The deadline to apply for a refund for money you sent to a scammer using Western Union was May 31, 2018. We are not accepting any new claims. The FTC does not have a refund program about ria Walmart to Walmart.
In reply to I know a group of people who by thorton
The deadline to apply for a refund was May 31, 2018. We are not accepting any new claims.
In reply to This is really nice. Only by stewart7000
The deadline to file a claim was May 31, 2018. People were not required to be a US citizen, or be in the US, to file a claim before the deadline, if they used Western Union to send money to a scammer between January 1, 2004 and January 19, 2017. The questions and answers on the redress administrators website explain this.
In reply to Hello I sent all documents by MikeM
To ask about your claim, contact Gilardi & Co, the company that is managing the refund process for the US Department of Justice, at 844-319-2124 or info@WesternUnionRemission.com.
In reply to What if I have moved or my by Mary
You can call the company that is managing the refund process for the US Department of Justice at 1-844-319-2124. Get more information at www.FTC.gov/WU.
In reply to Is there any new info on this by Jcozzman
In reply to I sent my info in the first by staceyv
Get updates at FTC.gov/WU and Gilardi & Co.
People sent in more than 180,000 Western Union refund claims. Gilardi & Co., the company the US Department of Justice hired to manage the refund process, is reviewing and evaluating all the claims to determine eligibility.
If information is missing from your claim, Gilardi & Co may contact you by mail to explain what is missing and to ask for more information. After Gilardi & Co. finishes the review, it will give recommendations to the US Department of Justice about final decisions. No payments will be made until all claims are reviewed.
In reply to Anyone get a check yet? Heard by Roxymom26
People sent in more than 180,000 refund claims. Gilardi & Co, the company the US Department of Justice hired to manage the refund process, is reviewing and evaluating all the claims to determine eligibility. If information is missing from your claim, Gilardi & Co. may contact you by mail to ask for more information. After Gilardi & Co. reviews the claims, it will send recommendations to the US Department of Justice for final decisions. No payments will happen until after all the claims are reviewed. Check FTC.gov/WU or WesternUnionRemission.com for updates.
In reply to How much longer?? It’s been by staceyv
For the most recent updates, go to www.FTC.gov/WU and www.WesternUnionRemission.com.
In reply to How much longer?? It’s been by staceyv
In reply to I actually just called the by Cdreamer
The deadline for filing a claim was May 31, 2018.
Gilardi & Co. recently sent letters to some people who filed claims, because their claims were missing information. Gilardi & Co. sent 38,000 letters on March 29, 2019; people must respond to those letters by June 30, 2019. For more information go to www.FTC.gov/WU and www.WesternUnionRemission.com.
In reply to I applied with my letter and by kay38lea
Get information about the status of refunds at www.FTC.gov/WU.
In reply to How do you find out the by Sonyab89
You can contact the Gilardi & Co., the company that the US Department of Justice hired to manage the refund process. Go to www.WesternUnionRemission.com for Gilardi & Co. contact information.
The FTC posts updates and information about the Western Union refunds at www.FTC.gov/WU.
In reply to I filled out with and mailed by Azguy
Did you file a claim through the FTC and US Department of Justice? The deadline to file claims through those agencies was May 31, 2018.
The US Department of Justice hired Gilardi & Co. to manage the refund process. Gilardi & Co. is still reviewing claims. Stay informed about the refund process by going to www.FTC.gov/WU and www.WesternUnionRemission.com.
In reply to Will the payment come from by Baby girl87
The US Department of Justice hired Gilardi & Co. to manage the refund process. I don't know who the refund payments might come from. Read about the refund process at www.FTC.gov/WU and www.WesternUnionRemission.com.
In reply to HA--Think we are all being by K-POP
If you think you submitted a bogus form to someone that was not part of the official refund process, please report that to the FTC at www.FTC.gov/Complaint.
If you submitted a claim through the official refund process, and want more information and updates, go to www.FTC.gov/WU or www.WesternUnionRemission.com.
In reply to I was scammed in in 2016.. by Lania2810
You can't make claims now. The deadline to make a claim was in 2018.
In reply to I sent in the required forms by Olliesnana
The company hired to handle the refunds - Gilardi & Co. - has not sent out decisions about who is eligible. The FTC's information page about refunds is www.FTC.gov/WU. Gilardi & Co. has information at www.WesternUnionRemission.com. You can check those pages for updates.