Consumer Alert
New alert for Western Union refunds
Did you lose money to a scam, wiring the money via Western Union between January 1, 2004 and January 19, 2017? If so, you might know that May 31 is the deadline for filing your claim to get money back from the FTC’s and the Department of Justice’s settlement with Western Union. With the deadline fast approaching, we know two things: (1) there will probably be a rush of last-minute filers; and (2) scammers will try to take advantage of the people filing claims.
We’re sure about those scammers because we’ve already seen them (and told you about them). And we’re still seeing scams that offer to get you special access, so-called easier ways to file, and promises of big amounts of money. This includes one recent email that said it came from the FBI, promised a refund of more than $500,000 – and said you could claim it just by emailing a Gmail address.
So, as the days click down until the May 31 deadline for filing, remember: if anyone promises you a refund – or says they’re the only way to get one, that’s a scam. If anybody tries to charge you to get your money back, that’s also a scam. If you’re still planning to submit a claim, here are a few quick pointers:
- Start your claim at FTC.gov/WU. You don’t need to email anybody or hire a lawyer. Just start here, put in as much information as you have, upload whatever documents you have, and submit.
- It’s free to file your claim. Don’t pay anybody to get a refund. Ever.
- There are no guarantees. Nobody can promise you a refund at all, much less a specific amount of money. There’s a whole process that will happen once all the claims are in – to validate them, and then divide up the money among all the people who qualified.
- There are no short-cuts. That validation process? It’ll take a while. There’s no short-cut or special access. It might take a year to get your money back, but nobody can help you get it any faster.
If you spot anybody making any of those promises, or charging for a refund, the FTC wants to know about it.
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In reply to I had a lot to file and took by suzie 15
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 applied in November 2017 by Susan
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 information about the refund process, and will update the page when there is news.
In reply to Ok you said it can take up to by Choc Jr
You can contact the US Department of Justice's refund administrator to ask about the refund process. 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.
Hello, I did not fill in my new banknumber in the claim. The banknumber that I used to transfer money isn't working anymore. How will the money be reimbursed? Will I receive a new e-mail asking for a banknumber? Thanks!
In reply to Hello, by AC
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 If we already have a claim by youngscammed
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 lost $40,000.00 to this ' by Agnes2
You can report that 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 report it to the Western Union Fraud Hotline at 800-448-1492.
I got scamed recently through western union. What should I do? Who should I report to?
In reply to I got scamed recently through by Scamed
You can report this 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 Western Union Fraud Hotline at 800-448-1492.
Bridget Small, There was no check for fraud by Western Union for my friend's 2 stolen online wired-money order transactions, and this happened after the Western Union January 17, 2017 Court Case. When we emailed them a few times asking if he can get his money back, since it says on the Court Case that if "The Company failed to comply with its anti-fraud procedure in connection with the transaction, then you are supposed to get your money back. Western Union was supposed to block any transfer sent to any person who is subject to a fraud report. If Western Union would have done a check for fraud, which is required, they would have found that the Shipping Company shows up a fraud/fake website, and that the Company name is a fraud/fake. They kept telling us in emails, that they are not an escrow service, and do read about Remissions, but he can not do that since it happened after the cut-off date. Bridget, can you tell him how he can try to get his stolen money back from Western Union, since there was no check for fraud at the time of the 2 stolen transactions? This happened after the Court Case for Western Union in 2017, and he can not do Remissions.
In reply to When is going to be an update by Don't use your…
It may take up to a year to process and verify people’s claims and determine who is eligible to get a payment. For information about the refund process you can:
In reply to I filed in January and have a by Johanne
To make a change of address, you can contact the company that is managing the refund process. The company is Gilardi & Co.
In reply to Hello, by farokhfaraz2
You can contact the company that the US Department of Justice hired to manage the refund process. The company is Gilardi & Co.
Read more at www.FTC.gov/WU.
In reply to When do me start getting by Rhonda Works
No checks have been mailed as of March 25, 2019.
You can stay informed by reading information at www.FTC.gov/WU and Gilardi & Co. Gilardi & Co. is the company the US Department of Justice hired to manage the refunds.
Gilardi & Co. is working to verify the claims that people send in. More than 180,000 petitions were submitted. When Gilardi & Co. finds a claim that needs more information, they contact the person by mail and ask them to explain the lack of information and ask for more information.
It could take up to one year to review and verify all the peititions. Gilardi & Co will not make any final decisions or send any payments until they review all the claims.
The FTC will keep updating the information at www.FTC.gov.WU.
In reply to CAN ANYONE Update us and the by TRUMP IS YOUR …
Gilardi & Co. is working to verify the claims that people send in. More than 180,000 petitions were submitted. When Gilardi & Co. finds a claim that needs more information, they contact the person by mail and ask them to explain the lack of information and ask for more information.
It could take up to one year to review and verify all the peititions. Gilardi & Co will not make any final decisions or send any payments until they review all the claims.
You can stay informed by reading information at www.FTC.gov/WU and Gilardi & Co. Gilardi & Co. is the company the US Department of Justice hired to manage the refunds.
In reply to The deadline was May 31, 2018 by JP
The claim deadline was not extended. Did you get mail from the claim administrator asking for more information about your claim?
The company (Gilardi & Co.) that is in charge of the refund process is reviewing and evaluating all claims. More than 180,000 claims were sent in. If a claim is lacking information, Gilardi & Co may send mail to a person to explain the lack and ask for more information.
You can stay informed by going to www.FTC.gov/WU or Gilardi & Co.
In reply to Have any checks been mailed? by Patty
No checks have been mailed as of March 25, 2019.
You can stay informed by reading information at www.FTC.gov/WU and Gilardi & Co. Gilardi & Co. is the company the US Department of Justice hired to manage the refunds.
Gilardi & Co. is working to verify the claims that people send in. More than 180,000 petitions were submitted. When Gilardi & Co. finds a claim that needs more information, they contact the person by mail and ask them to explain the lack of information and ask for more information.
It could take up to one year to review and verify all the peititions. Gilardi & Co will not make any final decisions or send any payments until they review all the claims.
The FTC will keep updating the information at www.FTC.gov.WU.
In reply to Have any checks been mailed? by Patty
No checks have been mailed as of March 25, 2019.
You can stay informed by reading information at www.FTC.gov/WU and Gilardi & Co. Gilardi & Co. is the company the US Department of Justice hired to manage the refunds.
Gilardi & Co. is working to verify the claims that people send in. More than 180,000 petitions were submitted. When Gilardi & Co. finds a claim that needs more information, they contact the person by mail and ask them to explain the lack of information and ask for more information.
It could take up to one year to review and verify all the peititions. Gilardi & Co will not make any final decisions or send any payments until they review all the claims.
The FTC will keep updating the information at www.FTC.gov.WU.
In reply to How do I report an address by Bigred18
You can contact the company that the US Department of Justice hired to manage the refund process. The company is Gilardi & Co.
Read more about the refund process at www.FTC.gov/WU.
In reply to Its 2019 where my refund by Karlawest13
No checks have been mailed as of March 25, 2019.
You can stay informed by reading information at www.FTC.gov/WU and Gilardi & Co. Gilardi & Co. is the company the US Department of Justice hired to manage the refunds.
Gilardi & Co. is working to verify the claims that people send in. More than 180,000 petitions were submitted. When Gilardi & Co. finds a claim that needs more information, they contact the person by mail and ask them to explain the lack of information and ask for more information.
It could take up to one year to review and verify all the peititions. Gilardi & Co will not make any final decisions or send any payments until they review all the claims.
The FTC will keep updating the information at www.FTC.gov.WU.