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Refund checks worth about $153 million are going out to over 109,000 people who sent money to scammers through Western Union wire transfers. The $153 million is a portion of the money Western Union paid when it reached settlements with the FTC and Department of Justice and agreed to create a strong, anti-fraud program. Western Union also admitted to criminal violations in its settlement with the Department of Justice.

The first refunds are going to people who signed and returned a pre-filled claim form and agreed with the dollar amount stated on the form. The refund administrator, Gilardi & Co., is verifying claims that need additional information. Other people who filed claims will get refunds later this year.

The refund checks will come from “United States v. The Western Union Company.” If you’re in the US, you have to cash or deposit the check within 90 days. If you got a check but don’t agree with the amount, you can cash the check and contact Gilardi & Co. For more information about refunds, contact Gilardi & Co. at 844-319-2124 and go to WesternUnionRemission.com. Learn more from the FTC at Western Union Refunds.

 

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Kim B
March 10, 2020
Will there be a way to verify the validity of the checks presented for cashing?
FTC Staff
March 10, 2020

In reply to by Kim B

Are you asking how a bank can verify the validity of a check that is presented? The checks are issued by United States v. The Western Union Company. If you have a question about a check, please call the refund administrator at 1-844-319-2124. 

PYpumpkin
March 26, 2020

In reply to by FTC Staff

My check came from the US Treasury. Is that correct? No where on the check is the Western Union Remission referenced.
FTC Staff
March 30, 2020

In reply to by PYpumpkin

The refund checks that we announced in this blog post say United States v. The Western Union Company on the check, and they come with a letter that explains why you're getting the check.

They don't say US Treasury. 

Yanzie
March 10, 2020
Can I still refund my money? I had sent money last nov 2019 to scammer
FTC Staff
March 10, 2020

In reply to by Yanzie

No, the deadline has passed to ask for a refund from this program.

But you can still report the problem. If you lost money to Western Union, call the Western Union Fraud Hotline at 800-448-1492. If you used MoneyGram, call the Customer Care Center at 1‑800‑926‑9400.

And also report to the FTC at www.FTC.gov/Complaint. 

Jeb
March 10, 2020
I was scammed out of all my savings. Some by Western Union and some by Money Gram. Will any of that be returned to me? I am elderly and physically handicapped to a degree. How do you determine who gets refunded?
FTC Staff
March 10, 2020

In reply to by Jeb

Did you get a form from Gilardi & Co. that showed how much you sent through Western Union? Gilardi & Co. is the refund administrator that handles Western Union refunds for the US Department of Justice.

People who signed and returned those forms are getting refunds now. 

Don't orlandoj…
March 15, 2021

In reply to by FTC Staff

I misplaced my letter that stated on the back how much money I am refunded. How do I go about getting a duplicate???
Ms.Muggi
March 10, 2020
Grate Job By you FTC
marina52
March 10, 2020
yes i'm sorry to inform you but that was the same for i think for 2 years the same as you write now and i sent my documents by registered letter and i got no answer, not even a cancellation. I lost € 17,000 at the time so it will not be paid back. sorry
FTC Staff
March 10, 2020

In reply to by marina52

The refund administrator is still reviewing some claims.

Some people will get refunds now, and some people will get refunds later this year. You call the administrator at 1-844-319-2124 if you have a question about the documents you sent.

JAG
May 19, 2020

In reply to by Caligirl350

Keep trying. It's likely this COVOID-19 fiasco that has limited their ability to answer all calls. I did speak to a live person last August.
Ssj
June 04, 2020

In reply to by JAG

The administrator Gilardi verbalized that it is the DOJ causing the delay in issuing the remission checks. Stating that DOJ is reviewing the claims, but the volume is so great that it is taking time. I get this, but 3 years ?.?
Refund
August 27, 2020

In reply to by JAG

I talk to someone today and I was told there was a batch that went out last Friday but they were for the people that already received their check but had issues with them. Wow they were fast on that fix. What happen to the rest of us. Something isn't right.
Alglona
May 09, 2021

In reply to by FTC Staff

I was told my check was mailed last yesr never received it. They supposedly reissued in April never received it and they wont respond to my email about it and Ive been hungup on twice when calling after they took down my information. I that that's a scam in itself. Check still shows uncashed but they refusr to send trackable so now who do I report to??
Margit Katharina
March 10, 2020
Wondful news, will the people outside US also get the Check the next Weeks. I am from Germany
FTC Staff
March 10, 2020

In reply to by Margit Katharina

Yes: The first refunds are going to people inside the US and outside the US,  if they signed and returned a pre-filled claim form and agreed with the dollar amount stated on the form.  

The refund administrator, Gilardi & Co., continues to verify claims that need additional information. Other people who filed claims will get refunds later this year.

Margit-Katharina
March 11, 2020

In reply to by FTC Staff

Yes i got a mail some month ago how much i will get back
Chevygurl1
April 01, 2020

In reply to by FTC Staff

I signed & returned my pre-filled claim form & agreed with the dollar amount and I still haven't received my refund.
Donna
September 02, 2020

In reply to by FTC Staff

So when is later this year? It is already September?!
Hagen
October 14, 2020

In reply to by Donna

Hi! just got my letter today. I am from Germany aswell. Using Checks in Germany is not popular anymore and most banks deny these. So hopefully any kind of bank transfer will work aswell. Requested for.
Nandha
October 17, 2020

In reply to by Hagen

HI, Today I got a Letter along with a check from the Western Union Company. In the Meantime time issued bank is US. I am living in Germany. It's very difficult to claim this check in/from Germany, So requesting you giving me a solution another way to claim the check or Any kind of Bank transfer it will be workout.
Joanna
March 10, 2020
One good news, I need money now.
Judy
March 10, 2020
When was this published so you could get in on lawsuit?? Never heard a word about it and I lost over $9000, to 2 different scammers.
Don'tUseEmailAddress
March 10, 2020
I was scammed and they said it was barely too late. This is unfair. Never use WU!
Ellen Finlan
March 12, 2020
I was scammed all of my inheritance , a fraction from Western Union was mid-used . I understand I missed the deadline to apply for a refund but I am hoping I can still apply and that there will be some left for me!! Thank you so much . Ellen Finlan
KAS
March 10, 2020
How did some people get prefilled claims. Also when I filled out the original form it told us to list all things. I lost over 9000, but that was back in 2010, and I didn't have all the receipts for all that, so they told me I could only get the money back for the receipts I specifically had which was about 4500. Don't they have records of any of that? It's just I'm only getting about half of it back and thank goodness I had those scanned on an email, or i wouldn't have had proof of any. The rest of the receipts I gave the person the number over the phone so there was no email record of it.
KAS
March 10, 2020

In reply to by KAS

I did have emails that showed that they had asked for it or had received it, but I didn't have the numbers to prove it, so they told me all those didn't count. I could only get refunded on what I had actual receipts for.
medprofessor
March 10, 2020
I qualify, but never received the form. How come?
FTC Staff
March 10, 2020

In reply to by medprofessor

For more information about refunds, contact Gilardi & Co. at 844-319-2124.

Nirbhaysingh15108
March 10, 2020
Thank you
JustJoey18
March 10, 2020
I have had to move a lot since my husband's passing. I never got a letter. I lost a ton of money in 2 scams - one involving Jamaica and one involving Ghana. Is there any chance for me to retrieve any of it? We are talking in the realm of $25,000 total.
FTC Staff
March 10, 2020

In reply to by JustJoey18

Did you file a claim with Gilardi & Co. before May 31, 2018? The refunds we're writing about in this blog are going to people who filed claims and are already involved in the refund process. If you filed a claim and are involved in the refund process, you can call the refund administrator at 1-844-319-2124 to ask about your claim.

Velmapalomino
March 10, 2020
Wat about walmart to Walmart
FTC Staff
March 10, 2020

In reply to by Velmapalomino

Walmart to Walmart transactions are not related to these refunds.

New kid
March 10, 2020
The people should thank GOD for the work that you do and I do and Thankyou too
Plum
March 10, 2020
I never received any notification of this going on in the first place. I had reported the necessary information where I was directed back in 2013. How does one get missed for this. I think I even saved all my Western Union receipts
Lindy7
March 10, 2020
My mother lost over $250,000 to a scammer. Much of the money she sent to him was through Western Union and MoneyGram. (Then later green dot cards). The money was sent to the scammer from about 2009-2014. By the time she died in 2018 she was penniless (having given every penny she had to the scammer) and on Medicaid. I wish I had known about this reimbursement program then.
L DarbeDon't u…
March 10, 2020
Thank you for letting us know. I was wondering about it.
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