Earlier this year there was a $586 million settlement with Western Union – where the company will return money to people who were tricked into wiring money to scammers using Western Union. Those refunds are part of a global settlement with the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice (DOJ), and partners at DOJ are handling the refunds.
Here’s an update on the Western Union refund process so far:
- DOJ will run the refunds process, and the process has not started. In fact, Western Union still has more time to pay all of the $586 million.
- Once DOJ has all of the money – later this year – they’ll open up the process for people to make claims. They call it a “Petition for Remission” process.
- If you sent money via Western Union between January 1, 2004 and January 19, 2017, and lost it to a scammer, you might be eligible for a refund.
- DOJ will have to verify all the claims it gets before it can send out refunds. That might take at least a year.
- All eligible claimants will get some money back, but how much depends on how much you lost, how many people ask for a refund, and how big the total losses are.
What you can do now:
- If you still have it, keep your paperwork, including money transfer receipts and materials relating to the scam, in case you need it to file your claim.
- Don’t pay anyone who promises to get you a Western Union refund in return for money. Neither the FTC nor DOJ will ever do that.
- Check out the FTC’s or DOJ’s Frequently Asked Questions to learn more.
- Sign up for email updates about Western Union refunds.