For several years now, Western Union has been making refunds to customers who used its service between 2004 and 2017 to send money to scammers. It’s part of a $586 million legal settlement with the federal government.
A lot of people who are owed money have not yet filed claims, and the deadline to do that is Wednesday, Aug. 31. 2022.
Todd Kossow, director of the Federal Trade Commission office in Chicago, the office that handled this case, explains why the FTC sued Western Union.
“We alleged in our case against Western Union in 2017 that they did not have an effective anti-fraud program, that they basically knew that fraudsters were using their money transfer system to get money from their victims, and they didn’t do enough to stop it,” Kossow told me.
If you or someone you know sent money to a scammer via Western Union between Jan. 1, 2004, and Jan. 19, 2017, and have not filed a claim, go to westernunionremissionphase2.com to find out what you need to do.
The form must be completed online or postmarked on or before August 31, 2022.
Remember: Anyone who insists you wire them money – to claim a prize, settle a debt, get a loan, or help a loved one who’s supposedly in trouble – that’s a red flag that you’re dealing with a scammer.
More Info:
Scam Victims Have Until Aug. 31 to Claim Western Union Refunds; FTC Accuses Walmart of Similarly Enabling Crooks (This story includes an audio interview with the FTC’s Todd Kossow about the Western Union case, and a similar case, filed against Walmart in June.)
If you get a call, text, email, or social media message and don’t know what to do, call the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline at 877-908-3360 before you provide an unknown caller with information or money. You do not need to be an AARP member to use this free service.
