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Since we told you it’s time to ask for your money back from Western Union’s settlement with the FTC, we’ve gotten some questions about who can make a claim, when, and how it works. Here are some answers.

  • If you lost money to a scammer who had you pay using Western Union between January 1, 2004 and January 19, 2017, you can file a claim. You have until February 12, 2018, to file your claim.
  • You do not have to pay to get your money back. To file a claim, you have to give your Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) on the claim form. But nobody will call you to ask for those numbers, or for your bank account or credit card number. Anyone who does is a scammer, so tell the FTC right away.
  • If you don’t have either a Social Security number or an ITIN, check the box that says so. When asked for a reason, you can explain that you’re not a U.S. citizen – or whatever other explanation applies.
  • The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is managing the claims process through the company they hired, Gilardi & Co. Your claim will go to Gilardi, but we suggest you start at FTC.gov/WU, which will link you to the claims website.
  • If you had reported your loss to Western Union, the FTC, or another government agency earlier, you might have gotten a pre-filled claim form in the mail. But even if you didn’t, you can still file a claim.
  • To prove how much you lost, it helps to have documentation – like a receipt or transfer send form. If you don’t have those, file anyway. Give as much information as you can about your wire transfer and the money you lost, including when and why you sent it. That will help DOJ validate your claim.
  • We know it’s not that safe to send your Social Security number through the mail to someone you’ve never heard of. That’s why we suggest filing your claim online, starting at FTC.gov/WU. But if you got a claim form in the mail from Gilardi and you want to return it by mail, the only address to send it to is: United States v. The Western Union Company, PO Box 404027, Louisville, KY 40233-4027.
  • If you have power of attorney for someone, or you represent their estate, you can file a claim on their behalf.
  • How much money you get back depends on how many people file a claim, and how many claims DOJ can validate.
  • It might take a year for DOJ to process all the claims and send out checks.

 

Check FTC.gov/WU for updates and answers to other questions.

 

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The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. We review all comments before they are posted, and we won’t post comments that don’t comply with our commenting policy. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect.

  • We won’t post off-topic comments, repeated identical comments, or comments that include sales pitches or promotions.
  • We won’t post comments that include vulgar messages, personal attacks by name, or offensive terms that target specific people or groups.
  • We won’t post threats, defamatory statements, or suggestions or encouragement of illegal activity.
  • We won’t post comments that include personal information, like Social Security numbers, account numbers, home addresses, and email addresses. To file a detailed report about a scam, go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

We don't edit comments to remove objectionable content, so please ensure that your comment contains none of the above. The comments posted on this blog become part of the public domain. To protect your privacy and the privacy of other people, please do not include personal information. Opinions in comments that appear in this blog belong to the individuals who expressed them. They do not belong to or represent views of the Federal Trade Commission.

FTC Staff
May 02, 2018

In reply to by Sunshine

If you sent multiple money transfers related to a scam, you can file claims for all the money transfers that occurred between January 1, 2004 and January 19, 2017. You can file a claim even if you don’t have paperwork related to your money transfer. You may still be eligible for a payment. You must submit a claim by May 31, 2018. Go to FTC.gov/WU to start the process.

suzie 15
May 10, 2018
i have sent in my information for a refund and had to do it several times as there was many.will there be one check or one for each time I entered
FTC Staff
May 17, 2018

In reply to by suzie 15

The US Department of Justice is handling the refund process. You could contact the refund administrator to ask about that. The contact information is on this page.

Raichelle
May 15, 2018
When does the clock start to receive a settlement from the DOJ? It states that it can take up to a year for the DOJ to send out checks, but does that year start once you complete the petition, once your petition is verified and if so, how do you know when your petition is verified? Or does it start after May 31st or if there is another extension for the petitions to be filed?
FTC Staff
May 17, 2018

In reply to by Raichelle

I don't know if I can answer your question precisely, but here is more information about the process: People started filing claims around November 13, 2017. The deadline to file a claim is May 31, 2018. Claims are reviewed as they come in. 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. The amount you receive will depend on how much you lost, and how many other people submitted verified claims.

Jill J
May 27, 2018
I have over 50 of these claims to file. May I submit them 10 at at time since it's a lot of work to submit all 50 at once? I will include my social security number and mailing address on each petition with the 10 claims.
FTC Staff
May 29, 2018

In reply to by Jill J

The deadline to file a claim is this Thursday, May 31, 2018. Do not make your own petition.

Use the paper claim form that's available at FTC.gov/WU, or file a claim online.

To file online, go to FTC.gov/WU. Click the orange button that's near the top of the page. It will connect you to the US Department of Justice of website where you can file online.

Shunda
May 29, 2018
How do I check the status of my claim with a real live person? I submitted a claim October 2017 can I get number to check my status update?
FTC Staff
May 30, 2018

In reply to by Shunda

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 for claimants, and we'll update the page when there is news.

Altima05
June 14, 2018
OK I filed last year & haven't heard anything yet.
nana5
June 26, 2018
I just heard about their might be a way to file a claim for money I stupidly sent someone I believed me and wanted to come to home to see me. Is there a chance a can still file. I lost 1500.00.
blinda
June 29, 2018
i got my forms off the internet and mailed in.. how do i know if they have been received.. etc.and a claim filed...
FTC Staff
July 02, 2018

In reply to by blinda

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.

Previous Scammer 11
September 15, 2018
Have the claim process started yet?
Diandra Green
October 11, 2018
See this right here is some bull because I can't for the life of me understand that what does these people scamming us out of our hard earned money have anything to do with you guys checking to see if we owe anything to the government? So basically it's like saying "People if you owe child support", "if you've got any student loans", "if you owe taxes" " if you taken any form of a loan from a federal bank" " if you've been on any form of assistance" you need not apply because we'll be taking your money thanks anyways! So pretty much we've been taken advantage of by the people who has scammed us and in the end we'll be taken advantage of by our beautiful government double jeopardy. And that's sad because regardless of the situation at hand , someone committed fraud against us we are all victims here and to fight for us in court only to take it away from us once again is wrong on so many levels. We live in a cold world , our government needs to understand that these people taking our money from us the way that they have done was wrong we we're stollen from and we didn't and don't deserve to be taken advantage the way that we we're. And if there is anyone else that may owe or beautiful government any form of money and haven't been able to pay your student loans,your child support,and etc.back in full to our beautiful government , to our government I say in most cases you weren't paid back not because we didn't want to but because that thing called life interfered ok. You guys do more taking from us then you do giving and that's why we can't afford our bills . I was scammed out of my last 200.00 not including what I spent to send the 200.00 to this women . And when I got the feeling hold up call her back and make sure this women is still going to send you your item and she didn't and wouldn't answer her phone . Now I'm a strong woman ok but I broke I called this women begging and crying leaving all kinds of messages of course she didn't care . I am a single mother of 3 boy's I am all about family so when I seen and opportunity to put a smile on my mother's face for the holidays 200.00 was kind of worth that to me even though it was my last . I trusted this women and she betrayed me in the worst way. She left me with nothing literally and I was to blame because I'd allowed her to do so . I say allow because people can only wrong you in this way if you let them. If I hadn't sent her my money then I wouldn't have been able to be hurt by her. I gave my power away to that women. But for our government to take from us is just as heartbreaking as what they've done to us. Life and situations,and struggling to just survive in this crul world that we live in that's what has gotten in the way of us being able to pay our government back sad to say but so true. But we did not steal from you like these people have done to us and that's exactly how it will feel when everything is said and done. You don't know what situation we may or may not be in , what we've lost or haven't lost because of these people and what it is or what it would mean to some of us being able to receive our money back that was taken from us, heck getting this money back could make the difference between someone being able to pay they rent or being homeless ,buying food for they family or going hungry and the list goes on and on so maybe you should think about that when your taking our money from me and the God only knows how many others like me who will also me affected once the soil settles . I've accepted my outcome I just wished I was never contacted in the first place it's like your giving false hope already knowing the outcome once everything is said and done. Maybe y'all should have said hey if you don't owe us any money apply but if you do then please don't waste your time because in the end it'll be mines. Truth.
tiger95
November 28, 2018
its been a year, i received nothing. will i still get my money back?
FTC Staff
November 28, 2018

In reply to by tiger95

The deadline to file claims was May 31, 2018.

Now, the US Department of Justice must review the claims that people filed. It might take one year or longer to review the claims and determine who is eligible to get a payment. We will put information at www.FTC.gov/WU when we have news about the refunds.

miso
January 30, 2019
Hello i am from Serbia and I fill this applicatin for money return 08.12.2017.can you please tell when I will recive any answer about my lost money.Is there any chance that someone repay me my money.Thanks
FTC Staff
April 12, 2019

In reply to by miso

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.

Melvin Dyson
February 08, 2019
I filed my claim proper to February 12, 2018, I understand that those representing us have received there pay, just wondering when we the people will receive ours...with all due respect sir!
FTC Staff
June 19, 2019

In reply to by Melvin Dyson

Gilardi & Co., the company hired by the US Department of Justice to manage the refund process, is still reviewing claims.

Go to www.FTC.gov/WU or www.WesternUnionRemission.com for updates about the refund process.

Jody
February 19, 2019
Hello, Dept of Justice, did WU refunds get reissued to victims of fraud who filed a claim? I’m one of them and haven’t seen or heard of my refund. What is the most current status? Yes, I received the letter in the mail, replied by filing a claim timely. Response requested. Thanks
JR
February 25, 2019
So uhhh it’s been a tad over a year almost... what’s up ... I moved from Germany back to the USA, and y’all know where I live to send me the specific amount I sent and lost... can I get an update ... something
Trinity82575
March 25, 2019
Is there any update on when those who submitted claims might receive word on when checks might get disbursed?
FTC Staff
March 25, 2019

In reply to by Trinity82575

You can get updates by reading www.FTC.gov/WU and information from Gilardi & Co. Gilardi & Co. is the company the US Department of Justice hired to manage the refund process.

DIANE STOVALL
March 05, 2019
I HAVE SEND IN THE PAPERWORK! WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHEN WILL I BEABLE TO SEE THE MONEY? IT'S BEEN A YEAR!
Mickey B.
March 08, 2019
How do we know when we will get our money back from this lawsuit
FTC Staff
March 25, 2019

In reply to by Mickey B.

You can read the updates from the FTC at www.FTC.gov/WU and from Gilardi & Co. Gilardi & Co is the company the US Department of Justice hired to manage the refund process.

dshaune
February 25, 2020

In reply to by FTC Staff

There are no updates on that website. Its going on three years for me waiting. There should be a way that we are updated weekly, monthly, or quarterly. I believe the money is sitting in an account somewhere collecting interest and we are suffering from it. Is there a real website with real updates. I don't even get notified when something happens. Please update us with information. It took seconds for us to get scammed and now years (3 for me) to wait on a response.
Lost claim card
March 14, 2019
I received a claim card that I can no longer locate. I am not sure if I did the online filing before the deadline. Is there any way someone can help me check?
Don't use your…
April 09, 2019
I had received my form from Gilardi & Co. quite some time ago and went on line and filled out my claim form, id #101xxxxx, pin: 31xxxx. And l still haven't seen any reimbursement to this date, 3/17/2019. is there something else l need to do?
FTC Staff
April 09, 2019

In reply to by Don't use your…

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.

Stan
April 02, 2019
I was on the phone with the remission hotline today for 1.5 hrs, and no one picked up, finally the call was disconnected. Why aren't there anybody to assist???? I submitted all information but you're still asking me in a letter to prove that this was fraud. With no phone to call through how am I supposed to know what info exactly you're asking for?
FTC Staff
April 23, 2019

In reply to by Stan

The US Department of Justice hired Gilardi & Co to manage the refund process. In March 2019, Gilardi & Co mailed letters to people to ask for more information about their claims for refunds.

Gilardi's website says the letters tell people their claims have one or more of these problems:

  • (1) they did not sign their claim
  • (2) they did not put their SSN or taxpayer ID on their claim
  • (3) they did not provide sufficient proof or documents to support some, or all, of the refund amount they claimed. 

If you got a letter, you can send an answer by email to info@westernunionremission.com. Or, you can send a letter that is postmarked by April 29, 2019. The FTC has information at www.FTC.gov/WU.

Uhuru
April 02, 2019
Filing on behalf of my deceased father. He lost $ in a scam during this timeframe. Interestingly enough, while going thru all the paperwork for his 2008-2009 losses, I discovered some W.U. slips he sent to yet another scammer in 2001. Any case for this? Thank you.
Don't use your…
April 04, 2019
Yes, it would be nice to get an update on what is happening with our refunds, now that the Fed. gov't is back in full operation. l also have been waiting for over a year, l was one of the first ones to respond to this project. l was also one that sent all of my info, and documents to start this investigation.
bcorinne32
April 10, 2019
today is April 10, 2019. my mother was scammed quite a few years ago, but did not file with this law firm. is there any hope for recovering her money lost through Western Union? -Corinne
FTC Staff
April 12, 2019

In reply to by bcorinne32

The deadline to file a claim related to the Federal Trade Commission settlement with Western Union was May 31, 2018.

Tasvet08
May 17, 2019
I received a pre-filled claim in Mail and return back in 2017. I never heard anything back. Is there a chance I will not get my money back? Have there been refunds issue yet?
FTC Staff
May 17, 2019

In reply to by Tasvet08

No refunds have been issued yet. Gilardi and Co. is still reviewing claims for the US Department of Justice.

You can check the FTC's information page (www.FTC.gov/WU) and Gilardi & Co.'s information page (www.WesternUnionRemission.com) to get updates on the refund process.

Fooled
June 07, 2019
Ok..we received the letter and filed all info..we owe the irs..when will we know if the irs got the money? Have claim i.d. #...pin #...
Jenn
June 19, 2019
It has been over a year now and still no update??
FTC Staff
June 19, 2019

In reply to by Jenn

Please follow the link in the blog (www.FTC.gov/WU) to get updates on the refund process.

You can also to go www.WesternUnionRemission.com for updates from Gilardi & Co., the company hired by the US Department of Justice to manage the refund process.

GermanAsks
July 22, 2019
Hi there, I filled the petition online 2017 after a letter from "Gilardi" because I lost ~500 Euros to non-identified Western Union fraud and received an answer and nothing more since then. Does anyone native American could explain what's going on now to me or is it all scam : donotreply@ gilardi. com Confirmation of receipt of your online Western Union Remission Petition Thank you for filing your petition online on 11/27/2017 11:02:31 AM. Your Claim ID is: WUU-XXXXXXXXX Please retain this information in your records and use the Claim ID in any communications with Gilardi regarding this case. Note: The real claim ID isn't X-ed :)
FTC Staff
July 22, 2019

In reply to by GermanAsks

The US Department of Justice hired Gilardi & Co. to manage the refund process. Gilardi & Co. is still reviewing the claims that people submitted. As of today, Gilardi and Co. has not issued any decisions about who is eligible to get money.

The FTC puts updated information at www.FTC.gov/WU. Gilardi & Co. puts information at www.WesternUnionRemission.com.

Misslace
July 19, 2019
I Recived a letter from Gilardi & Co. Feb. 2018 & i filed imediately The deadline to file was May of 2018. Ok so now its soon to be august 2019 in a couple of weeks which is almost 3 months over a year and i havent heard anything. All i can say is when???
FTC Staff
July 22, 2019

In reply to by Misslace

The FTC provides updates about the refund process at www.FTC.gov/WU.

Vicki Round
July 19, 2019
I did get a claim form, returned it. I have moved since then, what must I do to notify in regards to the claim. I have receipts, what about those?
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