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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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Jrwldr
March 24, 2020
How do I know these are real checks? I don't remember filling out any forms. I did lose 5K thru a scammer in 2004 or 5.
FTC Staff
March 25, 2020

In reply to by Jrwldr

If you have a question about your check, or your claim, please call the administrator at 1-844-319-2124. 

T.D
March 24, 2020
You give out a phone number to speak to the administrator but they do not answer. My parents were scammed and I signed the remission firms and sent them back through my attorney general.. sent emails and still have not received an answer to my questions. Phone gives general answers.. Some of us need a real person to answer our questions.
FTC Staff
March 25, 2020

In reply to by T.D

There are choices to listen to Frequently Asked Questions and to talk with a live operator when you call the administrator at 1-844-319-2124.  

Nate1210
March 25, 2020
Received my check on 3/21/2020 thank you!!
autotech
March 26, 2020

In reply to by Nate1210

Curious, did the bank accept your check? I have not brought mine to the bank yet.
autotech
March 25, 2020
I was just on facebook and saw a scam check that looked like the one I received, it was the same bank, just that the title was different, it DID NOT have US v. western union, the check I received DID have US v. western union on it, is this the real check, from huntington bank?
FTC Staff
March 26, 2020

In reply to by autotech

You can call the Gilardi & Co., (the company that manages the refunds),  at 844-319-2124. There is some recorded information, and an option to talk to an operator. You can ask about the letter and check you got.

Please tell law enforcement about what you saw on Facebook. Call the FTC at 1-877-382-4357 and tell an operator.  Investigators can use that information. Thank you.  

Mary
March 26, 2020

In reply to by FTC Staff

I tried calling that number only goes through the questions an thats it .doesnt give you an option to speak with anyone . also i received a letter a while back but it didnt have no amount on it .it asked me to lower my amount of losses an i filled it out an sent it back with my proof of what i sent .
re help
April 02, 2020

In reply to by Mary

Skip each question using the keypad until you get to the last question which is 'where can i get more info'. Listen to it in full then it gives you the option to speak to an operator
Shallam
March 26, 2020
My banking institution is very leery of the bank the check is written on.....they said it's not in their system. How long after it is deposited should I wait to use funds? Obviously I've been scammed, so I'm also leery of the check (it says nothing on it about being from a settlement)
FTC Staff
March 30, 2020

In reply to by Shallam

You, or someone at the bank, can call Gilardi & Co. at 844-319-2124. Gilardi & Co. is managing the refund process. 

The refund checks come with a letter that explains why you got the check. The letter says you must cash or deposit the check within 90 days, and it has the phone number and address for Gilardi & Co.

Lolad17
March 30, 2020
Can u cash your refund check anywhere or does it have to be at a bank
FTC Staff
March 30, 2020

In reply to by Lolad17

You can choose where to cash or deposit your check. That's up to you.

Nene2007
March 27, 2020
Have not received my refund yet
Margit Katharina
March 27, 2020
Still waiting, no Checks in the Postboxes in GERMANY until now.
Lisa
March 28, 2020
Thank You I hope I get one
Don't use your…
April 01, 2020
Western Union approved the settlement on Jan,19,2017. WU has paid within 5 days the amount of $146.5M within 5 days and paid the amount of $439.5M within 90 days. Dec.2017 I present my two claims # 9166 . Last March 2019, I received a letter confirming my amount and ask for documents which I attached and return back on April, 05,2019. I was expecting to receive my check , but NO WAY> MY QUESTION : IF WU HAS PAID ALL THE AMOUNT early 2017? why this delay and who get use of the $586M for 3 years? Why you think that Gillardi & co LLC are capable for this job as administrator and distributor? I feel some thing wrong is happening? S.ARAJ MI
Kelly
March 31, 2020
I have emailed the administrator to let them know I moved 18 months ago and have a new address. I provided the new address in case of a payment check being sent. How can I confirm they updated my information?
minnie
March 31, 2020
I submitted a timely claim and have not received any check. I sent an email as suggested to the administrator and havent received a response either.
kencarraustralia
March 31, 2020
I have submitted the claim by the original date, this firm is required by law to administer this claim in a proper fashion..it claims it has sent me letters of deficiency..i think it is lying to deny the original claims..i cannot possibly give the same amount of info to them, only to have them request the same info again and again...this is outrageous neglect as a legal administrator..get it together, this claim is important to many people who were scammed, only to be met with a company who has with-held claims based on false request for information...the delays and allowance of further claims to flood their books outside the claim period for FTC is a legal nightmare for them, in that genuine claims are being denied while others outside the scope of timeline are being further accepted, mine meeting the first deadline...get it together Gilardi, this is not a joke, you are doing a terrible job!!
suzie 3
March 31, 2020
when will the next batch of checks go out ,to those of us that didn't receive them this time
FTC Staff
April 01, 2020

In reply to by suzie 3

Question #8 in the questions & answers on the Gilardi & Co. website says: 

Checks will be mailed in March 2020 to petitioners who agreed to the preprinted loss amounts on the petitions sent by the remission administrator. Petitioners not included in this distribution remain under review by the Remission Administrator and DOJ.  Additional decisions are anticipated in the next 120 days.

kencarraustralia
April 01, 2020

In reply to by FTC Staff

my next step is to engage a lawyer versus the administrator and its employees, my claim is genuine and quite simple and the reasons you give me or information i seek from you are not / never met...i will watch this process very closely, given my agreed claim amount is over 30,000 usd.
scottmar67
April 01, 2020
I have sent all my documents by certified mail as well as email I've been told that they have received my documents than also been told they haven't received them I have done what has been told and sent what is needed on numerous occasions before any deadline...it is all noted and detailed in email conversations i have submitted to the administrator only to recently be told Im a petitioner which is false I try calling the number provided and it is only an automated message that doesn't connect you to an operator i need help
re help
April 02, 2020

In reply to by scottmar67

Skip each question using the keypad until you get to the last question which is 'where can i get more info'. Listen to it in full then it gives you the option to speak to an operator
Tina
April 01, 2020
I went to cash my check and the bank told me it was a duplicate and would not cash. How do I handle this?
Relieved
April 02, 2020
It was approximately 10yrs ago, I sat in front of the windows of my home, patiently waiting... and anticipating the arrival of what, at the time, I considered to be my dream car, only to succumb to the reality that I had made one of the worst decisions of my entire life, an hour before the car was supposed to arrive! The outcome was devastating to me! The scammers kept in contact with me most of the day, right up until the last dreaded hour... I felt humiliated, betrayed, and made a complete fool of! I am glad to have recv’d this money, it truly does give me back a bit of the faith I had lost in the system, and maybe a little bit of something else, that I lost on that day too! But nothing surpasses the sense of justice and pride I felt in my countries law enforcement, than when the FBI agent contacted me personally to tell me that they apprehended the criminals who did this to so many of us! That was the true reward for me! Ill never get back the full amount of money I lost that day, and thats ok! The lessons I learned through this experience, are far more valuable! Thank you to all parties involved in this entire process!
Relieved
April 02, 2020
Regarding the check. Its true that the check does not appear as professional, as I had expected... And upon first reviewing it I felt a twinge of skepticism, about its legitimacy. I dont know how the bank will respond to it, especially since the document it was attached too had a fold in it, and I detached the check at the fold, instead of the check line. At this point, Im not even sure If the check is redeemable, as is. Even with the document accompanying, I am unsure. Oh well, We shall see tomorrow! I wish you the best Wish me luck!
curious mind
April 02, 2020
If I owe back taxes to the IRS from the previous year, will the money get intercepted?
Sandra
April 02, 2020
How can I verify that my address got corrected a few months ago?
FTC Staff
April 03, 2020

In reply to by Sandra

Please call the administrator at 1-844-319-2124.  

kc5ddg
April 07, 2020

In reply to by FTC Staff

This number is just a FAQ line tells you press option 1 but never goes anywhere. plays the message then just says goodbye.
Kelly
May 02, 2020

In reply to by Sandra

I sent the administrator an email and got an answer about 1 week later that it had been updated.
AMIGALIZ
April 02, 2020
I havent received my settlement rembruisment, I did sent my petition on time. The checks where sent out march 2020. Why havent received my rembruisment. Thank you.
FTC Staff
April 03, 2020

In reply to by AMIGALIZ

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.

unhappy daughe…
April 02, 2020
My 90 year old mother filed a claim immediately when she received the form. They then extended the claim form deadline, and more delays occurred. After several requrests for status, and concern with what is happening with the interest accrued, we now learn that there will be an additional several months for review, though we have never had one inquiry in over 2 years. I am hopeful that the funds weren't exhausted on the first payments, or we will be very unhappy with the process. I had initially been very pleased with the aggressive action by the FTC, as it was clear that Western union facilitated the fraud for their own interst. But the excessive delays with no inquiry on the claim has turned a very positive result into a disappointing process.
Tremblay
April 03, 2020
I live in Canada, I sent all the necessary documents by mail and by email, even if the proofs were clear I have not yet received the payment and no correspondence to date.
DRP
April 04, 2020
I have called the phone number everyday and spoke with numerous people. All give me totally different answers. I signed and returned a pre-filled claim form and agreed with the dollar amount stated on the form. Everything is ok on their end as they have stated over the past 2+ years and a refund would be coming. Saw the update that checks were sent out to those who did what I did. I called and was told a check was not sent. They said it was not under review and I should get one. One person said 120 days from now, another said I needed to talk to a supervisor and they could issue a check, another told me they distribute checks once a month for the next 4 months. So what one is it? I have read faq#8, it dosnt clear this up at all. I pre filled the form, I’m not under review, so when will I get my check? I’m being told and have read multiple things.
ginny
April 06, 2020
IS THERE A DELAY NOW WITH REFUNDS, BECAUSE OF THIS COVID -19 VIRUS NOW.
jim.winkler44
May 26, 2020
We received our check from the United States Treasury. We also received a letter that the US Treasury would take it over... Just making sure ours came in the mail today.
Shareen White
April 07, 2020
Is this lawsuit real? Has anyone actually received their check? When I call the number it's an automated line
re help
April 07, 2020

In reply to by Shareen White

Skip each question using the keypad until you get to the last question which is 'where can i get more info'. Listen to it in full then it gives you the option to speak to an operator
kencarraustralia
April 08, 2020

In reply to by Shareen White

its an outsourced job ph number..something dodgy about it i cant call it from AU..why would u outsource this job to a call centre?
kencarraustralia
April 08, 2020

In reply to by FTC Staff

on no less than 22 occasions, usually with replies that makes no sense..it is like talking to a different person every time, like a call centre does...what i need is a direct phone number that is not blocked by my service provider in Australia...the agreed amount through email is over 30k usd...i believe more responsibility is owed to me than a toll free outsourced number and email or overseas physical mail box...we need to speak face to face on skype or by genuine phone or through lawyers...they know who i am, there are no secrets here, except for Gilardi claims of responsibility for all claimants which they have irresponsibly outsourced to make it impossible to get real answers in the times they demand and promise are genuine..
re help
April 13, 2020

In reply to by kencarraustralia

I'm from AUS as well, my service provider is Optus. When I call I put 0011 before the 1844 number. Hope it works mate.
kencarraustralia
April 16, 2020

In reply to by re help

yeah thanks mate but im vodofone/kogan and its blocked because it diverts to a different country than US or CAN, surely my now 28 emails or so wouldve solved it lol
kc5ddg
April 07, 2020
How will we know if the check was mailed or not. I was in the group that sent the form back but have not received a check yet. Can we verify sent and if cashed already since there is no signature required
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