Skip to main content
Press Release

Settlement Between Department of Justice and Western Union will Provide $586 Million to Victims of Fraud

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Iowa
Deadline to File Claim with Federal Trade Commission for Refund from Western Union Extended to May 31The United States Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa is reminding consumers that if they lost money to a scammer through Western Union between Jan

The United States Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa is reminding consumers that if they lost money to a scammer through Western Union between January 1, 2004, and January 1h, 2017, they can submit a claim to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to potentially get their money back. The deadline to do so has been extended to May 31, 2018. 

These potential refunds for consumers are the result of joint investigations by the FTC, the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Western Union agreed to pay a $586 million settlement, and that money will be used to provide refunds. Once a consumer’s claim is verified by the DOJ, the amount of money returned to the consumer will depend on the total number of valid claims submitted. 

Consumers who wish to file a claim or learn more about the refund process can visit the Western Union Refunds page on the FTC’s website at FTC.gov/WU.  Consumers may also call 1-844-319-2124 to start a claim.

Follow us on Twitter @USAO_NDIA.

Updated March 14, 2018
Topic
Consumer Protection
Component
USAO - Iowa, Northern