July 1 deadline nears for western union refund

Along with reimbursing victims, Western Union was ordered to take several steps to beef up consumer protection, including comprehensive anti-fraud training for its employees, improved

monitoring to detect suspicious transfers, conspicuous fraud warnings on money transfer forms and more avenues for people to file fraud complaints with the company. HOW TO CLAIM A REFUND

Payback is available to people who sent a money transfer via Western Union between Jan. 1, 2004, and Jan. 19, 2017, as a result of a scam. Gilardi & Co., the firm hired by DOJ to manage

the process, has sent hundreds of thousands of prefilled claim forms showing prospective refund amounts to people who may be eligible, based on reports they previously filed with Western

Union. If you believe you are eligible but have not been contacted by the administrator, you can file a claim electronically or call 855-786-1048 to request a form. For more information on

obtaining or returning a claim form, what to do if you disagree with the amount offered, or other aspects of the refund process, see the claims administration website or the FTC’s Western

Union refunds page. Refund amounts are based solely on how much you sent in the scam transaction, and only Western Union transfers are covered. You cannot be reimbursed for other costs, such

as Western Union fees, incidental expenses or payments made by other means. You may be asked to provide documentation of the transaction, such as a copy of the money transfer receipt.

Contact Western Union customer care to request a receipt or information on your transaction history.