Western Union remission. It sounds like a disease. Or a scam. In fact, it’s neither. The Western Union remission process allows victims who sent money to a scammer via Western Union to file for a refund. Victims shouldn’t get overly excited though. This is a settlement between the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Western Union, not a case of a company developing a guilty conscience because they aided and abetted wire fraud. Here are a few things you need to know about the process.
The bottom line
Business is all about profits. Western Union made a ton of money off of people scammers instructed to wire money to help stranded relatives, make purchases, pay tax penalties, etc. On the flip side, government regulations and agencies such as the DOJ try to keep businesses from profiting unfairly. For years, Western Union profited while consumers lost.
With all that said, consumers need to realize that in all likelihood they will not get back everything they lost. There is a settlement pool of $586 million from which victims will be paid. Victims will receive compensation based on how many consumers file claims and the amounts of those claims.
The fine print in the deal
Aiding and abetting wire fraud are serious charges. That’s why the DOJ, the Federal Trade Commission, and the US Postal Inspection Service became involved. It’s also the reason Western Union probably agreed to the settlement. It was cheaper for them to cop to a deal than it was to fight in court. With that said, there are limitations to the Western Union remission.
- Victims must file a claim by February 12, 2018 to be eligible for compensation. Online claim forms are available at kccsecure.com.
- The fraud must have occurred between January 1, 2004 and January 19, 2017.
- Claims must be verified by the Department of Justice.
- It may take a year to process payments.
Why the Western Union remission settlement came about
The Federal Trade Commission’s complaint against Western Union accused the company of ignoring consumer complaints and not taking action against a small number of Western Union agents who were facilitating fraud. For example, less than 1% of the Western Union agents in Mexico accounted for over 80% of the fraud claims.
In the United States and Canada, authorities arrested thirty-nine agents for mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering. That number more than triples in other countries. A few agents were directly involved in scams, yet Western Union did nothing to stop them.
Next steps
- If you were affected, file a claim. You may have received a form in the mail from Gilardi & Co., LLC. If not, file online at kccsecure.com.
- Learn more by visiting the FTC website page for the settlement.
- If you have additional questions, you can email the administrator at info@westernunionremission.com or call at 1-844-319-2124.
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When we get our refund, do we have to pay taxes to irs? Why? We already paid taxes on that money years ago
Does Anyone ( or you ) happen to know if the remission amount granted to each person is for the whole amount they lost? Or just perhaps a token percentage? Thank you.
I don’t know, but perhaps another reader will. I’d suspect it’s not for the full amount.
Hi – looks like first batch of checks were mailed out March 2020. Guessing by end of July the 2nd batch will be mailed out?? Has anybody heard anything? Thanks in advance.
I got the check so be patient everyone! Thanks goodness there’s some justice in the world, which is a rare thing these days. So keep your hope up and stay positive. I never thought I would see any $ back at all until today.
Once you get your money back, do something good and meantiful with it and you’ll feel good again. Also please respect the earth for all the resources that you get (not just money but how much effort and energy it takes to get something available for you to use).
Good luck everyone!
Annya, thanks for letting everyone know the checks are finally coming out, and for the beautiful message. We all need to focus our energies on helping this planet we’ve abused so badly.
I sent in my claim form around first part of November of 2017 and still haven’t heard a word back I was scammed for almost 2 grand it really hurt me very bad not only finiancially but phyically and mentally I’m really hoping this is real
I was taken for 4000 and I’m still waiting also
I got a letter saying they needed more documentation and I sent it in but haven’t heard anything about it. I have lost a lot of money due to scammers and I hope they find that with the paperwork I sent from my file from western union that it was a lot I lost. I really want this to be over.
This has been going for 2 1/2 years now and the original deadline was Feb. 12, 2018, then there have been several extensions. They said they mailed out 38,000 claims that were not properly filled out on March 31, 2019 to be returned by April 30, 2019, then it was extended to June 30, 2019. Seems that anyone having a legit claim has had plenty of time to fill out their claims in the 30 days now they were given 90 days. I am tired of all of these extensions and it is time the administrator gets it all done to make refunds to us victims. Maybe they are trying to collect a large amount in fees from all of this. They have had ample time and it is time they get the refunds made. When you call the Administrator which is Gilardi & Co. they don’t seem to have an answer why??? Make the refunds to us now please.
I agree. I have been patiently waiting from the very beginning. I could really use the money now. Thank you very much and have a blessed day.
I agree. It is time to see the refunds happen.
There is something very wrong with this process. One year has passed since the settlement was awarded in which, they were supposed to process. I just got off the phone ( after waiting 20mins.) and the person I spoke with could not even verify that the process has even started. Best of luck to all those who gave your social security numbers to them, appears to be another scam. Scam the Scammed!
Really at least you had someone pick up the phone , I have to always email and it’s the same response still being reviewed???
It’s all sounds like bunch of fool of B.S. to me, No one ever answers that phone, i waited for hours, it keeps saying someone will be right with you, meaning a live Administrator. Hours goes by NO ANSWERS THAT PHONE!!!! And i’m not giving my S.S.#. If i can’t speak to a live person. It’s been 2 years with this B.S. Someone tell me what the hell is going on with this i’m pissed off!!!!
i HAVE FILEd SEVERAL REPORTS IN FEBRUARY 2018 AND NOW WE HAVE FEBRUARY 2019. MY FILE REPORTS WERE SENT WITH AN REGISTERED LETTER RECEIPT RETURNED REQUESTED TO
UNITED STATES V THE WESTERN UNION COMPANY
P.O. BOX 40427
LOUISVILLE KY 40233-4027
EVER SINCE I HAVE NOT HEARD OF ANYTHING
HOW COULD I FIND OUT THE RESULTS OF THEIR INVESTIGATION?. WHEN CAN I HEAR IF I WAS AWARDED ANY AMOUNT?
COULD YOU KINDLY LET ME KNOW?
thank you
MR.NIKITAS KYPRIOTAKIS
Unfortunately, I can’t really help you with this question. You should try following this on the official page at http://www.westernunionremission.com
II have not heard a reply either in months until April 2nd. Now they want more documentation. I sent 2 batches of documentation with return signature, too. I would like to talk to a live person, but that does not seem available. Their Telephone number is nothing more than a pre recorded answer sheet.
I wonder if my claim will be granted
Let’s hope so! Best of luck with it!