Consumer Alert

Refunds Available to Eligible Consumers Who Wired Money Through Western Union

Consumers who were victimized by scams relying on wire transfers through Western Union are advised that they may be eligible for a refund of the money they lost.

Western Union entered into a settlement with the United States Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission in January 2017 in which the company agreed to forfeit $586 million as a result of it processing hundreds of thousands of transactions for individuals involved in international consumer fraud schemes targeting victims in the U.S. The fraudsters falsely posed as family relatives in need or promised prizes or job opportunities.

The Justice Department is offering to return the forfeited funds to victims of the scams. Alaskans may be eligible for a refund if they (a) wired money through Western Union between January 1, 2004 and January 19, 2017, and (b) lost that money as a result of a consumer scam.

Over 500,000 petitions have been mailed to identified victims and include instructions on how to file a petition. The petition can be filed electronically using the Claim ID and Pin included on the letter, or mailed to the address listed on the petition. Consumers who believe they were a victim of the fraud and made a wire transfer through Western Union between January 1, 2004 and January 19, 2017 should go to http://westernunionremission.com or call 1-844-319-2124 for instructions on how to file a "Petition for Remission." The deadline for applying is May 31, 2018.

For more information, contact the Consumer Protection Unit of the Alaska Office of the Attorney General at (907) 269-5200 or, toll free, (888) 576-2529.

Consumer Protection Unit
November 2017