Western Union refunds money to victims of scams

The San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office announced on Tuesday that residents that fell victim to a scammer by paying money via Western Union between Jan. 1, 2004 and Jan. 19, 2017 can now file a claim to get their money back.

The deadline for victims or family members to file a claim for refunds is May 31, 2018.

For more information and to file a claim, visit https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/cases-proceedings/refunds/western-union-settlement-faqs.

A statement from the SLO County’s District Attorney’s Office included the following:

“For years, many people who lost money to scams sent their payment through a Western Union wire transfer. Scammers contacted people and promised prizes, loans, jobs, discounted products or other financial rewards in exchange for money upfront. They also pretended to be family members in need of cash or law enforcement officers demanding payment.

The scammers told people to send money through Western Union. No one received the cash, prizes, or services they were promised. If victims lost money to a scammer who had them pay using Western Union between January 1, 2004 and January 19, 2017, victims can now file a claim to get money back.

Because of joint investigations by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the U. S. Postal Inspection Service, Western Union agreed to pay $586 million and admitted to aiding and abetting wire fraud. DOJ is now using that money to provide refunds to people who were tricked into using Western Union to pay scammers.”