Business

Scam Victims Who Sent Money Through Western Union May Be Owed Refunds From a $586 Million Fund

By Mike Harper · October 16, 2026

If a caller once talked you into wiring money through Western Union to help a grandchild in trouble or to claim a lottery prize, the federal government may still have money set aside for you. The Justice Department has reopened its claim process for Western Union fraud victims, and the last day to file is December 31, 2026.

The money traces back to 2017. Western Union agreed to forfeit $586 million and acknowledged violating the Bank Secrecy Act and aiding and abetting wire fraud, according to the Justice Department. Prosecutors said some owners, operators and employees of Western Union locations were in on the schemes, and the company failed to suspend or cut off those agents. The criminal charge against the company was dismissed in 2020 after it met the terms of its agreement.

Most of the money has already gone out. The department says it previously paid more than $436.9 million to more than 180,000 victims. Because forfeited funds are left over, it opened what it calls the third and final phase, and it is paying an additional $3.4 million to 1,294 victims. The remission administrator says victims paid in the first two phases received full compensation for their losses.

Who qualifies. You may be eligible if you were a fraud victim and sent a money transfer through Western Union between January 1, 2004, and March 9, 2020. Earlier rounds only covered transfers through January 19, 2017. Transfers sent inside or outside the United States can count, and you do not need to be a U.S. citizen to file.

What you can get back. Payments are based on the amount of the money transfer minus any refund you already received. Western Union fees, other incidental losses and money sent through other companies are not covered, according to the administrator’s FAQ.

Some people already have a form. Many victims were mailed petitions with their reported loss filled in. If the number looks right, you check the “agree” box, sign and add your Social Security number. If it looks wrong, a supplemental form lets you list other transfers and attach documents such as old receipts. If you never got a letter, you can file online or print a blank petition and mail it to United States v. The Western Union Company Phase 3, PO Box 301132, Los Angeles, CA 90030-1132. Petitions cannot be sent by email.

Old receipts help. Each transfer had a 10-digit Money Transfer Control Number, or MTCN, printed on the receipt. The FAQ says Western Union keeps transfer history for 10 years, so older transfers may be harder to document. Send whatever you have. Mail copies, not originals.

Families can file for someone who died. A relative representing the estate can submit a petition in the deceased person’s name, along with a death certificate and paperwork showing their authority.

Expect a wait. The FAQ gives no payment date. Approved amounts are first run through the Treasury Offset Program, so money you owe the federal government or certain state debts can be taken out before you are paid.

A separate refund is arriving now. On October 15, the Federal Trade Commission said it is mailing 65,022 checks totaling more than $9.8 million to people harmed by scammers who used Walmart’s money transfer services. The FTC’s refund page says the checks cover eligible transfers made at Walmart between January 2015 and December 2024 and should be cashed within 90 days.

Watch for fakes. The Justice Department says neither the administrator nor the department will ask for any payment to take part. Anyone who calls offering to speed up your refund for a fee is running another scam.

To check your eligibility and file a petition before the December 31, 2026 deadline, go to the official remission site at westernunionremissionphase3.com or call 1-833-419-4677. Filing is free, and you do not need a lawyer.