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People who sent money through Western Union between Jan. 1, 2004, and March 9, 2020, and lost funds to a fraud scheme may be eligible to claim a remission payment.
The Western Union Co. agreed to forfeit $586 million in a deferred prosecution agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice. The DOJ claimed Western Union failed to maintain effective controls, enabling scammers to use its money transfer services for international consumer fraud schemes affecting thousands of consumers.
Who can file a claim?
People may be eligible to file a claim if they meet the following criteria:
- They sent a money transfer through Western Union between Jan. 1, 2004, and March 9, 2020.
- They were victims of a fraud scheme, such as:
- Grandparent scams (fraudsters posing as relatives in need of emergency funds)
- Lottery or sweepstakes scams (fraudsters information them they won a prize but must pay fees to claim it)
- Romance scams (fraudsters posing as online love interests and requesting money)
- Other schemes where fraudsters convinced victims to send money through Western Union
Additional details:
- People who previously filed a petition and received payment in phases one or two may only file again for newly discovered or additional transactions during the eligible period.
- If the DOJ denied a class member's earlier petition because they claimed transactions outside the original period but they now fall within the extended period (Jan. 1, 2004, to March 9, 2020), they do not need to resubmit. As of May 21, 2026, the DOJ sent new letters and checks to these petitioners.
How much can class members get?
The amount each class member will receive is based on the eligible amount they lost through Western Union money transfers due to fraud minus any refunds they already received.
- The settlement administrator will calculate the payment as eligible loss amount – any refunds already received = compensation amount
- The remission process does not cover wire transfer fees, incidental losses or transfers sent through other companies.
The administrator will base payments on the documented amount sent through Western Union as part of the fraud scheme. For those who reported losses to Western Union, the administrator will use the consumer fraud report loss to calculate their payment.
How to claim a remission payment
Eligible class members can file a remission petition online, download and print a PDF petition to complete and mail to the settlement administrator, or complete and return the prefilled petition they received and mail it to the settlement administrator. Those who received a prefilled petition and agree with the listed amount can check the appropriate box, complete the Social Security Number section and sign and date the form. Those who disagree should fill out the supplemental transaction form and provide supporting documentation.
What proof or documentation do class members need to provide?
Claimants must provide documentation to support their claim, such as:
- Western Union money transfer send form and receipt
- Information detailing the fraud
- Money transfer control number (those who do not have this can submit any available documentation, such as customer receipts)
Claimants who need a copy of their receipt can request it from the Western Union website by completing the transactional history request form. The company maintains records for 10 years.
Payout options
The settlement administrator will issue payments by check. However, it may reduce payments for class members who owe money to the federal government or certain state debts by the amount owed.
Important dates
- Deadline to file a remission petition: Aug. 19, 2026
When is the Western Union Remission phase 3 payout date?
The Department of Justice has not provided a specific payout date. It will distribute payments as soon as possible after it reviews and approves all petitions.
Why did the DOJ order this payment?
On Jan. 19, 2017, The Western Union Co. agreed to forfeit $586,000,000 in an agreement with the United States Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission. Western Union acknowledged violating U.S. laws, including the Bank Secrecy Act and anti-fraud statutes, by handling hundreds of thousands of transactions connected to agents and others participating in an international consumer fraud operation.
The agreement also requires Western Union to implement a comprehensive anti-fraud program, including:
- Training for agents and their front-line associates
- Monitoring to detect and prevent fraud-induced money transfers
- Due diligence on all new and renewing company agents
- Suspension or termination of noncompliant agents
- Clear consumer fraud warnings on money transfer forms
- Enhanced reporting of suspicious or illegal activity
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