Updated: January 7, 2018

THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION IS REMINDING CONSUMERS TO FILE CLAIMS RELATED TO THE FIVE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY SIX MILLION DOLLAR SETTLEMENT BETWEEN WESTERN UNION COMPANY, THE FTC, AND THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. CONSUMERS WHO LOST MONEY TO SCAMMERS WHO TOLD THEM TO PAY VIA WESTERN UNION’S MONEY TRANSFER SYSTEM BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 2004 AND JANUARY 19, 2017, CAN NOW FILE A CLAIM TO GET THEIR MONEY BACK.  IN JANUARY 2017 WESTERN UNION COMPANY AGREED TO PAY $586 MILLION TO RESOLVE CHARGES BROUGHT BY THE FTC AND THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. THE FTC ALLEGED THAT FRAUDSTERS WERE ABLE TO USE WESTERN UNION’S MONEY TRANSFER SYSTEM TO GET PAYMENTS FROM THEIR VICTIMS, EVEN THOUGH THE COMPANY WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND RECEIVED HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS.  AFFECTED CONSUMERS SHOULD VISIT HTTP://WWW.FTC.GOV/WU TO FILE CLAIMS, LEARN MORE, OR GET UPDATES ON THE CLAIMS PROCESS. THE FILING DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 12, 2018.