For Release
More than $115 Million in Refunds Sent to Consumers as a Result of FTC, DOJ Charges That MoneyGram Failed to Crack Down on Scams
Refunds stem from 2018 action alleging company violated previous orders
February 10, 2023
AddThis Sharing Buttons
Share to FacebookShare to TwitterShare to LinkedIn
Tags:
- Consumer Protection
- Regional Offices
- Midwest Region
- Bureau of Consumer Protection
- Money Transfers
- deceptive/misleading conduct
- consumer refunds
- Finance
- Credit and Finance
- Payments and Billing
More than $115 million in refunds are being sent to consumers nationwide as a result of a 2018 action the Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice brought against MoneyGram for failing to crack down on scammers using their payment system.
The 2018 action charged that MoneyGram violated an FTC settlement from 2009, along with a 2012 DOJ agreement in which the company agreed to take proactive steps to reduce scammers’ ability to use their payment system to receive money from consumers.
“MoneyGram violated an FTC order by continuing to let scammers rip off its customers,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The FTC is pleased to be working with our law enforcement partners to provide refunds to claimants. Other firms that facilitate fraud and ignore FTC orders should expect to face similar consequences.”
“This distribution of $115.8 million to nearly 40,000 victims—each of whom is being fully compensated for their losses—demonstrates the Department of Justice’s continued commitment to making victims whole,” said Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This is an example of how the Department will use every tool at its disposal, including in corporate criminal matters, to provide justice to victims.”
“This $115 million disbursement provides a measure of financial justice for the many victims who were harmed by fraudsters who preyed on them,” said Inspector in Charge Christopher A. Nielsen, U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Philadelphia Division. “The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is proud to be part of this exemplary collaborative effort with our law enforcement and regulatory partners, particularly the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, the DOJ Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section and the Federal Trade Commission, to facilitate a process where victims are delivered restitution.”
In the 2009 settlement with the FTC, MoneyGram agreed to put in place a fraud prevention program which, among other things, required the company to promptly investigate, restrict, suspend, and terminate high-fraud agents. The FTC charged that MoneyGram was aware of continued fraud on their payment network after the settlement, turning a blind eye for years to numerous instances of suspicious payment activity by the company’s agents.
Consumers receiving refunds in this distribution are those who submitted claims during the open claims process in 2021. More information about the MoneyGram refund program and its compensation to consumers who were harmed is available on DOJ’s MoneyGram remission website https://moneygramremission.com. Further questions may be directed to DOJ’s MoneyGram Remission Administrator by phone at 844-269-2630 or by email at info@moneygramremission.com
The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition and protect and educate consumers. Learn more about consumer topics at consumer.ftc.gov, or report fraud, scams, and bad business practices at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Follow the FTC on social media, read consumer alerts and the business blog, and sign up to get the latest FTC news and alerts.
Press Release Reference
Contact Information
Contact for Consumers
FTC Consumer Response Center
Media Contact
Office of Public Affairs
_________________________________________________________________
Consumer Alert
Over $115 million goes to MoneyGram users who paid scammers
By
Bridget Small
Consumer Education Specialist, FTC
February 10, 2023
AddThis Sharing Buttons
Share to FacebookShare to TwitterShare to LinkedIn
Most of the time, if you send money to a scammer with a wire transfer, you don’t get money back. But if you paid a scammer through MoneyGram and filed a refund claim with Gilardi & Co., watch your mailbox. Refund checks worth over $115 million are on the way to almost 39,000 people whose claims were approved.
The refunds are distributing money from MoneyGram’s $125 million settlement with the FTC in 2018. In that case, the FTC and US Department of Justice charged that MoneyGram failed to meet agreements to crack down on consumer fraud involving money transfers. In 2021, people who paid scammers through MoneyGram between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2017, were eligible to file claims with Gilardi & Co., which is the claims administrator for the settlement. Gilardi & Co. is now sending checks to every person whose claim was approved.
The checks will say USPIS MoneyGram Remission Administrator and are drawn on Huntington National Bank. If someone says they can get you a refund if you pay them or give account information, that’s a scam. Don’t give money or information to anyone who promises to get you a refund. Read more about the case and these refunds at ftc.gov/moneygram. And if you filed a claim but don’t get a check, or if you have other questions about the refund process, contact Gilardi & Co. at moneygramremission.com.
If you think you paid a scammer, contact the wire transfer company. Tell them it was a fraudulent transfer. Ask them to reverse the wire transfer and give you your money back. Learn what else to do if you were scammed, and please report what you see to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
