Western Union Remission Phase 3 -- File a Petition by August 19, 2026

What happened

Class period: January 1, 2004 through March 9, 2020. Petitions previously limited to the January 1, 2004 through January 19, 2017 window have been extended to cover this full period.

• In January 2017, Western Union entered a deferred prosecution agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice, admitting it violated the Bank Secrecy Act and anti-fraud laws by processing hundreds of thousands of transactions tied to an international consumer fraud scheme.
• Fraudsters used scams including the grandparent scam (posing as a relative in urgent need of money), lottery and sweepstakes scams (claiming the victim won a prize but owed fees), and romance scams (posing as an online love interest). Victims were directed to send money through Western Union and never received the promised cash, prize, or item.
• Western Union agreed to forfeit $586 million to compensate victims through a process called "remission," overseen by the DOJ. The petition window has now been extended to cover transfers made between January 1, 2004 and March 9, 2020.

What you can get

Key dates

Who may qualify

• You sent a money transfer through Western Union between January 1, 2004 and March 9, 2020
• You were the victim of fraud, such as a grandparent, lottery, sweepstakes, or romance scam
• You can document the loss, or you received a pre-populated petition listing your reported transactions

How to file

1. File online using the PIN and Claim ID printed on the first page of the letter you received
2. If you did not get a pre-filled petition, file online or download a blank Petition for Remission form from the Case Documents tab and mail it in
3. Upload supporting documentation online, or mail it to the administrator -- petitions and documents cannot be submitted by email
4. Submit online or postmark your petition by August 19, 2026

Proof required

• If you agree with the loss amount on a pre-populated petition, just sign, date, and complete the Social Security or ITIN section -- no extra documentation needed
• If you disagree or are filing without a pre-filled form, complete the Supplemental Transaction Form and provide documentation such as the Western Union send form and receipt plus details of the fraud
• Acceptable proof includes money transfer receipts and MTCN records; do not send original documents
• An SSN or ITIN is required so the payment can be checked against the Treasury Offset Program; non-U.S. citizens select the "I am not a U.S. Citizen" option

Payment timing

The DOJ does not give an estimated payment date and is working to compensate victims as quickly as possible. Approved petitioners receive payment for some or all of their verified loss. Check the official site for status updates.

Important links

• Official website
• Claim form
• FAQs
• Documents

Contact

Extra details

• There is no fee to file and you do not need an attorney
• Payments cover only the money transfer amount, not collateral costs like wire fees, incidental losses, or transfers sent through other companies
• You can file on behalf of someone who has died by submitting the petition in their name with a death certificate, your photo ID, and proof you represent the estate
• Over two prior phases, the DOJ has distributed more than $430 million to over 178,000 victims, all fully compensated for their losses
• The remission administrator is Verita Global LLC, formerly Gilardi & Co.; petitions and documents cannot be emailed
• No Form 1099 comes with the payment; consult a tax professional with any tax questions

FAQ

Related guides