MoneyGram Refund Program Finally Starts Up After 4 Years Of Waiting! [UPDATED]
Four years ago, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission settled an action against MoneyGram for their participation in Money Laundering and Facilitating Scams
The program has finally started and victims can begin to obtain the benefit of this program.
MoneyGram Refunds
Refund Program Will Return Millions To People Who Used Moneygram To Pay Scammers
- In a 2009 settlement with the FTC, MoneyGram agreed to make changes to make it harder for con-artists to use MoneyGram to defraud consumers.
- However, a joint law enforcement action by the FTC, the Department of Justice (DOJ), and the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) charged that MoneyGram had not done what they agreed to do to reduce fraud.
- The company agreed to pay $125 million to settle, which is being used to return money to people who used MoneyGram to pay scammers.
What’s happening right now?
The remission administrator, Gilardi & Co. LLC, is sending pre-filled claim forms to people who paid scammers using MoneyGram transfers.
The claim form will state the dollar amount you lost, based on MoneyGram records. Here’s what to do if you get a pre-filled claim form:
- If you agree with the loss amount shown, complete the form, and mail it back before the deadline. Be sure to sign and date the form, and provide your Social Security number.
- If you don’t agree with the loss amount shown, follow the instructions on the form to provide documents that show your actual loss amount.
Mail your completed claim to United States v. MoneyGram International Inc., P.O. Box 43549, Providence, RI 02940-3549, or submit your claim online at moneygramremission.com. This address is for the officially appointed refund program administrators.
From The Administrator:
The Remission Administrator is mailing Petitions for Remission in the second half of February 2021 to victims that have been identified.
These forms will show your known eligible loss based on records in the possession of the USPIS. If you get a pre-filled petition form and agree with the amount shown, sign and date the form and mail it back in the return envelope provided or submit it online.
If you don’t agree with the loss amount printed on your pre-filled petition form, fill out the information requested on the petition form and supply documentation (MoneyGram receipts, send forms, or history reports with a listed eight-digit money transfer control number) to support your claim. Do not send original receipts.
If you did not receive a Petition for Remission, please wait until June 1, 2021. You will be able to submit a petition online or via mail at that time.
Please continue to check this website regularly for updates.
QUESTION: How do I know this claim form is legitimate?
Your MoneyGram claim form should have:
- a return address of United States v. MoneyGram International Inc, P.O. Box 43549, Providence, RI 02940-3549,
- the remission administrator’s phone number, 844-269-2630, and
- the official seals of the Department of Justice and the United States Postal Inspection Service.
It’s free to file your claim. Do not pay anyone who asks for money to file a claim.
QUESTION: Why does the claim form ask for my Social Security number?
Before sending you a refund, DOJ must check with the Treasury Offset Program to verify that you don’t owe any money to the federal government. It needs your Social Security number to do that. If you owe money, your refund amount could be reduced by the amount you owe.
QUESTION: I didn’t get a prefilled claim form. Can I still file a claim?
After June 1, 2021, people who did not receive a pre-filled claim form will be able to file a claim. You will be able to file a claim if you sent money to a scammer using MoneyGram:
- between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2017,
- from within the United States, and
- using your own name on the money transfer.
What happens next?
It will take at least a year to review and verify claims and determine who is eligible to receive a payment. The FTC will update their web page when there is more information: moneygramremission.com
Additional information is available at moneygramremission.com/frequently-asked-questions.aspx.
Statement About Victim Blaming
Some of our articles discuss various aspects of victims. This is both about better understanding victims (the science of victimology) and their behaviors and psychology. This helps us to educate victims/survivors about why these crimes happened and to not blame themselves, better develop recovery programs, and to help victims avoid scams in the future. At times this may sound like blaming the victim, but it does not blame scam victims, we are simply explaining the hows and whys of the experience victims have.
These articles, about the Psychology of Scams or Victim Psychology – meaning that all humans have psychological or cognitive characteristics in common that can either be exploited or work against us – help us all to understand the unique challenges victims face before, during, and after scams, fraud, or cybercrimes. These sometimes talk about some of the vulnerabilities the scammers exploit. Victims rarely have control of them or are even aware of them, until something like a scam happens and then they can learn how their mind works and how to overcome these mechanisms.
Articles like these help victims and others understand these processes and how to help prevent them from being exploited again or to help them recover more easily by understanding their post-scam behaviors. Learn more about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org
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To apply to join our groups visit support.AgainstScams.org
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More SCARS
- ScamsNOW Magazine – ScamsNOW.com
- ContraEstafas.org
- ScammerPhotos.com
- AnyScam.com – reporting
- AgainstScams.org – SCARS Corporate Website
- SCARS YouTube Video Channel
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