Announcing The Money Back From Program MoneyGram [Updated]
An FTC MoneyGram Remission Program
Money Recovery – A SCARS Special Report
Money Back From MoneyGram?
This article is from 2018 about the MoneyGram Remission program
Please see our more recent articles for up-to-date information about MoneyGram refunds:
- U.S. FTC MoneyGram Refund Program Opens To Take Claims
- MoneyGram Refund Program Finally Starts Up After 4 Years Of Waiting!
The Federal Trade Commission Announced A Settlement With MoneyGram For $125 million!
November 8, 2018
by Karen Dodge
Staff Attorney, Midwest Region, FTCWe’ve all known for a long time that scammers ask people to pay by wiring money. Money wiring companies like MoneyGram and Western Union have also known that scammers have people wire money using their services. In fact, the FTC has sued both companies – which have paid a lot of money to settle those charges – over exactly that issue. When the FTC settled with those companies (MoneyGram in 2009, Western Union in 2017), they also agreed to make changes to protect people from fraud. Except MoneyGram didn’t actually take some of those important steps.
That’s why the FTC and the Department of Justice (DOJ) just announced a new settlement with MoneyGram for $125 million. That money will eventually go back to people who wired – and lost – money to a scammer through MoneyGram starting in 2013. (There will be a date range for eligible refund requests. Exact dates will follow.)
Here’s the story: in 2009, MoneyGram had promised to vet the agents they were hiring, train them to spot fraud, monitor them to watch for fraud-related money transfers, take action if they saw an agent who didn’t try to reduce fraud, and also record fraud complaints and share them with the FTC.
But the FTC’s investigation showed that MoneyGram hadn’t adequately done those things – especially in their large chain outlets. And MoneyGram’s system that should have helped spot and stop fraudsters operating in plain sight? It basically didn’t work for a year and a half, letting millions of dollars in fraud-related transfers go through.
Now, MoneyGram has to put in place more protections that address all the ways it did not follow the order last time. And pay that $125 million to DOJ, which will work with the FTC to set up a refund program to get it back to people.
What should you do to get a refund? Right now, nothing. It might take several months for the refund process to even start. When it does, it will be free to request a refund. And we’ll tell you here and at ftc.gov/MoneyGram what happens next.
References:
- MoneyGram Refund Program Overview »
- FTC filing addressing violations of the 2009 order, the FTC alleges that MoneyGram failed to implement the comprehensive fraud prevention program mandated by the 2009 order »
- MoneyGram also violated a separate 2012 deferred prosecution agreement with the Department of Justice »
- MoneyGram failed to implement the comprehensive fraud prevention program mandated by the 2009 order »
More Information
- Using Money Transfer Services »
- The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition, and protect and educate consumers »
-/ 30 /-
What do you think about this?
Please share your thoughts in a comment below!
Do You Need Support?
Get It Now!
SCARS provides the leading Support & Recovery program for relationship scam victims – completely FREE!
Our managed peer support groups allow victims to talk to other survivors and recover in the most experienced environment possible, for as long as they need. Recovery takes as long as it takes – we put no limits on our support!
SCARS is the most trusted support & education provider in the world. Our team is certified in trauma-informed care, grief counseling, and so much more!
To apply to join our groups visit support.AgainstScams.org
We also offer separate support groups for family & friends too.
Become a
SCARS STAR™ Member
SCARS offers memberships in our STAR program, which includes many benefits for a very low annual membership fee!
SCARS STAR Membership benefits include:
- FREE Counseling or Therapy Benefit from our partner BetterHelp.com
- Exclusive members-only content & publications
- Discounts on SCARS Self-Help Books Save
- And more!
To learn more about the SCARS STAR Membership visit membership.AgainstScams.org
To become a SCARS STAR Member right now visit join.AgainstScams.org
To Learn More Also Look At Our Article Catalogs
Scam & Crime Types
More SCARS
- ScamsNOW Magazine – ScamsNOW.com
- ContraEstafas.org
- ScammerPhotos.com
- AnyScam.com – reporting
- AgainstScams.org – SCARS Corporate Website
- SCARS YouTube Video Channel
Have I waited to long to collect back some of the money I sent to a Scammer? I have called local police and reported.
Unless you qualify for the Western Union or the MoneyGram repayment programs your money will not be coming back. Very sorry.
I filed a claim with the FTC with western union and called money gram about my looses and gave them my contol numbers they did nothing like to know how can make a claim
Just read our articles on Western Union and MoneyGram they explain what to do.