Walmart Settles With The U.S. Government Over Walmart Gift Card Scams

Walmart Agrees To Refund To Victims Of Walmart Gift Card Scams

DEADLINE: JULY 14, 2023

Walmart Gift Card Remission Program

Beginning in the fall of 2015, Walmart, Inc. (“Walmart”) noticed a pattern of scams where unknown fraudsters directed victims to purchase Walmart gift cards with values typically ranging between $500 and $1,000. Between April 2016 and July 2017, Walmart froze the balances of the gift cards that were connected to this suspected fraud before the balances could be transferred to the fraudsters. Based on this conduct, and pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 981, the United States Attorney’s Office filed a Verified Complaint for Forfeiture against $3,958,060.84 in United States currency (22-USS-000172), representing the gift card balances frozen by Walmart.

You may be eligible for a Refund if you purchased Walmart gift cards to send money to a scammer

If you believe you were a victim of the fraud described above and you purchased a Walmart gift card between April 1, 2016 and July 31, 2017, you may be eligible for remission.

Eligibility

The Department of Justice hired Gilardi and Co. LLC (the same law firm responsible for the Western Union and MoneyGram remission programs) to serve as the claims administrator for the Walmart Gift Card remission process.  Please check www.walmartgiftcardremission.com or call 1-888-846-6824 for updates on the process and details on victim eligibility.

In order to be considered for a remission payment, you will be required to submit a Remission Form along with any available supporting documentation. Your petition must be postmarked on or before July 14, 2023, and mailed to:

Walmart Gift Card Remission Administrator
P.O. Box 6175
Novato, CA 94948-6175

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is this case about?Beginning in the fall of 2015, Walmart, Inc. (“Walmart”) noticed a pattern of scams where unknown fraudsters directed victims to purchase Walmart gift cards with values typically ranging between $500 and $1,000. Between April 2016 and July 2017, Walmart froze the balances of the gift cards that were connected to this suspected fraud before the balances could be transferred to the fraudsters. Based on this conduct, and pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 981, the United States Attorney’s Office filed a Verified Complaint for Forfeiture against $3,958,060.84 in United States currency (22-USS-000172), representing the gift card balances frozen by Walmart.
2. Who is eligible to file a Petition for Remission, and how?You may be eligible for a remission payment if, at the direction of an and unknown fraudster, you purchased and sent a Walmart Gift Card between April 1, 2016, and July 31, 2017, and were the victim of fraud.  To apply, you must file a Petition of Remission by July 14, 2023. The acceptance of Petitions for Remission postmarked after this date will be subject to the Justice Department’s discretion.
3. If I qualify, how much money will I get back?Your payment will be based only on the amount loaded onto the Walmart Gift Card, less any recoveries you have received from a bank or other source. This payment amount will likely be less than the amount you lost. You cannot recover collateral expenses, such as money transfer fees, incidental losses, or transfers sent through other companies.
4. What is remission?The money seized in relation to this action will be made available to victims through a process called “remission.” The remission process is governed by the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 28, Part 9. If you filed a petition for remission detailing the loss amount before the filing deadline, DOJ’s Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section will compare the requests to Walmart records, where available, and decide whether to grant the petition. After the DOJ has reviewed all petitions, approved petitioners will get payment for some or all of their approved loss.
5. How do I file a Petition for Remission?You may file a Petition for Remission online at the case website www.walmartgiftcardremission.com or you may file Petition for Remission you received via mail. You may mail the Petition to:

   Walmart Gift Card Remission Claims Administrator
   P.O. Box 6175
   Novato, CA 94948-6175

   Please enter all requested information that applies to your Petition for Remission. Failure to do so could result in your Petition being deemed deficient and potentially delay payment.

6. Which Walmart Gift Cards qualify?All Walmart Gift Cards that were purchased and seized within the United States between April 1, 2016, and July 31, 2017, may be eligible for remission.
7. Do I have to be a United States citizen to file a petition?No. You are not required to be a United States citizen to file a petition.
8. When will I get a payment?Currently, the Petition filing process is open. Payments will not be issued until after the filing period has ended and all submitted Petitions have been reviewed for eligibility.
9. What will happen if I do nothing?If you do not submit a Petition for Remission, you will not get a payment.
10. Why am I required to provide my Social Security Number?If your petition is approved, it must be reviewed by the Treasury Offset Program to verify that you do not owe any money to the federal government or certain state debts.  If you owe money, your payment will be used to pay your debt.  If your payment is more than the amount you owe, you will get the remainder. Your Social Security Number will not be shared or used for any other purpose.Only the amount of the gift card will be included in approved remission amounts. Collateral expenses such as fees, incidental losses, or transfers sent through other businesses are not recoverable through the remission process. More information is available HERE.
11. What if I do not have the Walmart Gift Card Numbers?The Gift Card Number is the number you get from Walmart when you purchased your gift card. You may still submit a petition without this number. Please provide any other details about the transaction that may help us validate the transfer.
12. Can I file a petition on behalf of an estate?Yes. If the person who purchased the gift card is deceased, please submit the petition in the name of the deceased and include verification of the death (Death Certificate) and documents showing that you represent the estate.
13. How can I print a blank petition form?A blank form is available HERE.
14. Do I need an attorney to file a petition?No, you do not need an attorney to file a petition.
15. Is there a fee for filing a petition?The Department of Justice does not charge fees for you to participate in the remission process.
16. Where can I get more information?For the latest information about the remission process:• Check the Home Page for updates.
    • Email info@walmartgiftcardremission.com
    • Or call (888) 846-6824
17. What is the issuing bank for the approved petitioners’ remission checks?Approved petitioners will receive checks issued by Huntington Bank.

PLEASE NOTE:

This information is provided by SCARS as a convenience only. We cannot guarantee that this information has not changed or been updated. Please check with the Remission Administrator for the latest information and updates.

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