SCARS Institute’s Encyclopedia of Scams™ Published Continuously for 25 Years
Western Union Remission Phase 2
Per the official website: https://www.westernunionremissionphase2.com/
UPDATE June 17, 2022: The original submission deadline for Petitions for Remission was July 1, 2022. The deadline to submit a Petition for Remission has now been extended to August 31, 2022. Petitions for Remission must be postmarked or submitted online on or before August 31, 2022. The acceptance of mailed Petitions for Remission postmarked after this date will be subject to the Justice Department’s discretion.
UPDATE March 18, 2022: Phase Two of the remission process for the Western Union case has started. Over 300,000 petitions have been mailed to identified victims who did not file a petition in the initial phase. The petition can be filed electronically using the Claim ID and Pin included on the letter or mailed to the address listed on the petition.
IF YOU PREVIOUSLY FILED A PETITION IN THE INITIAL WESTERN UNION REMISSION PLEASE DO NOT FILE ANOTHER PETITION IN THE WESTERN UNION REMISSION PHASE TWO.
Summary:
On January 19, 2017, the Western Union Company (Western Union) entered into a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) with the United States. Pursuant to the DPA, Western Union acknowledged responsibility for its criminal conduct, which included violations of the Bank Secrecy Act and aiding and abetting wire fraud, and agreed to forfeit $586 million, which has been made available to compensate victims of the international consumer fraud scheme through the remission process. Western Union simultaneously resolved a parallel civil investigation with the Federal Trade Commission.
The scheme, investigated by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, involved the targeting of consumers by fraudsters through multiple scams. These scams included the grandparent scam, where the fraudster would pose as the victim’s relative in need of immediate money to avoid personal harm, the lottery or sweepstakes scams, where the fraudster would tell the victim that they had won a large cash prize but had to pay fees such as taxes to claim the prize, and the romance scams, where the fraudster would pose as an online love interest and request funds for a visit or for another purpose. In each of these scams the fraudsters convinced their victims to send money through Western Union, and no victims received the promised cash, prize, or promoted item.
The U.S. Department of Justice is overseeing the remission process and hired Gilardi & Co., LLC (Gilardi) to serve as the remission administrator in this matter. To date, the Department of Justice has distributed over $366 million in funds forfeited to the U.S. government from Western Union to over 148,000 victims, all of whom received full compensation for their losses. Due to the continued availability of forfeited funds to compensate additional victims, the Department of Justice has opened the petition process to potential victims who have not previously submitted petitions for remission.
If you believe you were a victim of the fraud described above and you made a wire transfer through Western Union between January 1, 2004 and January 19, 2017, you may be eligible for remission.
In order to be considered for a remission payment, you will be required to submit a Petition for Remission Form along with any available supporting documentation. Your petition must be postmarked on or before August 31, 2022, and completed online or mailed to:
United States v. The Western Union Company
PO Box 43532
Providence RI 02940-3532
Initial Western Union Remission:
In 2018, the remission process for the Western Union case started and over 500,000 petitions were mailed to identified victims. Over 180,000 petitions were received in the initial Western Union remission process. Since then, three distributions have been completed.
If you previously filed a claim or received a distribution, please visit the Western Union Remission website here or send an email to info@westernunionremission.com.
IF YOU PREVIOUSLY FILED A PETITION IN THE INITIAL WESTERN UNION REMISSION PLEASE DO NOT FILE ANOTHER PETITION IN THE WESTERN UNION REMISSION PHASE TWO.
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Important Information for New Scam Victims
- Please visit www.ScamVictimsSupport.org – a SCARS Website for New Scam Victims & Sextortion Victims
- Enroll in FREE SCARS Scam Survivor’s School now at www.SCARSeducation.org
- Please visit www.ScamPsychology.org – to more fully understand the psychological concepts involved in scams and scam victim recovery
If you are looking for local trauma counselors please visit counseling.AgainstScams.org or join SCARS for our counseling/therapy benefit: membership.AgainstScams.org
If you need to speak with someone now, you can dial 988 or find phone numbers for crisis hotlines all around the world here: www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines
A Note About Labeling!
We often use the term ‘scam victim’ in our articles, but this is a convenience to help those searching for information in search engines like Google. It is just a convenience and has no deeper meaning. If you have come through such an experience, YOU are a Survivor! It was not your fault. You are not alone! Axios!
A Question of Trust
At the SCARS Institute, we invite you to do your own research on the topics we speak about and publish, Our team investigates the subject being discussed, especially when it comes to understanding the scam victims-survivors experience. You can do Google searches but in many cases, you will have to wade through scientific papers and studies. However, remember that biases and perspectives matter and influence the outcome. Regardless, we encourage you to explore these topics as thoroughly as you can for your own awareness.
Statement About Victim Blaming
SCARS Institute articles examine different aspects of the scam victim experience, as well as those who may have been secondary victims. This work focuses on understanding victimization through the science of victimology, including common psychological and behavioral responses. The purpose is to help victims and survivors understand why these crimes occurred, reduce shame and self-blame, strengthen recovery programs and victim opportunities, and lower the risk of future victimization.
At times, these discussions may sound uncomfortable, overwhelming, or may be mistaken for blame. They are not. Scam victims are never blamed. Our goal is to explain the mechanisms of deception and the human responses that scammers exploit, and the processes that occur after the scam ends, so victims can better understand what happened to them and why it felt convincing at the time, and what the path looks like going forward.
Articles that address the psychology, neurology, physiology, and other characteristics of scams and the victim experience recognize that all people share cognitive and emotional traits that can be manipulated under the right conditions. These characteristics are not flaws. They are normal human functions that criminals deliberately exploit. Victims typically have little awareness of these mechanisms while a scam is unfolding and a very limited ability to control them. Awareness often comes only after the harm has occurred.
By explaining these processes, these articles help victims make sense of their experiences, understand common post-scam reactions, and identify ways to protect themselves moving forward. This knowledge supports recovery by replacing confusion and self-blame with clarity, context, and self-compassion.
Additional educational material on these topics is available at ScamPsychology.org – ScamsNOW.com and other SCARS Institute websites.
Psychology Disclaimer:
All articles about psychology and the human brain on this website are for information & education only
The information provided in this article is intended for educational and self-help purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional therapy or counseling.
While any self-help techniques outlined herein may be beneficial for scam victims seeking to recover from their experience and move towards recovery, it is important to consult with a qualified mental health professional before initiating any course of action. Each individual’s experience and needs are unique, and what works for one person may not be suitable for another.
Additionally, any approach may not be appropriate for individuals with certain pre-existing mental health conditions or trauma histories. It is advisable to seek guidance from a licensed therapist or counselor who can provide personalized support, guidance, and treatment tailored to your specific needs.
If you are experiencing significant distress or emotional difficulties related to a scam or other traumatic event, please consult your doctor or mental health provider for appropriate care and support.
Also read our SCARS Institute Statement about Professional Care for Scam Victims – click here to go to our ScamsNOW.com website.
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