North Carolinians who were deceived into sending payments to scammers using Western Union’s wire transfer service may now apply for compensation from a $586 million fund administered by the United States Department of Justice’s Victim Asset Recovery Program. This fund is related to a multi-state settlement Attorney General Josh Stein and 49 other states, the District of Columbia, and Western Union announced in January.
For years, many people who lost money to scams sent their payment through a Western Union wire transfer. Scammers contacted people and promised prizes, loans, jobs, discounted products or other financial rewards in exchange for money upfront.
They also pretended to be family members in need of cash or law enforcement officers demanding payment. The scammers told people to send money through Western Union. No one received the cash, prizes or services they were promised.
“I urge anyone who may have been a victim of a scam using Western Union to contact my office, visit www.westernunionremission.com, or call 1-844-219-2124 to file a claim,” said Attorney General Stein. “This is your opportunity to be repaid for what was stolen from you, and I encourage you to take advantage.”
A number of Moore County residents are victims of this scam.
If you sent money to a scammer through Western Union between January 1, 2004 and January 19, 2017, you can submit a claim. You must submit a claim by February 12, 2018.
It may take up to a year to process and verify people’s claims and determine who is eligible to get a payment.
Anyone with questions or concerns should contact the North Carolina Department of Justice Consumer Protection Division via 1-877-5-NOSCAM or www.ncdoj.gov/complaint.
