People who lost money to scammers after sending funds through Western Union may still be able to recover some or all of their losses under a U.S. Department of Justice remission program.
The deadline to file a Petition for Remission has been extended to December 31, 2026, according to the official Western Union Remission Phase 3 website.
Who may be eligible
People may qualify if they sent a money transfer through Western Union between January 1, 2004, and March 9, 2020 and were victims of fraud.
The program covers schemes including romance scams, lottery or sweepstakes scams and grandparent scams, among other frauds involving Western Union transfers.
More than $430 million already returned
Western Union agreed in 2017 to forfeit $586 million as part of agreements with the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission.
According to the remission administrator, more than $430 million has already been distributed to more than 178,000 victims over two phases of the program.
How to apply
Eligible victims can submit a Petition for Remission online through the official Western Union Remission Phase 3 website or mail the required form and supporting documentation.
The petition must be submitted online or postmarked on or before December 31, 2026. The program says filing is free.
Official portal: WesternUnionRemissionPhase3.com
Avoid follow-up scams
Applicants should use only the official remission website and contact information. The remission administrator states that there is no fee to file a petition.
Sources: U.S. Department of Justice Western Union remission program; Western Union Remission Phase 3 administrator.
