To Canadians, scam phone calls can be ubiquitous, with callers claiming to represent the Canada Revenue Agency or offer technical support — or they’re pitching loan, job or romance scams. It’s a long list.
For victims who sent money to scammers using Western Union’s money-transfer service, there is a way to get all of your cash back.
But it’s a time-limited offer. The process to apply is laid out here.
Claims must be made by Aug. 31, 2022. After that, the enormous $586-million US (about $750-million Cdn) fund will close.
The money became available after a federal investigation in the United States targeted Western Union for its role in the scheme, in which scammers convinced people to send money — sometimes tens of thousands of dollars — through the transfer service.
Western Union avoided prosecution by setting aside the money, which is to be disbursed to scam victims who experienced a financial loss between Jan. 1, 2004 and Jan. 19, 2017.
In a deferred prosecution agreement, the company acknowledged responsibility for its criminal conduct, which included violations of the U.S. Bank Secrecy Act and aiding and abetting wire fraud.
Although the settlement was reached in the U.S., compensation is available to victims globally, including those in Canada. So far, more than 148,000 people have been compensated.
Charges laid against Canadian ‘money mules’
Law enforcement officials in Canada have not laid similar charges against any money-transfer organizations, but police have…
