Still time to claim scam refunds
A DEADLINE for a pot of money available to those in Halton who had been scammed by paying a con artist using Western Union has been extended.
Last year the borough’s Trading Standards discovered the funds in America were available.
Halton was featured in national publicity for spearheading this, including The One Show.
The deadline was supposed to be Monday, February 12, but it has now been extended to Thursday, May 31.
It is available to those in the borough who lost money to a scammer and paid using Western Union between January 2004 and January 19, 2017.
The Federal Trade Commission in the USA reached a settlement with Western Union to return $586m to its customers who lost money to con artists.
Western Union received 550,000 complaints about money transfers made for scam lotteries and prize draws, advance fee loans and online dating.
Halton Trading Standards contacted the Federal Trade Commission which confirmed that UK residents are entitled to file a claim.
Runcorn and Widnes residents could receive a partial or even a full refund by completing an on line claim form.
Residents do not have to pay anything to get their money back and it is free to file a claim.
A remission form must be completed and any documents relating to the money transfer and the scam or fraud can be sent, though residents who do not have any documents can still claim providing they know when they sent the money, the amount sent and the country that the money was sent to.
Halton Borough Council’s executive board member for Trading Standards, Cllr Dave Cargill, said: “You do not have to pay to get your money back.
“Don’t pay anyone who says they can file a claim for you.
“Nobody will ever call you to ask for your bank account or credit card number.
“It’s free to file your claim form, and you can only do it online or by mail. Find the claim form and the only real address that accepts claims at www. westernunionremission.com”
It will take up to a year to validate all the claims it gets and return money to people.
A council spokesman said: “If you sent the money a long time ago, you may be struggling to remember the date that you sent it.
“Think about what else was happening in your life at the time: had you been recently bereaved; moved house; was there a birth in the family; was it around the time of a major sporting, political or world event?
“If you haven’t kept all of your bank statements you may need to ask your bank to send you copies, which will be much easier if you can identify the year involved.”
The petition can be filed electronically on or before May 31 or it can be printed and send in the post.
It must be postmarked on or before May 31, and mailed to United States v. The Western Union Company, PO Box 404027, Louisville, KY 40233-4027.
Halton residents who need help to file the claim can call 0151 511 8785 or 0151 511 8775. ●