Residents who may have been victims of fraud via Western Union are being warned that the window for compensation is closing.
Windsor West MP Brian Masse reminded potential victims on Friday that there is a deadline of August 31 to apply for compensation. Any Canadian resident who was defrauded and sent money through Western Union between January 1, 2004, and January 19, 2017, is eligible to apply to get their money back.
"This is a unique opportunity for Canadians who have lost their money to recoup those funds," said Masse in a media release. "We know every year millions of dollars in losses are reported to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre, and nothing can usually be done to help victims receive their money back. This is a chance to help victims recoup their losses, and I encourage as many eligible Canadian victims as possible to apply."
Compensation was made possible through an agreement by Western Union to pay $586-million in settlements and to admit aiding and abetting wire fraud. The U.S. Justice Department is using that money to compensate victims in both the U.S. and Canada.
Retired RCMP Fraud Investigator John Mecher said that while the problem of people being defrauded has not gone away, those who were through Western Union now have some peace of mind.
"I know firsthand that fraudsters are relentless and will do everything they deem necessary to feed their hunger for ill-gotten gains," said Mecher. "They will exploit every opportunity to achieve their goals, including but not limited to the following recurring themes, windfalls, economic opportunities, emergencies, love, and extortion. Although victims of fraud are often overly represented by the elderly, newcomers, and the intellectually impaired, just about anyone can become a victim of fraud, given the right set of circumstances."
To be eligible for compensation, a request must be postmarked no later than Wednesday, August 31.
To learn how to apply and to get more information on the settlement, visit the webpage on the official U.S. Federal Trade Commission site.