COLUMBUS – A little over $200,000 is Ohio’s share of a multistate settlement with Western Union after complaints from consumers who used Western Union’s wire transfer service to send money to third parties involved in scams.
The $5 million settlement reached with 49 states and the District of Columbia requires Western Union to develop and put into action a comprehensive anti-fraud program, according to the office of Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine.
The company has agreed to develop a program to help prevent consumers from sending money to con artists using Western Union products:
Anti-fraud warnings on send forms that consumers use to wire money
Training and education for Western Union’s agents about fraud-induced wire transfers;
Heightened anti-fraud procedures
Monitoring of Western Union agent activity
Prompt and appropriate disciplinary action against Western Union agents who fail to follow required protocols concerning anti-fraud measures.
Western Union also has agreed to pay a total of $5 million to the states for their costs and fees. The Ohio Attorney General’s Office share is $234,038.30, DeWine said.