Albuquerque, NM – This morning, Attorney General Hector Balderas announced that New Mexicans who were deceived into sending payments to scammers using Western Union's wire transfer service may now apply for compensation from a $586 million fund administered by the Department of Justice's Victim Asset Recovery Program. This fund is related to a multi-state settlement with New Mexico and 49 other states, the District of Columbia and Western Union that was first announced in January. New Mexicans may be eligible to receive compensation if they were a victim of a fraud-induced transfer using Western Union between January 1, 2004 and January 19, 2017.

"We have secured financial restitution for potentially thousands of New Mexico families that were scammed using Western Union over the past thirteen years," Attorney General Hector Balderas said. "New Mexicans who have been victims of a scam should call our office to report the fraud and seek assistance from our consumer advocates."

New Mexicans who reported to Western Union or the Office of the Attorney General that they had been the victim of a scam using Western Union may receive a claim form in the mail. The claim form will be sent from the settlement administrator in the next two weeks. The form will contain instructions explaining how consumers may file their claim to receive compensation.

If New Mexicans do not receive a claim form in the mail but believe they have an eligible claim, they should visit http://www.westernunionremission.com or call 1-844-319-2124 for more information on how to file a claim. All completed claim forms must be mailed back to the settlement administrator by February 12, 2018.

The Office of Attorney General Hector Balderas offers advocates to help consumers who encounter scams, faulty products and broken promises. The Attorney General advises those who need help to fill out a consumer complaint form on his website at www.nmag.gov or to call 717-3500 and toll-free statewide 1-844-255-9210.