Walmart Gift Card Scam and its $4 Million Settlement:
In 2015, Walmart Inc. began noticing a disturbing pattern of scams involving their gift cards. Fraudsters were directing innocent victims to purchase Walmart gift cards, typically valued between $500 and $1,000, as part of a wider fraudulent scheme. Recognizing this, Walmart froze the balances of the implicated gift cards between April 2016 and July 2017, preventing the fraudsters from transferring the funds.
This action led to a legal case filed by the U.S. Department of Justice, known as "United States of America vs. $3,958,060.84 United States Currency". The case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Arkansas under case number 5:22-cv-05026-TLB. The aim of the case was to forfeit the frozen gift card balances for remission payments to affected customers.
The U.S. Department of Justice successfully secured nearly $4 million for remission, money now available to refund customers who fell victim to the scam. This sum represents the total settlement amount involved in the case. Due to the fraudulent scheme, the remission program is designed to benefit consumers who purchased a Walmart gift card between April 1, 2016, and July 31, 2017.
You might be eligible for a remission payment if you purchased a Walmart gift card during this period due to the scam. The potential award varies based on the amount loaded onto the Walmart gift cards each victim purchased. It's important to note that payments will be reduced if consumers have already received payments from a bank or another source. Moreover, remission payments will not cover collateral expenses related to the scheme.
To be considered for a remission payment, consumers must provide documentation of their gift card purchases as proof of purchase. The deadline to file a claim is July 14, 2023.
To file a claim, consumers must complete a remission form and submit it by the aforementioned deadline. No exclusion or objection deadline exists for this remission, and no final approval hearing for the Walmart gift card scam remission is scheduled.
Walmart Gift Card Remission Administrator
P.O. Box 6175
Novato, CA 94948-6175
The Walmart gift card scam remission is an important step towards relieving victims of this fraudulent scheme. By offering a chance for remission, Walmart and the Department of Justice demonstrate a commitment to protecting consumers and fighting against fraud. If you believe you may be eligible for a remission payment, be sure to file a claim by the July 14, 2023, deadline.
