A valid claim form for a fraud remission refund is a completed and signed petition with proof, filed by the deadline. Remission is the federal process that returns forfeited funds to fraud victims.
Readers of settlement sites often meet two different refund paths. One path is Justice Department remission, which requires a formal petition. The other path is a Federal Trade Commission refund, which often requires no form at all.
Official resources:
- Read the official notice from FTC — Use this primary source to verify the official announcement.
- Read the official notice from Justice — Use this primary source to verify the official announcement.
Table of Contents
- What must a remission petition include?
- How do you prove dollar loss?
- How do you show you qualify as a victim?
- Where and when does the form count?
- Do FTC refunds use the same form?
What must a remission petition include?
According to U.S. Department of Justice rules published on Forfeiture.gov, a petition must identify the claimant by name, address and Social Security or taxpayer ID, describe the interest in forfeited property, and state facts justifying return in clear terms through the federal remission requirements. Those details let the reviewer connect you to specific funds.
A form missing identity or factual basis is not reviewable. Every petition and supporting factual statement must also be sworn under penalty of perjury. The Justice Department generally expects a supporting affidavit from you or your counsel. An unsigned statement, even with receipts attached, does not meet the standard.
How do you prove dollar loss?
A fraud victim seeking remission must prove a specific dollar loss directly caused by the offense. According to the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, proof means invoices, receipts or transfer records tied to the fraud. Estimates or general claims of harm are not enough.
Western Union remission shows how strict that proof can be. Victims had to show a wire transfer sent from Jan. 1, 2004 to March 9, 2020 and lost to fraud, minus refunds already received. Accepted proof included send forms, receipts or bank records showing holder, date and amount. Use this quick check before filing:.
- loss amount stated in exact dollars
- transfer, invoice or receipt linking payment to the fraud
- prior refunds subtracted from the claimed balance
- names, dates and amounts readable on each document
How do you show you qualify as a victim?
You must also show non-participation in the crime. According to the Justice Department rule explained by Cornell LII, the victim must show no participation, no willful blindness or benefit, and no other compensation leaving unrecovered loss in the victim eligibility rule. That rule protects funds for people harmed by the scheme.
This means your affidavit should address conduct as well as loss. State that you did not take part, did not ignore clear warning signs, and did not profit. Also list any repayments, chargebacks or other awards, then claim only the remaining loss.
Where and when does the form count?
According to the Justice Department press release on Western Union Phase Three, only a completed and signed petition plus supporting documentation, filed online, mailed or emailed to the named remission administrator by the case deadline, counts as reviewable in the Phase Three compensation announcement. The administrator and deadline change by case. A correct form sent to the wrong office or after cutoff will not be reviewed.
Read the case notice first, then match it exactly. Use the named portal, address or email. Keep copies of the signed petition, attachments and mailing or submission confirmation.
Do FTC refunds use the same form?
No. Most FTC refund cases require no claim form at all. According to FTC refund program guidance, any real FTC payment or form is listed at ftc.gov/refunds with the company and contact number. If your case is not listed there, do not submit personal data to a copycat site.
When the FTC does require a form, the instructions are narrower than remission. For NGL Pro buyers from Jan. 2022 through July 2024, adults filed online by the stated deadline and minors needed a parent to file, with contact, purchase and unrefunded-amount details. Check the FTC case page for the company name, date range and filing method before acting.