It isn’t often that victims of scams see a return on any of the money they lost. But a Texas company has just agreed to pay 100 million dollars to the United States Justice Department to help pay back some of the money it cheated out of American citizens.

MoneyGram International, Inc. is a global money services business headquartered in Dallas, Texas that is at the heart of a huge lawsuit. It seems the company was involved in several scams that mostly targeted the elderly, including one that offered large cash prizes. Another promised compensation for people who acted as “secret shoppers.” And still another offered various high-ticket items for sale over the internet for drastically reduced prices.

You  may remember a scam that was in the news where seniors would receive a desperate call from someone posing to be a granchild or distant relative. They would claim to be in trouble and in need of money - for bail, or to get back in the country, whatever.

In each case, the victims sent payments through the MoneyGram system and then never received what they were promised. Now, the company has agreed to forfeit one hundred million dollars to the United States Justice Department.  Money that will be used to offer some restitution to MoneyGram’s victims.

The Maine Attorney General's office said in a press release today that if you think you've lost money as the result of the MoneyGram schemes between 2004 and 2009, you may be eligible for compensation. More information can be found on a website set up by the Justice Department, or you can call one of the following numbers. Claims must be filed by November 15, 2013.

Toll-free number (United States Only): 877-282-2610

Toll Number (International): 317-324-0390

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