Thousands of Walmart customers in the US will be receiving refunds following a Federal Trade Commission complaint alleging the international retailer failed to stop scammers from defrauding consumers.
According to the FTC announcement, around 65,000 consumers will be sent refund checks totaling $9.8 million as a result of a settlement reached with Walmart in June 2025.
The FTC alleged that Walmart allowed scammers to use its money transfer services between 2013 and 2018, prompting a 2022 complaint against the retailer.
“The company turned a blind eye while scammers took advantage of its failure to properly secure the money transfer services offered at Walmart stores,” the FTC alleged in an announcement at the time. “The company did not properly train its employees, failed to warn customers, and used procedures that allowed fraudsters to cash out at its stores.”
In addition to the payout, the settlement also prohibits Walmart from offering money transfer services “without taking timely and appropriate action to effectively detect and prevent fraud-induced money transfers” or paying out money transfers that are known to be fraud-induced.
“Electronic money transfers are one of the most common ways that scammers tell consumers to send them money, because once it’s sent, it’s gone for good,” Christopher Mufarrige, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in a 2025 announcement. “Companies that provide these services must train their employees to comply with the law and work to protect consumers.”
Consumers affected will be receiving checks from the FTC, and will have 90 days to cash the check. The FTC notes that consumers may direct their questions regarding payments to Rust Consulting, the refund administrator.
The FTC settlement is not Walmart’s only recent widespread refund. As part of a new combined Walmart+ and Sam’s Club Plus membership deal—offering both for $120 annually—the company announced this week that customers currently paying for both will be able to receive a “prorated refund” for the Walmart+ membership.
