Western Union Investigation: FTC Launches Probe Over Fraud-Induced Money Transfers

FTC Investigates Western Union For Fraud

Feb 25 (Reuters) - Money-transfer company Western Union Co is being probed by the Federal Trade Commission and a U.S. district court over fraud-induced money transfers, the company said in a regulatory filing on Monday.

The company said it received a civil investigative demand from the FTC on Feb. 21, requesting documents related to consumer complaints regarding fraud-induced money transfers sent from or received in the United States since 2004.

Western Union also said it has received multiple subpoenas since Nov. 25 from the U.S. attorney's office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

The inquiries have sought documents related to complaints made by consumers to Western Union relating to fraud-induced money transfers since Jan. 1, 2008, as well as information about Western Union's agents, the company said in the filing.

"The government's investigation is ongoing and the company may receive additional requests for information as part of the investigation," Western Union said.

Western Union has been battling the FTC over a civil investigative demand for information about consumer complaints in December 2012. A federal judge in New York ordered the company to comply with the request last December.

The world's largest money-transfer company reported a 27 percent drop in fourth-quarter profit, largely due higher costs linked to tightened regulations to prevent money laundering.

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