Millions of Americans look to Walmart as their go-to place to pick up essentials. According to a complaint filed by the FTC, among the people who have come to rely on Walmart for their day-to-day needs are fraudsters who have allegedly used the retail giant’s money transfer services to bilk consumers out of millions of dollars. The FTC lawsuit charges that Walmart’s practice of looking the other way in the face of massive fraud and illegal telemarketing transactions violates the law.
Whether it’s an IRS impersonation scam, a sweepstakes fraud, or one of those “Help, Grandma. I’ve been arrested!” rip-offs, the transfer of money is the lifeblood of con artists – and they depend on a seamless way to convert their cons into cold cash. According to the FTC, that’s where Walmart’s money transfer services come in.
In addition to its retail business, Walmart runs a thriving operation as a financial services provider. Walmart acts as an agent for multiple money transfer services, including MoneyGram, Ria and Western Union, and offers services under its Walmart2Walmart and Walmart2World brands.
There is a good reason why money transfers are a pet payment method for fraudsters. Once a transfer has been picked up, the transaction is almost impossible to reverse. The criminal is often home free while the consumer is left high and dry. The FTC has been sounding the alarm about the role that money transfer operators play in the flimflam ecosystem, resulting in law…
