A check from the FTC, or a PayPal email about a refund, can be real. In October 2026 the Federal Trade Commission announced three payouts to people harmed in its cases, and scammers are pretending to be the FTC at the same time. This short video shows which payouts are real, the one sentence the FTC repeats in every announcement, and how to check before you act. It is information, not legal or financial advice.
Read the full guide: Is Your FTC Refund Check Real?
The three payouts
On October 15, 2026, the FTC said it is sending more than $9.8 million in checks to 65,022 people harmed by Walmart's alleged failure to stop scammers who used its wire transfer services. The FTC's Walmart refunds page says the checks go to people who completed eligible money transfers at Walmart between January 2015 and December 2024. Checks should be cashed within 90 days.
On October 8, 2026, the FTC said it is sending more than $15.8 million to 2,124,796 customers of the cash advance app Cleo AI. Eligible customers get an email by October 26, 2026, PayPal payments start on October 27, 2026, and they should be redeemed within 30 days.
On October 6, 2026, the FTC said it is sending more than $100,000 by check or PayPal to 6,205 customers of the online marketplace GOAT who have not been paid yet.
The line the FTC repeats
The Walmart and GOAT releases say: "The Commission never requires people to pay money or provide account information to get a payment." The Cleo AI release says the same with "to receive a payment".
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Learn About Our ServicesThe FTC also warns that it will never threaten you, tell you to transfer money to get a refund, or promise you a prize.
Check before you act
Ask whether the payment matches one of these cases. Find the refund administrator on the FTC website and call that number, not one from an email or a call.
The refund administrators named in the releases: Rust Consulting at 1-833-472-1990 for Walmart, Rust Consulting at 877-788-4958 for Cleo AI, and JND Legal Administration at 1-888-970-2410 for GOAT.
One rule for your business
Our suggestion, not an FTC rule: if a caller says they are a government agency and asks for money or account details, hang up and call the agency back on its official number.
Report fake refund offers at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. This page is information, not legal advice.