Millions of Americans are receiving or could receive consumer refunds following settlements involving the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and several major companies. The payments relate to allegations involving shipping charges, cash advances, data privacy, money transfers and product advertising. The companies involved did not admit wrongdoing but agreed to settlements to resolve the allegations.
FTC Sends More Than $30 Million in Recent Refunds
Several large distributions have been announced by the FTC. Among the payments already sent:
- GOAT: More than $100,000 to 6,205 consumers.
- Cleo AI: $15.8 million settlement involving allegations over cash advances and subscriptions.
- Avast: $14.5 million distributed to more than 91,000 consumers.
- Razer: More than $906,000 in refund checks.
Together, the reported distributions from these four cases exceed $31 million. Other settlements involve additional compensation for eligible consumers.
GOAT Customers Receive Payments Over Expedited Shipping
Online marketplace GOAT faced allegations that it shipped some orders later than expected despite customers paying for expedited delivery. The FTC sent more than $100,000 to 6,205 eligible consumers who paid for expedited shipping between 2020 and 2024.
The payments relate to customers who were affected by the allegations surrounding the shipping service.
Cleo AI Settlement Involves $15.8 Million
The FTC also reached a $15.8 million settlement with Cleo AI. The agency alleged that some customers waited several days for payments, while others did not receive the amounts they expected from cash advances.
The FTC also alleged that Cleo made it difficult for some customers to cancel subscriptions. Consumers receiving payments through PayPal were notified by email between October 8 and October 26, 2026.
Avast Pays $14.5 Million to Consumers
Software company Avast was accused by the FTC of collecting and selling customers’ browsing information to third parties without their permission. The agency has distributed $14.5 million to more than 91,000 consumers who filed eligible claims.
The payments form part of the resolution of the FTC’s allegations against the company.
AdvoCare Settlement Could Affect More Than 170,000 People
AdvoCare agreed to a $149.2 million settlement with the FTC following allegations concerning its business practices. The agency alleged that distributors were given exaggerated claims about the amount of money they could earn through the company.
More than 170,000 people were made eligible for payments under the settlement. The settlement amount is much larger than the refund distributions listed in several of the other cases, although the information provided does not establish that the entire $149.2 million has been distributed to consumers.
Walmart Settlement Involves $9.8 Million
Walmart separately agreed to a $9.8 million settlement concerning allegations involving its money transfer services. The FTC alleged that Walmart failed to properly train employees and did not adequately warn customers or secure its money transfer services against fraud.
A total of 65,022 consumers were made eligible for compensation. The settlement resolved the FTC’s allegations without Walmart admitting wrongdoing.
Razer Sends More Than $900,000 in Refunds
Gaming technology company Razer was accused of falsely advertising its Zephyr face masks as meeting the N95 standard. The FTC sent more than $906,000 in refund checks to consumers affected by the case.
As with the other settlements, the resolution does not represent an admission of wrongdoing by the company.
What Consumers Should Know About FTC Refunds
FTC refunds can be distributed through different methods depending on the settlement. Eligible consumers may receive payments by check, electronic payment or another method specified by the FTC.
People should be cautious about unexpected messages requesting banking details, passwords or upfront fees in exchange for a supposed refund. The FTC does not require consumers to pay a fee to receive a legitimate refund.
Consumers who believe they may have been involved in one of the settlements should rely on information published by the FTC rather than unsolicited messages.
The recent cases show that compensation can reach consumers months or years after an investigation or settlement, with millions of dollars being returned through multiple enforcement actions.
