USA v. Epsilon Data Mgmt, LLC Frequently Asked Questions

The United States Department of Justice, together with other federal law enforcement partners, has conducted an investigation into companies who supplied consumer data, such as names and addresses, to entities engaged in fraudulent mass-mailing schemes. Such schemes typically involved letters sent by mail falsely promising large cash prizes or other rewards in exchange for payment of a fee. If you received a notice, the Department of Justice has determined that you may be eligible as an heir of a victim to receive some or all of a payment as compensation.

On January 19, 2021, Epsilon Data Management LLC (Epsilon) entered into a settlement with the Department of Justice to resolve a criminal charge for selling millions of Americans’ information to perpetrators of elder fraud schemes.  

Under the terms of the DPA, Epsilon agreed to pay a total of $150 million, with $127.5 million of that amount going to compensate victims of the fraudulent schemes that used consumer data sold by Epsilon.  Epsilon also agreed to implement significant compliance measures designed to safeguard consumers’ data and prevent its sale to individuals or entities engaged in fraudulent or deceptive marketing campaigns.  Further, the DPA requires Epsilon to maintain a procedure for consumers to request that it not sell their information to others.

If you received a notice in the mail, you have been identified as a potential relative or heir of a person the Department of Justice identified as a victim of a fraudulent mass-mailing scheme.   The fraudulent mass-mailing schemes typically involved letters sent by mail falsely promising prizes or other rewards upon payment of a fee. The company Epsilon Data Management, LLC (“Epsilon”) provided consumer data to entities engaged in mass-mailing fraud, and, in order to resolve criminal charges with the United States Department of Justice, Epsilon has contributed to a victim compensation fund. More information about the Department of Justice’s investigation and the victim compensation fund is available on this website, as well as the Department of Justice’s website at www.justice.gov/CDVC.  The notice does not change any estate law or inheritance determinations or who is an heir.  Rather, it is a notice to the legal heirs of a victim that they may apply to receive the funds that would have been sent to the identified victim.

If you were asked to pay money in connection with the notice you received (for example, if someone asked you to pay a transaction or processing fee in order to get the compensation described in the notice), please immediately file a Mail Fraud Complaint. When submitting the complaint, under “Additional Information,” enter the keyword “CDVC” for proper categorization. For assistance, please call us toll-free at (833) 462-3477.

If you would like to report any other type of fraud, please file a Mail Fraud Complaint, and when submitting the complaint, under “Additional Information”, enter the keyword “EPSILON-REPORT” so that your report is sent to the correct team.

Kroll Settlement Administration, which is administering the Victim compensation, is requesting that you provide the information in the Heirship Form to assist in the distribution of funds attributable to Victims. If you are an heir of a victim, and believe you are entitled to receive all, or some portion, of their compensation, then you must provide the information requested in the form, sign and notarize, and mail the completed form to Kroll Settlement Administration at the address noted below, postmarked no later than August 27, 2024.

You should send your completed Heirship Form to:

USA v. Epsilon SOW 7

ATTN: Heirship Form

Kroll Settlement Administration

PO Box 225391

New York, NY 10150-5391

You do not need to do anything to receive payment, including hiring an attorney.  You are always welcome to consult an attorney on this or any other matter.

No. If you believe you are the heir, you will need to submit the information requested in the Heirship Form after having the form notarized. You will never be asked to pay any money or fee to receive the victim compensation.  If someone asks you to pay a transaction or processing fee in order to get the compensation described in the notice, please immediately report this as fraud.   The compensation amounts were determined by an investigation by the Department of Justice. You can learn more about the investigation by visiting www.justice.gov/CDVC.

The company Epsilon Data Management paid money into a victim compensation fund as part of a criminal resolution for supplying consumer data to entities engaged in fraud. There is more information about the investigation and the victim compensation fund at the Department of Justice’s website at www.justice.gov/CDVC.

This victim compensation fund was created as part of a resolution of criminal charges by the United States Department of Justice against the company Epsilon Data Management. You do not need to do anything or pay anything in order to receive your compensation check except submit the information requested in the Heirship Form.  The Documents section of this website has official filings related to the investigations. There is also more information about the investigation and the victim compensation fund at the Department of Justice’s website at www.justice.gov/CDVC.

The compensation amount is included on the notice you received. It is located at the end of the first paragraph. You may be eligible as an heir of a victim to receive some or all of the compensation amount.   If you no longer have the notice or are having trouble identifying the amount, you may contact us for assistance.

The amount of your payment was calculated based on an investigation by the Department of Justice.

This amount was determined based upon an investigation by the United States Department of Justice.  At this time, there is no process to dispute the amount.  You can learn more about the investigation in the Documents section of this website or by visiting www.justice.gov/CDVC.  If you would like to file your own fraud report, please follow the instructions under the FAQ “I would like to report fraud,” or call us at (833) 462-3477.

We anticipate that checks will be mailed by January 2025.

It is very important that you provide the information in the Heirship Information Form to assist in the distribution of funds attributable to Victims.

If you have any questions about this form, please call (833) 462-3477.

You may update your address or contact information on the Heirship Information Form. This form will assist in the distribution of funds attributable to Victims.

Your contact information will never be sold or used for any purpose other than compensating you.

Your unique ID is located on the notice you received by mail, above your address. If you are unable to locate your unique ID, please contact us so that we may assist you.

This fund was established to compensate a group of individuals for specific losses connected to identified fraudulent mass-mailing schemes. Please contact us to find out if you are a part of this group.  If you would like to file your own fraud report, please follow the instructions under the FAQ “I would like to report fraud,” or call us at (833) 462-3477.

You may update your name, address, or contact information on the Heirship Information Form. This form will assist in the distribution of funds attributable to Victims.