A refund from the Federal Trade Commission can feel like finding money in a coat pocket, except this time there is an actual reason the money exists. The FTC currently lists dozens of active refund programs, and several are sending payments during 2026 to consumers, workers, students, and customers affected by alleged deceptive or unlawful business practices.
There is one important catch: an FTC refund does not work like a government stimulus check that everyone gets simply for existing. Eligibility depends on the specific case, and several current programs involve people who already qualified for an earlier payment but never cashed a check or accepted a previous electronic payment. That makes checking the FTC’s official refund list worthwhile, especially if one of these names looks familiar.
1. AT&T Data Throttling Refunds
Former AT&T customers could receive a payment if they previously qualified for the FTC’s refund program involving unlimited wireless data plans and did not cash an earlier check or accept a previous PayPal payment. The FTC alleged that AT&T reduced data speeds for some unlimited-plan customers after they reached certain monthly data thresholds, making ordinary activities such as browsing and streaming difficult.
The FTC first sent payments in 2024 and now sends Zelle payments to eligible people who left earlier payments untouched. That means this opportunity does not invite every former AT&T customer to submit a fresh claim. If a Zelle payment arrives, the FTC says it goes directly into the recipient’s bank account with a note identifying the settlement.
2. Blueprint to Wealth Settlement
Consumers who previously received a Blueprint to Wealth payment could see another payment in 2026. The FTC says the business opportunity promised members an “everything-is-done-for-you” operation and support from success coaches while promoting the possibility of substantial earnings.
The FTC sent an initial round of payments in 2025 and now sends a second round to people who accepted that first payment. The current round includes more than 2,000 payments totaling more than $333,000, and recipients should cash checks within 90 days or accept PayPal payments within 30 days.
3. Amazon Flex Driver Refunds
Amazon Flex drivers who had tips withheld between 2016 and 2019 could receive another payment if they qualified for the earlier refund program and never cashed an earlier check. The FTC alleged that Amazon withheld tips that customers intended for Flex drivers, leading to a settlement that funded refunds for affected drivers.
The FTC previously sent payments in multiple rounds and now sends Zelle payments to eligible people who failed to cash earlier checks. The current program does not mean every Amazon Flex driver receives money simply because they drove for the service, so an unexpected message demanding personal information deserves serious suspicion.
4. Grubhub Refunds
Grubhub users and drivers have another potentially significant refund opportunity in 2026, and this one reaches two very different groups. The FTC says it sends payments to eligible drivers affected by deceptive earnings claims and to diners affected by conduct that included blocking accounts and preventing some people from redeeming gift cards.
The current program includes hundreds of thousands of payments totaling more than $23.8 million. Recipients who receive checks should cash them within 90 days, while people who receive PayPal payments should accept them within 30 days.
5. Trend Deploy Refunds
People deceived by Trend Deploy’s marketing could receive an FTC refund in this current program. The FTC says the agency sends more than $672,000 to affected consumers and mails thousands of checks through the refund process.
The agency says recipients should cash their checks within 90 days, and the refund administrator can answer questions about individual payments. This case also offers a useful scam warning: the FTC never requires consumers to pay money, transfer funds, or hand over financial account information before receiving an official refund.
6. Ring Refunds
Eligible Ring customers could receive a refund connected to the FTC’s case involving the home security camera company. The FTC alleged that Ring failed to adequately protect customer accounts, gave employees excessive access to customer videos, and left some accounts vulnerable to hackers.
The FTC previously issued payments in 2024 and 2025 and now sends Zelle payments to eligible recipients who did not cash earlier checks or accept earlier PayPal payments. The current program therefore focuses on people who already qualified, rather than opening a brand-new application window for every Ring customer.
7. University of Phoenix Settlement
Eligible University of Phoenix students could receive a payment through the ongoing FTC refund program tied to deceptive advertising allegations. The FTC alleged that the school advertised supposed relationships with major employers and suggested that those relationships could create job opportunities for students.
The FTC now sends Zelle payments to eligible people who did not cash earlier checks or accept earlier PayPal payments. The current page also notes a separate development involving federal student loans: the Department of Education continues processing borrower-defense claims from qualifying University of Phoenix students, so an FTC refund and potential loan relief represent separate matters.
A Refund Alert Worth Keeping on the Fridge
The FTC’s official refund list currently shows these programs alongside many others, and the list can change as new payments begin or older programs wind down. The agency says consumers can visit its refund pages to see case-specific information, including whether a program uses checks, PayPal, Zelle, or another payment method.
The golden rule remains wonderfully simple: never pay someone to receive an FTC refund. Scammers impersonate the FTC, and the agency warns that it will not demand money, threaten consumers, or tell them to transfer funds to unlock a payment.
Which of these FTC refund programs surprised you, and have you ever received a refund payment from a government settlement?
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Brandon Marcus is a writer who has been sharing the written word since a very young age. His interests include sports, history, pop culture, and so much more. When he isn’t writing, he spends his time jogging, drinking coffee, or attempting to read a long book he may never complete.
