FTC Refund Checks February 2026, Are You Owed Money? Here’s Who’s Getting Paid

The Federal Trade Commission issued or announced multiple consumer refund programs in February 2026, returning money to consumers harmed by deceptive business practices ranging from false COVID-19 health treatment claims to stolen delivery driver tips. The FTC enforces consumer protection laws to stop illegal business practices and get refunds to people who lost money. Here is a breakdown of every refund program active or announced in February 2026, who qualifies, and what to do next.

Quick Facts

• Programs active or announced in February 2026: 3 major refund distributions and 1 landmark new settlement
• Total consumer dollars involved: Over $100 million across all programs
• Who may be affected: Consumers who bought deceptive COVID-19 health products, Pyrex measuring cups falsely labeled “Made in USA,” and Walmart Spark delivery drivers and customers who were misled about tips and earnings
• FTC reminder: The FTC will never demand money, make threats, tell you to transfer money, or promise you a prize. Any contact claiming otherwise is a scam.
• Check cashing deadline: Cash any FTC refund check within 90 days of receipt. PayPal payments must be accepted within 30 days.

1. Golden Sunrise Nutraceutical — $40,700+ to 578 Consumers

What happened: The FTC sued Golden Sunrise Nutraceutical and its officers in July 2020 for deceptively advertising a $23,000 treatment plan for COVID-19. In September 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California issued a summary decision in favor of the FTC against the remaining defendants — Golden Sunrise Nutraceutical, Golden Sunrise Pharmaceutical, and Huu Tieu — and barred them from making unsupported health claims.

Who is being paid: The FTC is distributing more than $40,700 to 578 affected consumers. Those who submitted valid claims are receiving full refunds. Other eligible consumers who did not submit claims are receiving checks for $20.

Products covered: Golden Sunrise sold the following products between July 2017 and July 2020: Primary Plan of Care, Emergency D-Virus Plan of Care, Metabolic Plan of Care, and Cancer Plan of Care.

Still eligible to claim: The agency is also mailing claim IDs to eligible consumers who have not yet submitted a claim. These recipients can file a claim online at ftc.gov/GoldenSunrise. The deadline to submit a claim is May 12, 2026.

Administrator: Simpluris — (844) 804-3922 or [email protected]

2. Pyrex “Made in USA” Settlement — PayPal Payments Being Sent

What happened: During the pandemic, Pyrex measuring cups sold on Amazon.com were advertised as made in the United States. In reality, some of the glass measuring cups were imported from China. Instant Brands, the company that makes Pyrex glassware, agreed to a settlement that banned it from making false claims and required it to pay money.

Who is being paid now: The FTC first sent checks in October 2024, which resulted in more than $43,700 in refunds. Now, the FTC is sending PayPal payments to people who did not cash their check. If you get a PayPal payment, please accept it within 30 days.

What to do: If you purchased Pyrex glass measuring cups on Amazon and received an original check that you never cashed, watch your email inbox for a PayPal payment notification. No further action is needed unless you receive a new PayPal notice.

Administrator: Simpluris — (833) 244-7320

3. Walmart Spark Driver Program — $100M Settlement Announced February 26, 2026

This is the largest consumer protection action announced in February 2026.

What happened: Walmart, Inc. agreed to a $100 million judgment to settle allegations from the Federal Trade Commission and 11 states that the company deceived delivery drivers and customers over the Spark Driver delivery program. The FTC filed its complaint in federal court in California on February 26, 2026.

What Walmart allegedly did:

• Deceiving drivers about tip amounts — Walmart allegedly did not notify drivers that customers had not preauthorized the advertised tip amount.
• Not informing drivers about split tips — When a delivery was split between multiple drivers, Walmart allegedly did not tell drivers it would divide the tip.
• Deceiving customers that “100% of tips go to the driver.” Despite this promise, Walmart on multiple occasions failed to provide collected tips to drivers as promised and did not refund the tip to customers either.
• Misrepresenting incentive pay — Walmart allegedly did not disclose all the requirements drivers must meet to earn incentive pay for completing certain tasks.

How the $100M is divided:

• Up to $79 million paid directly to drivers (Walmart has already begun payments)
• $11 million to participating states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah, and Wisconsin)
• $10 million to the FTC, which will be used to provide refunds to consumers (customers who paid tips that were not passed along to drivers)

Who qualifies for driver payments:

You are eligible if you accepted one or more delivery offers through the Spark Driver app between January 1, 2021, and February 26, 2026, and were shown a base pay amount, tip, or incentive in the app that was not paid as displayed.

Eligible Spark drivers who experienced underpayment may receive compensation and do not need to submit a claim form to get paid. Walmart has already begun issuing direct payments to affected drivers, and the FTC will distribute additional funds from a separate $16.17 million settlement fund to drivers whose recorded pay did not match the amounts shown in their initial offer cards.

This is a nationwide settlement. You do not need to live in one of the 11 participating states to receive a payment as a driver.

Required reforms: Walmart is required to implement an earnings verification program to ensure drivers are paid the promised earnings and tips, is prohibited from modifying an offer for base pay, incentive pay, or tips after the initial offer (except in limited circumstances), and must submit annual reports to the FTC for 10 years.

All Active FTC Refund Programs as of March 2026

The FTC maintains a full, updated list of all active refund programs at ftc.gov/enforcement/refunds. Programs currently active beyond those listed above include, among many others:

• CafePress Settlement (December 2025) — 1-833-415-2795
• CarShield Settlement (December 2025) — 1-855-298-8877
• Avast Settlement (December 2025) — 1-866-290-0165
• Amazon Prime Refunds (November 2025) — SubscriptionMembershipSettlement.com
• Progressive Leasing Refunds (September 2025) — 1-877-625-9449
• University of Phoenix Settlement (September 2025) — 1-877-310-0487
• Ring Refunds (August 2025) — 1-833-637-4884
• BetterHelp Refunds (April 2025) — 1-833-637-4774
• First American Payment Systems Settlement — claims under review; 1-877-595-0114
• NGL Labs Settlement — claim deadline April 6, 2026; nglrefund.com/submitclaim
• Fortnite Refunds — additional payments expected in 2026; 1-833-915-0880
• Next-Gen Prize Scheme Refunds — distributed automatically
• Equifax Data Breach Settlement — 1-833-759-2982

How FTC Refunds Work

The FTC enforces consumer protection laws to stop illegal business practices and get refunds to people who lost money. To learn more about how the FTC returns money to consumers, visit the detailed information about the refund process and related FAQs at ftc.gov/enforcement/refunds.

Key things to remember about all FTC refund programs:

• Cash checks within 90 days of receipt — checks expire and uncashed refunds are typically transferred to state unclaimed property funds
• Accept PayPal payments within 30 days or you may forfeit the payment
• Never pay money to receive a refund — the FTC never charges fees, asks for your account information, or requires you to transfer money to claim a refund
• Check the official FTC refund page regularly for newly announced programs: ftc.gov/enforcement/refunds

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I qualify for an FTC refund?

 The FTC maintains a complete list of all active refund programs at ftc.gov/enforcement/refunds. Each program page includes eligibility criteria and contact information for the refund administrator. In most cases, eligible consumers are notified directly by mail, email, or postcard.

What if I lost or didn’t cash my refund check? 

Contact the refund administrator for your specific program using the contact information on the FTC’s refund page. Many programs allow you to request a reissued check within a limited window.

Is a text or call claiming to be from the FTC about my refund legitimate?

 The FTC will never demand money, make threats, tell you to transfer money, or promise you a prize. Any unsolicited call or text making these claims is a scam. Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

How do I report a scam or deceptive business practice? 

Visit ReportFraud.ftc.gov to file a complaint with the FTC.

Where can I see how much the FTC has returned to consumers overall? 

The FTC provides statistics about where refunds were sent, the amounts refunded, and the number of people who benefited from FTC refund programs, updated at least once each quarter through an interactive dashboard, and the agency also publishes annual reports on refunds to consumers.

Last Updated: March 6, 2026

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal claims and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. For advice regarding a particular situation, consult a qualified attorney.

About the Author

Sarah Klein, JD, is a licensed attorney and legal content strategist with over 12 years of experience across civil, criminal, family, and regulatory law. At All About Lawyer, she covers a wide range of legal topics — from high-profile lawsuits and courtroom stories to state traffic laws and everyday legal questions — all with a focus on accuracy, clarity, and public understanding.
Her writing blends real legal insight with plain-English explanations, helping readers stay informed and legally aware.
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